Do-it-yourself complete replacement of antifreeze. My power unit

Do-it-yourself complete replacement of antifreeze. My power unit

30.03.2019

A detailed answer to the question of which is better - you can find out by reading the article of our specialist.

You can learn detailed information on how to properly breed from the material of our expert.

The working volume of the coolant depends on the design of the cylinder block, installed radiator and pipeline. Coolant replacement is an important procedure that is performed in conjunction with flushing the cooling system.

Why is it necessary to change the coolant

Antifreeze differs from distilled water in its boiling point and the rate of heat intake from the walls of the block. The liquid in the cooling system is periodically changed, since it is designed for a certain resource, after which the anti-corrosion and functional properties of the coolant are lost.

Check the coolant level in the expansion tank. The liquid gradually boils away and needs to be replenished periodically.

Replacement is also carried out when the cooling system is contaminated. The radiator and pipes gradually become clogged, which can lead to a blockage. The engine can overheat and seize due to a blockage in the cooling system:

  • corrosive particles and dust;
  • salt deposits on the internal channels of the radiator and block;
  • clogging of pipes with oxidative sediment.

The expansion tank of the engine cooling system serves to control the coolant level. Performing timely topping up of liquid, pay attention to the visual state of antifreeze. Signs for replacement: change in color, consistency, appearance of cloudy sediment and solid particles.

When to change the coolant

The replacement is carried out after passing a certain mileage - 40-50 thousand km. When passing through maintenance - check the level of coolant in the tank and carry out visual inspection on impurities (read what it is). Turbidity and a change in shade indicate foreign inclusions in the coolant or a change in the properties of the composition.

The need to clean the cooling system and replace the coolant is evidenced by a number of signs that are reflected in the change in the operation of the car:

  • frequent overheating and boiling of the coolant;
  • constant ICE operation at critical temperature (water sensor shows maximum readings);
  • interruptions when starting a warm engine;
  • change in the response of the rheostat and problems with the operation of the pump.

When similar situations or changing the shade of the cooler to reddish - the cooling system must be immediately cleaned and the coolant changed.

After passing a certain mileage or identifying problems in the cooling system, it is necessary to undergo vehicle maintenance. You can visit a service station or do the process yourself. How to replace the coolant?

The replacement is carried out on a cooled engine and using protective equipment.

For the procedure you will need:

  • a set of tools - screwdrivers and wrenches,
  • containers for draining mining,
  • rubber gloves,
  • washing additives,
  • new coolant - distilled water, antifreeze or other antifreeze.

The car is installed on an inclined platform or overpass - in this position, the liquid drains better from the system.

The procedure is carried out as follows.

  1. Install a container under the drain of the old coolant.
  2. Remove the radiator hose.
  3. Unscrew the valve on the flow control tank. After the system is completely empty, the remnants of the cylinder block are drained.
  4. Having removed the dust shield, open the tap on the interior heater apparatus (for pumping the pipeline).

Draining all the used antifreeze - proceed to the preparation of the flushing composition.

Flushing the radiator

To clean technological channels from oxidative sediment and rust, special chemical additives or folk remedies cleaning. Salt deposits can be removed with citric acid, soda and even Cola.

To prepare the compositions, carefully study the instructions. Additives are mixed in certain proportions, and the period and method of flushing differs in the time of exposure to the reagent in the system.

Stages and sequence of washing:

  • prepare a solution
  • fill the system and close the drain holes,
  • start and warm up the engine - according to the mode specified in the instructions for the additive.

After working for some time (up to 30 minutes or driving 10 - 15 km) - wait for the engine to cool.

More detailed information how to kick out, read the article of our specialist.

You can read about the features of verification and repair in the material of our author.

Filling with fresh antifreeze

Before pouring a new coolant, the pipeline elements are checked for integrity (cracks and wear). Some rubber hoses, clamps and seals will need to be replaced.

Don't forget about the likelihood air locks- CO is filled until the air is completely bled.

The sequence of steps is as follows.

  1. The radiator is washed with water from old additives and remaining silt inclusions.
  2. Connect the car's heating system.
  3. A couple of liters of distilled water are added, and then antifreeze is gradually poured.
  4. Filling is carried out until the liquid exits the technical channels.

After completion of work, before ICE launch, check the fill level of the system and close the filler cap tightly.

At the final stage, the pipes are fixed on the clamps and the engine is started. On increased speed(about 3 min) there is a complete circulation of antifreeze in the system. Subsequent control is performed after the internal combustion engine cools down, when the pressure in the system drops. If necessary, add antifreeze to expansion tank up to the average.

Coolants on the market

Regular replacement of antifreeze is important for the engine cooling system to work without problems. Let's talk about how to replace antifreeze in a car and how often it needs to be changed.

Did you know that best for engine cooling plain water . It has the best heat capacity. But its minus - it freezes at low temperatures and leads to corrosion of the cooling system parts - clogs the radiator, reduces its service life. Therefore, manufacturers use antifreeze (this is the same as antifreeze).

When do you need to change?

It is recommended to change the coolant every 2-3 years to prevent corrosion. In fact, the actual service life is determined by the car manufacturer. For example, Volkswagen and GM give a life term for replacing antifreeze in a car, Ford - ten years or 240,000 kilometers, Mercedes-Benz - five years, AvtoVAZ - 75,000 kilometers. BMW and Mitsubishi recommend changing every 4 years, Daimler - once every fifteen years. Mazda and Renault say that coolant changes are not needed during the life of the car.

Why you can not change antifreeze for long term? Manufacturers have released a new generation of antifreezes with a formula that allows you to increase the replacement time to 200,000 km. The duration depends on the content of anti-corrosion additives. As long as they are present, everything is fine. As soon as the amount of anti-corrosion agents is reduced, the engine and radiator corrode. This is especially dangerous for motors with aluminum parts.

If the time has come to replace the antifreeze, then ideally we change it to the original one, which was filled in at the factory. But how to find out and is it possible to buy a similar one in the store? When choosing a coolant, follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer, indicated in service book. If the type of recommended coolant could not be found out, then you should buy antifreeze marked G12, as the most versatile.

How do you know it's time to change? You need to look under the hood of the car and check the condition of the liquid in the expansion tank of the cooling system (you can find out where it is from the instructions for the car). It should be clean and free from dirt and other debris. It is as simple as comparing pure water from a spring and rusty water from the tap. If in doubt, it is better to change the antifreeze.

Another question - do i need to flush the cooling system? When changing the coolant, flushing is mandatory, especially if the drained antifreeze contains oil, dirt and other contaminants, or you do not know what was previously filled. If when replacing old fluid does not have any contaminants, and you fill in exactly the same one that was previously, then flushing is not necessary.

How to replace yourself?

Antifreeze is changed on a cold engine. Changing hot is dangerous, because. its temperature is about 90-100 degrees. Locate the radiator / tank cap and remove it, then find drain plug radiator and open it after placing a large bucket under it. Drain the coolant. Then inspect the cooling system hoses for cracks and breaks. Change them if necessary.

Before filling in new antifreeze, the system is flushed to remove rust and deposits that water cannot remove. For washing use special means of autochemistry. It is necessary to pour them into the radiator and add distilled or filtered water to the tank to the brim. Close covers. The next step is to turn on the engine and wait for it to warm up to operating temperature. After "turn off" the motor, let it cool down, drain the liquid.

After that, it is necessary to pour water into the system, close the covers and turn on the engine again for 15 minutes. Then let it cool and drain the water. After that, fill in new antifreeze. Next, you need to “turn on” the engine and the heating in the cabin to the “maximum” so that the coolant is evenly distributed throughout the system to remove air bubbles. After a few days, be sure to check the level of antifreeze in the system and top it up to right level, if it is needed.

In the engine internal combustion not only the main internal parts wear out, but also the fluids that provide lubrication and cooling of the unit. Antifreeze replacement is necessary to remove deposits, as well as to restore the density of the coolant, if water was added to the cooling system during the operation of the car. You can replace the coolant yourself, but only if you follow the basic rules and requirements for performing this type of maintenance work on the machine. How to replace antifreeze or antifreeze will be discussed in this article.

Coolant replacement procedure

Antifreeze is replaced in the following sequence:

  1. The old coolant is drained;
  2. The cooling system is flushed;
  3. New antifreeze is poured.

All of the above operations must be performed taking into account the nuances that will definitely be described in this article. If you do not follow the recommendations for replacing antifreeze and do not follow the rules, then an incorrect replacement of antifreeze can lead to disastrous results.

Drain antifreeze or antifreeze

In order to figure out how to drain antifreeze, you do not need to study textbooks on the design of internal combustion engines. Antifreeze is drained, very simply, in the following sequence:

  1. The engine of each car has a special drain plug or tap through which the coolant is removed. If the cylinder block is at an angle with respect to the vertical plane, then the coolant drain point will be on the side that the slope faces;
  2. In addition to the cylinder block, antifreeze is drained from the radiator and expansion tank. On the radiator, also provided by the design drainer, which is made in the form of a stub. To remove fluid from the expansion tank in some car models, you will need to remove the hose from the lower pipe.

When draining old antifreeze, care should be taken. Some types of antifreeze contain ethylene glycol, which has a negative impact on human health and the environment.

After draining the coolant, be sure to dispose of it in accordance with the rules for handling hazardous substances. We figured out how to drain the antifreeze, but immediately after completing this procedure, it is impossible to fill in new coolant. First, deposits that form on the walls of the cooling system must be removed by flushing the system.

Flushing the cooling system

Replacing the coolant must be carried out with mandatory flushing of the entire system. This must be done to remove deposits in the radiator and engine channels. You can flush the system with the following fluids:

  • distilled water;
  • By special means.

Flushing the cooling system with distilled water is the least effective, but if the liquid is acidified, the scale will separate from metal parts much better.

To acidify water, you can use citric acid or vinegar essence.

Don't lower the pH too much. In order not to damage the rubber parts of the cooling system, it is enough to use one bag of citric acid or half a small bottle of vinegar essence for the entire volume of liquid poured into the engine.

Flushing the cooling system with acidified distilled water is budget option cleaning the engine from internal deposits, but the time spent when performing such an operation will be significant.

After the acid is thoroughly dissolved, water is poured into the engine cooling system. In this case, it is necessary to control the liquid level, which will constantly decrease as air is forced out of the engine and radiator channels.

When the coolant level is fixed and it does not decrease, it is necessary to start the engine for 15 - 20 minutes. During this time, the water temperature will rise to the operating value. After warming up, the engine should be turned off and the acidified water should be kept in the system for 5-6 hours. After this time, the water from the cooling system is drained and the cleaning cycle is completely repeated using pure distilled water.

When flushing clean water also fills required amount liquid, then the engine starts for 15 - 20 minutes, after which the engine is allowed to cool for half an hour, and then the water is drained from the system.

A complete cleaning cycle using acidified distilled water can take more than 7 hours. If there is no free time to flush the cooling system in this way, it is recommended to use a more expensive option.

Rinsing with special means allows not only to carry out high-quality cleaning of the cooling system, but also save a considerable amount of time. The greatest efficiency when replacing antifreeze can be achieved if flushing actions carried out using a two-component tool. Professional flushing liquids allow you to completely clean the cooling system from the decomposition products of antifreeze, as well as from scale and corrosion products of metal engine parts. The cleaning process using special products is not too different from rinsing with distilled water. The time saving is due to the fact that such liquids contain highly effective additives that allow for a short time to separate various foreign formations from the metal parts of the cooling system. That is, it is not required to withstand such liquids in the system for a long time.

Bay of new antifreeze

It is possible to fill in antifreeze immediately after flushing the engine cooling system.

Before pouring new antifreeze, you must make sure that all previously unscrewed plugs and open taps are completely closed and installed in their place.

To control the process of filling the engine cooling system with new antifreeze, it is necessary to remove the upper hose from the expansion tank and place it at the level of the lower plane of the tank. Then antifreeze is filled in a volume of 8 - 10 liters. Coolant is poured until the level of antifreeze rises to the bottom of the expansion tank.

This moment can be determined by the beginning of the flow of antifreeze from the hose.

Now you need to install the hose in place and bring the level of antifreeze in the expansion tank to the “Max” mark.

After pouring antifreeze, it is necessary to start the car engine for 10 - 15 minutes to heat the coolant to operating temperature. If the antifreeze level changes at the same time, then fill the expansion tank with antifreeze to the maximum mark.

  1. If the coolant evaporates, the volume should be restored with distilled water. If the coolant pours out of the engine, from cracks in the radiator or damaged pipes, then in this case antifreeze is added. With this method of restoring volume, mix antifreeze different types is strictly prohibited;
  2. If it is necessary to prepare a coolant from a concentrate, then the antifreeze should be mixed with distilled water in a ratio of 1 to 1. At this concentration, an antifreeze will be obtained with a freezing point of about minus 35 degrees;
  3. If you don’t want to change the antifreeze yourself, then you can carry out this operation at any station Maintenance cars. However, in this case, you will have to pay not only the cost of the coolant, but also the work of the craftsmen;
  4. Many motorists are interested in: “Is it possible to fill in tap water instead of antifreeze?” The use of non-distilled water as a coolant will result in excessive scaling and, in winter time years, the water in the cooling system will freeze and break the elements of the engine cooling system.

How to properly fill in antifreeze is described in detail in this article, and armed theoretical knowledge, you can safely proceed to self replacement antifreeze. After getting the first experience next change coolant will be produced much faster, and there will be no need to spend time searching and studying teaching materials on this topic.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

Antifreeze - special fluid needed to cool an internal combustion engine in a car. Over time, the coolant loses its quality and needs to be replaced. Changing antifreeze is usually quite simple, but many car owners face difficulties already at the stage of choosing it.

How to choose the right antifreeze

The abundance of brands and specifications of antifreeze often confuses the buyer. Most car owners distinguish between antifreezes according to the following characteristics:

  • name - antifreeze or antifreeze;
  • color - green, red, blue and yellow coolants are on sale;
  • identification marker (G11 and G12).

IN modern conditions antifreeze is a complete synonym for antifreeze. Antifreeze was developed in the USSR in the 70s, therefore it bears a domestic name. Antifreeze is the Western name for this auto chemical product, over time it has taken root in Russia. Both are coolants and have identical functions and properties.

The color of antifreeze, although it matters, is not quite the one that is understood by car owners. There is even a misconception that green antifreeze- poor quality, but red is the best.

The term "coolant" in fact is the most correct and accurate designation of such compositions

Of course, the recommendations are not to mix antifreeze different colors worth following, but one cannot rely on color alone. The color is given to antifreeze with the help of dyes at the factory, it is intended primarily for the manufacturers themselves, so as not to confuse product lots.

The manufacturer may well paint the coolant in a certain color, although in its own way chemical composition it may not be compatible with antifreeze of a similar color from another factory.

Another gradation by marker (G11 and G12) is also not entirely logical. It is designed exclusively for cars. concern VAG(Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, etc.), who developed it. Therefore, it is not entirely correct to apply such a classification in relation to other car brands. For example, G11 antifreeze was intended only for VAG cars until '96, subsequent models required G12 coolant. Antifreezes with the G11 index are still offered on the auto chemical goods market. But if G11 from VAG contained silicates, then borates and even phosphates are often found in modern products with such a marker, which contradicts the very principles of this classification.

The conclusion from this difficult situation is very simple. Antifreeze should not be selected solely by color, index or name. You just need to look into the manual for the car and find the brands and names of coolant recommended by the manufacturer. Each plant indicates the allowed technical fluids, including antifreeze, so you should focus only on the car manual. Only fill in the coolant recommended by the automaker, you can not worry about your choice.

Why and when it needs to be changed

At first, overheating of the engine leads to an increase in fuel consumption, then to a decrease in engine power

Poor-quality antifreeze, which does not fulfill its function of cooling the engine, poses a clear threat to the heart of the car. Overheating threatens with cracks in the cylinder head, burnout of pistons, engine wedge and many other consequences, the repair cost of which will cost the car owner a round sum.

Modern engine cooling fluids have rather large declared operating standards, often reaching hundreds of thousands of kilometers. However, real conditions often make adjustments. Therefore, already after 60–70 thousand km after filling the antifreeze, it is advisable to replace it. For cheap brands, the operating mileage is even less - 30-40 thousand km. The manufacturer also sets the time limits for the use of antifreeze. Depending on the brand of fluid, they can be from 2 to 5 years.

However, it is impossible to focus only on the service life declared by the manufacturer. First of all, you need to pay attention to how the engine behaves. If working temperature engine is constantly dangerously close to the red zone, then this is the basis for checking the engine cooling system. It is possible that antifreeze is to blame for this behavior of the motor.

You will have to fill in new coolant even when it is changed. external signs. Quality antifreeze is a clear liquid, the color of which does not change during operation. Turbidity or, conversely, discoloration may indicate that performance characteristics fluids have decreased. Other changes visible to the eye also speak of this: the presence of foam, precipitation, flakes or scale is an unambiguous “sentence” to the old antifreeze.

How to drain

Draining the used antifreeze will require some preparation. Antifreeze is a chemically active substance that is harmful to humans, so it is necessary to prepare a container for the waste liquid. The container must have a screw cap.

On most car models, a special drain plug is provided for draining antifreeze. It is usually located next to bottom corners cooling radiator. In the event that the plug is not provided for by the design of the car, then to drain it, you will have to disconnect one of the pipes of the cooling system from the radiator.

