Hey guys,

 

I've seen several threads in the Russian forum drive2.ru where coolant is changed in very easy way. And was wondering what do you think about it? Do you think the same one can also be used in TDIs? (due to lower temps in their country, TDIs aren't driven much, so only TSI and MPI tutorials were shared..).

 

Basically the steps are:

1/ Warm the car up to operating temp, so the thermostats are opened

2/ Warm new coolant to 60-70 degress, or boil distilled water and mix with coolant concentrate

3/ Turn the engine off

4/ Carefully and slowly remove the coolant tank cap

5/ Carefully and with gloves, disconnect the return pipe of the coolant tank and connect it to a 2m tube, to transfer the coolant into an empty bottle

6/ Start the engine

7/ Fill in the coolant tank with the new coolant mix periodically, until 10-12 liters are drained from the system(mine 184TDI with DSG has 12 liters )

 

Here is the original topic on Octy 1.8 TSI MK2, but I've seen the same on MK3: https://www.drive2.ru/l/537502032748086791/

 

I want to change my coolant, because my car is 5 years and 125k km old, and I have no silica bag in the coolant tank from half a year. And I don't plan to change water pump and cam belt until 8th year or 210k km as my dealer suggested.

Edited 29 August, 20214 yr by fr1nklyn

1 hour ago, fr1nklyn said:

where coolant is changed in very easy way

This strikes me as much harder and using more new coolant than opening the drain plugs or bottom hose, and allowing the coolant to drain. Then refilling through the expansion bottle.

6 hours ago, KenONeill said:

This strikes me as much harder and using more new coolant than opening the drain plugs or bottom hose, and allowing the coolant to drain. Then refilling through the expansion bottle.

 

The author wrote that he tried to drain the coolant in the conventional way by removing the bottom hose, but only 2.5 liters were out. I guess that he hadn't waited his car to reach operating temp when he did that, and thermostats were not opened.

 

Also I think in this method you don't add so much airlocks in the system like when you remove the bottom radiator hose.

Edited 30 August, 20214 yr by fr1nklyn

I think it sounds neat. Care with hot fluid handling being necessary though.

 

Please be very careful if you have pets (or neighbours do). Do not allow them anywhere near open containers of antifreeze, or spillages/puddles. Lethal if ingested.

 

May be worth prior checking that your radiator fan(s) work too, if trying it in high ambient temperatures.

 

37 minutes ago, fr1nklyn said:

 

The author wrote that he tried to drain the coolant in the conventional way by removing the bottom hose, but only 2.5 liters were out. I guess that he hadn't waited his car to reach operating temp when he did that, and thermostats were not opened.

 

Also I think in this method you don't add so much airlocks in the system like when you remove the bottom radiator hose.

 

People generally do it cold, and generally fail to change a significant proportion of the total; and indeed it's easy to create temporary air pockets. These usually resolve themselves during a subsequent drive.

 

Thanks for the tips @Wino! Yeah, btw I've read somewhere that even with this method there are some airlocks, so it's recommended to have 1 spare liter of coolant mix. Which should be used after driving for 10-15 mins with turned on A/C on max temp and fan speed.