Hi guys,

water pump on my 2016 1.2tsi rapid is leaking so I'm planning to replace that in the near future. As it is written in the workshop manual, there is a need to use VAG vacuum filling kit to fill up the coolant through the system when assembled back.

Does anyone have any experience with draining and replacing the coolant without the vacuum pump?

I don't have a garage and will be doing that repair on parking lot without access to electricity and I would also like to avoid buying whole coolant vacuum kit for this one job.

On my old car (Octavia mk2) when I did the timing set with water pump I simple filled up the coolant though the expansion tank, squeezed upper and lower radiator hoses to remove as much air bubbles as possible and then ran the car on idle with heat to MAX for 30mins. That worked out great for me, but the car was much older, and the system was less complex. Last think I want in my new car is some air bubbles that would create hotspot on the block and cause extra damage on the go.

Thanks a lot for your advice!

Best to use some sort of pressure device and (or?) a scan tool with the filling program, you can fill without - using patience and observation, if you keep such things in stock, some don't, and you're not of too nervous disposition (or with lack of luv for a VW product like me). I done it on my wife's 2015 1.2 TSI but bear in mind I don't luv the car (it being a VW product).

If you're only topping up the lost (VW dictated coolant) then probably easier than the coolant change I done.

The constant tension spring hose clips are a right PITA for any work in the engine bay so I suggest getting a set of the suitable pliers to save too much swearing and blood pressure, whichever ones you get either won't be right for this job of the next such is German engineering design. The following US Pro double set seem Ok for occasional DIY use (for easy to get at clips), other sellers and more expensive brands are available. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132179403589

I was told setting the heat to max was a waste of time on my wife's 1.2 TSI because of the way the coolant/heating is plumbed and controlled but it's another precaution if you're going the rough old school way.

Your car's not 10 years old and the water pump needs replacing, ah, 21st-century German engineering quality.

Good luck, report back and perhaps consider doing a guide for others, want to do and not, what works and not.

Edited 4 August, 20254 Aug by nta16

Constant tension pipe clips - I've probably got too much free time and maybe free space in my garage, but I have blundered on a tool/product that sells on Temu, that is essentially a clip for slipping over an "opened" constant tension pipe clip, that keeps it open/expanded so that you can take your pliers off that clip and move onto the next one.

I'm just saying that in case anyone feels the need to add them to their Christmas list!

Quite crafty at times these Chinese chappies.

On the other hand, "parking" a constant tension clip along the pipe where it will not cause any trouble is what I've done in the past, so saves filling a space in my garage with these aids.

Edit:- back on topic, I've only ever used a coolant vacuum kit when replacing coolant on my car, and will probably use it again on my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS - soon.

Edited 5 August, 20255 Aug by rum4mo

48 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

that keeps it open/expanded so that you can take your pliers off that clip and move onto the next one.

Yeap, that's another PITA aspect of those annoying type of clips, you move them along the plastic tubing on the annoying over-complicated VWŠkoda air filter box and they crush the plastic tubing where you've moved them to to get them out of the way - "Simply not Clever".

Next you'll get me started on those bloody silly wheel bolts, instead of studs, German engineering quality, my arse, as Jim Royale used to say.

Not everyone even has a garage let alone the space, or want, for all these additional (unnecessary) tools VW insist on, Jubilee type clips work fine even on the wunderbar fantastic plastic fittings the German marques have used all this century and beyond.

When working on cooling system recently on 1.4 tsi Golf and 1.6 tdi Octavia I found this tool very useful. saved a lot of bother with clips at awkward angles. https://www.screwfix.com/p/silverline-flexible-ratchet-hose-clamp-pliers/404fu . Still not perfect or easy though. As for the original question - ref. vacuum kit - I wouldn't bother. I'd only drain the system as far as necessary for the job in hand and refill "old school" with G12 Evo. Run up to temperature with filler cap off, then cap on and several short runs with a close eye on temperature and coolant level checks after.

Note some dealers have quoted 4 hours labour for a simple drain and refill using the vacuum kit several times over. In my experience it's almost impossible to get more than half of the coolant out without disconnecting every hose in the system. If enough vacuum were applied to really do the job it would risk damaging some part of the system. Either way you cross your fingers and say a small prayer.

PS. Try watching a few of the relevant videos on YouTube to see what others have done.

The “word” is that cars of this age can stand having their heater matrix and pipes placed under a “light weight” vacuum. Ie these kits will never achieve “hard” vacuums, just a low enough depression to be able to drag back in the quantity that you dropped out.

I played safe and collected all the old coolant so that I had a reference point/capacity for refilling. That worked okay, more surprising was that my puny compressor managed to pull the system down, and do it quite quickly.

@nta16 these air hoses spring bands are more weapons than clips!

20 hours ago, BazzY said:

I found this tool very useful. saved a lot of bother with clips at awkward angles. https://www.screwfix.com/p/silverline-flexible-ratchet-hose-clamp-pliers/404fu

I've got one of those too, I bought that first to do the drain down and I could get it in the two clips I wanted as they were too close to each other so I was back to try out other pliers I have. That one also doesn't work well on the air filter box hoses as it coils up and difficult to place hence my suggestion for the two set, with my caution that they might not be suitable for all clops, then angled ones and it goes on and on - just for a simple thing like removing a clip. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132179403589

Hard to argue with the price of the US Pro ones. I've never got on with the cable based ones. These Knipex pliers are terrific for dealing with those poxy clips (but you will need a little win on the Premium bonds)

85 51 250 AF Spring Hose Clamp Pliers with retainer

They're the type rum4mo can afford. 🙂

The 'US Pro Hose Clamp Removal Pliers Swivel Head (Straight) 3358' that I bought are OK but the rachet spring looks a little thin and unconvincing but as I put for occasional DIY I'm sure they'll be fine , perhaps even for more regular use allowing for buying price. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132179413728

This is the 'US PRO Tools Long Reach Hose Clamp Pliers, Pistol Grip Plier 3506' I bought that hasn't proved that useful so far for me. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133753538648

I do have a weakness for Knipex pliers!

For this job I bought something cheaper like US Pro or cheaper, and they did work.

I've also got a Laser Tools tool that can be used for that job, it is a small rack sort of thing, bought for another specific job - I've forgotten what, but it has been very useful, as usual bought at a lot less than Laser Tools rrp!

Just adding this "info"

For a while, there was a bit of chattering going on on maybe a VW forum, where people replacing the engine coolant on these EA211 family of engines, just removed the small pipe from the coolant reservoir, extended it with another length of pipe and pointed that into a 10 litre or so bucket, then started the car up while having "enough" premixed new G12evo beside them, and fed all this new coolant into the reservoir as the car pumped the old coolant out into the bucket!

Maybe doing that would flush out any collected air if you've needed to open up the system.

Just a suggestion, though I'll be aiming at using my Draper coolant refill vacuum kit when I replace the coolant in my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS.