Volkswagen Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Draining and filling coolant   Caution It is only permissible to use distilled water for mixing with G12 plus-plus. The use of distilled water ensures optimum protection against corrosion.

Special tools and workshop equipment required

t	Refractometer -T10007-

t	Spring-type clip pliers -VAS 5024A-

t	Cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096-

Draining   WARNING Steam may escape when expansion tank is opened. Wear eye protection and protective clothing to avoid eye injuries and scalding. Cover cap with cloth and open carefully. –  Open filler cap on coolant expansion tank. –  Remove engine splash protection.

–  To drain coolant from radiator, open drain plug -arrow-.   Note

For vehicles without drain plug, pull out retaining clip -arrow- and pull coolant hose off radiator.   Note Observe environmental regulations for disposal. Filling   Note An influencing factor of the effectiveness of the coolant is the amount of water used. Due to the various qualities in the various countries Volkswagen has decided to define the quality of the water to be used in the coolant system. Distilled water fulfils all requirements. For this reason, we therefore recommend using distilled water when topping up or replacing coolant, even in older models. For new models (model year 2010 ▶) it is compulsory to use distilled water.   Caution It is only permissible to use distilled water for mixing with G12 plus-plus. The use of distilled water ensures optimum protection against corrosion.   Note t  In vehicles as of model year 2008, only G 12 plus-plus according to TL VW 774 G may be used as coolant additive. t  For vehicles up to and including model year 2007 coolant additive G 12 plus according to TL VW 774 F and G 12 plus-plus according to TL VW 774 G can be used. t  The coolant additive G 12 plus-plus can be mixed with the previous coolant additive G 12 plus. Identification: both are coloured purple. t  Coolant additives marked „according to TL VW 774 G“ or „according to TL VW 774 F“ prevent frost and corrosion damage, scaling and also raise boiling point of coolant. Therefore, the cooling system must be filled all year round with frost and corrosion protection additives. t  Because of its higher boiling point, the coolant improves engine reliability under heavy loads, particularly in countries with tropical climates. t  Frost protection is required down to about -25 °C (in countries with arctic climates: down to about -35 °C). t  The coolant concentration must not be reduced by adding distilled water even in the warm season or in hot countries. The coolant additive concentration must be at least 40 %. t  If for climatic reasons greater frost protection is required, the amount of coolant additive can be increased, but only up to 60 % (frost protection to about -40 °C). Otherwise frost protection and cooling effectiveness are reduced again. t  The refractometer -T10007- is recommended for determining the current anti-freeze concentration. t  If radiator, heat exchanger, cylinder head or cylinder head gasket is renewed, do not reuse old coolant. Recommended mixing ratios (use only distilled water for mixing):

Frost protection to	Amount of anti-freeze	G 12 plus-plus → Remark	Distilled water → Remark
-25 °C -35 °C	40 % 50 %	2.25 l 2.8 l	3.35 l 2.8 l

1)  The quantity of coolant can vary depending upon vehicle equipment.

–  Screw drain plug into radiator.

–  For vehicles without drain plug press connection against radiator and move retaining clip in -direction of arrow-. –  Install engine splash protection. With cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096- –  Fill coolant circuit using cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096- → Operating instructions for cooling system charge unit VAS 6096. Without cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096-

–  Fill with coolant up to max. mark on expansion tank. With or without cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096- –  Fit expansion tank cap. –  Turn off heater controls. –  Start engine and maintain an engine speed of about 2000 rpm for about 3 minutes. –  Run engine until radiator fan cuts in.   WARNING Steam may escape when expansion tank is opened. Wear eye protection and protective clothing to avoid eye injuries and scalding. Cover