To drain antifreeze, do the following:

  1. Place the machine on a level surface beforehand to minimize the amount of liquid remaining in the cooling system outside the expansion tank.
  2. Antifreeze is drained only on a cold engine. The fact is that when the liquid is heated, the pressure in the cooling system also increases, which does not allow the liquid to boil. If you unscrew the cap of the expansion tank on a hot engine or remove the pipe from the radiator, then the pressure in the system will equalize with atmospheric pressure, which will lead to the boiling of antifreeze. As a result, you can get a chemical burn from the escaping vapors of a boiling liquid.
  3. You need to start draining after removing the cap of the expansion tank. Then unscrew the drain plug. It is necessary to substitute a container for it in which the used antifreeze will be disposed of. If there is no plug, then the liquid is drained through the disconnected pipe.

However, even in this case, it will not be possible to completely remove the coolant, since sections of the cooling system located below the plug (pipe) will remain.

If the composition gets on the body or in the eyes, it is necessary to rinse them as soon as possible with a large volume of cold water.

To completely drain, you will have to carry out a few more manipulations designed to increase the pressure in the system, which will “push” antifreeze out of such places:

  1. After draining the liquid, screw on the cap of the expansion tank, leave the drain plug unscrewed.
  2. Then you need to start the engine and start the interior stove. This mode must be maintained for no more than 2 minutes, after which the engine should be turned off. Otherwise, the engine will overheat, which will lead to problems with the cylinder head and piston group.
  3. The pressure created by the operation of the engine should push the antifreeze out of the lower parts of the cooling system. As a result, the coolant should begin to flow into the prepared container. If the antifreeze continues to flow even after 2 minutes, then the engine should still be turned off and allowed to cool. After half an hour it is necessary to repeat the operation.
  4. As soon as the antifreeze stops flowing, the system is completely cleaned. After that, the drain plug can be screwed in (or the pipe can be connected back to the radiator).

For additional flushing of the system after draining the antifreeze, you can pour distilled water into the tank. Then the car is operated for several days, after which the water is drained in exactly the same way. This cleaning method will remove antifreeze residues, even if they remain in the cooling system. This method can be applied only in the warm season, since in winter the water will simply freeze.

Step by step replacement instructions

Ideally, you need to change the antifreeze to the original one, which was filled in at the factory

New antifreeze can only be poured in after the old one has been drained from the cooling system. By itself, filling in a new coolant is even easier than removing old antifreeze, so any car owner can handle this task:

  1. New antifreeze must be poured into the expansion tank to the maximum mark, then the tank cap should be screwed on.
  2. Start the car, then turn on the interior heater to the maximum.
  3. Increasing pressure will evenly distribute the liquid in the cooling system. As a result, the level of antifreeze in the expansion tank should drop noticeably.
  4. Shut off the engine, then after a 20-minute pause, refill the antifreeze into the expansion tank to the maximum mark.
  5. After that, you need to start the engine again and turn on the stove. Repeat this procedure until the level of antifreeze in the tank stops falling after starting the engine.

The last check is carried out a few days after the start of operation of the car with new antifreeze. If necessary, topping up is also done.

As you can see, almost any car owner can handle the replacement of antifreeze. It is much more difficult to choose the right coolant. It is best to focus on the tolerances of automakers, and only then pay attention to color and marking. It is not the easiest task to completely drain the coolant, but it is also easy to deal with if you know various methods removal of used antifreeze from the cooling system.

The coolant change procedure is not included in the vehicle service schedule and does not need to be performed if the recommended antifreeze/inhibitor coolant is used. However, if a standard antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor is used, the procedure should be performed at the recommended intervals.

Attention! Wait until the engine has cooled down before starting this procedure. Do not allow antifreeze to come into contact with eyes, skin or paintwork car. Splashes should be washed off immediately with plenty of water. Never leave antifreeze in open containers or in puddles on your driveway or garage floor. Its pleasant smell can attract pets or children, and ingestion of antifreeze is fatal.

Draining the coolant from the cooling system

Wait for the engine to cool completely, cover the expansion tank cap with a piece of rag and start slowly turning the cap counterclockwise to relieve pressure in the cooling system (a hiss is usually heard).

Wait until the system is completely depressurized, and then continue to turn the cap until it is completely removed.

If necessary, release the clamps and remove the lower engine protection. Place a suitable container under the lower radiator hose connection. Then remove the clamp and disconnect the hose from the pipe on the radiator. If the hose connection has not been disturbed for some time, it will be necessary to gently move the hose to move it out of place. Do not apply excessive force to prevent damage to the radiator hose. Allow the coolant to drain into a container. Keep in mind that the radiator is equipped with a drain cock, but it can only be accessed after removing the front bumper.

On AWT and AZM engines ( Volkswagen Passat B5) Remove the thermostat housing mounting bolts and remove the thermostat to drain the coolant from the cylinder block. Allow the coolant to drain. Install the thermostat and its housing with a new seal and tighten the bolts to the specified torque.

If you drain the coolant for any reason other than replacement, then if it is clean it can be reused, but this is not recommended.

After draining all the coolant, connect the hose to the radiator and secure it properly with a clamp.

Flushing the cooling system

If the concentration of antifreeze has dropped or the replacement of the coolant has been neglected, the cooling system may gradually lose efficiency, as the coolant channels are narrowed due to the deposition of rust, scale and other deposits in them. The efficiency of the cooling system can be restored by flushing the system.

To avoid additional contamination, the radiator should be flushed separately from the engine.

Flushing the radiator

To flush the radiator, disconnect the upper, lower and all other hoses from it.

Insert the hose into the upper radiator inlet. Run a stream of clean water into the radiator and continue flushing until clean water comes out of the lower radiator outlet.

If after a reasonable amount of time no clear water is coming out of the bottom hose, you can flush the radiator with a good commercial cooling system flush cleaner. Carefully follow the product manufacturer's instructions. If the contamination is severe, remove the radiator, insert a hose into the lower radiator outlet and backflush the radiator (counter current).

Engine flush

The thermostat must be removed to flush the engine. Temporarily replace the thermostat cover.

With the upper and lower hoses disconnected from the radiator, insert the hose into the upper radiator hose. Run a stream of clean water through the engine and continue flushing until clean water comes out of the lower radiator hose.

After flushing is completed, replace the thermostat and connect the hoses.


Before attempting to top up the cooling system, make sure all hoses and clamps are in good condition and the clamps are tight. Note that to prevent corrosion of engine components, antifreeze should be used all year round.

Release the clamp and move the heater supply hose relative to the baffle outlet until the air outlet at the top of the hose is no longer on the outlet surface. Do not disconnect the hose completely.

Turn out screws and disconnect a broad tank from its support in engine compartment. Raise it about 100mm above the engine compartment and secure it there with a block of wood or a piece of wire.

Remove the cover filler neck expansion tank and fill the system with coolant. Fill slowly to prevent air pockets.

If the coolant is being changed, start with a couple liters of water, then top up with the proper amount of antifreeze and finish with water.


Continue topping up until coolant flows out of the air outlet in the heater hose. After that, return the hose to its place and tighten the clamp securely.

When the fluid level in the expansion tank begins to rise, compress the lower and upper radiator hoses to help expel air trapped in the system. Once all air has been removed, add coolant to the MAX mark. Install the cap on the expansion tank. After that, fix the expansion tank in its original place.

Start the engine and let it run in fast idle move for approximately three minutes. Then let the engine run at normal idle until the bottom hose is hot.

Check for leaks, especially near disturbed items. Check the coolant level in the expansion tank and top up if necessary. Keep in mind that before the bottle stabilizes exact level, the system should be allowed to cool down. If you want to remove the expansion tank cap when the engine is warm, cover the cap with a thick cloth and unscrew the cap slowly to relieve pressure in the system gradually (a hiss is usually heard). Wait until the system is completely depressurized, then continue to turn the cap until it is completely removed. Never remove the cap when the engine is hot.


Warning! VW prescribes the use of CIS (red) antifreeze. DO NOT mix it with any other brand of antifreeze, as serious engine damage may result. If the coolant in the expansion tank is Brown color, it is possible that the cooling system was filled with coolant containing the wrong brand of antifreeze. If you are unsure of the brand of antifreeze you are using, or if you suspect a mix-up has taken place, The best way The action consists in draining, flushing and subsequent filling of the cooling system.

If you are using a coolant other than that recommended by VW, the antifreeze must be changed at the prescribed intervals. This is necessary not only to preserve the properties of the antifreeze, but also to prevent corrosion, which can occur due to the gradual decrease in the effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitor.

Before adding coolant, completely empty the cooling system, it is advisable to flush it and check the condition and tightness of all hoses.


After refueling, antifreeze should be attached to expansion tank a tag indicating the brand and concentration of antifreeze used, as well as the date of refueling. Any subsequent refueling should use the same brand and concentration of antifreeze.

Do not use antifreeze for the engine cooling system in the washer system windshield/ glass doors luggage compartment/ headlights as it may damage the vehicle's paintwork.

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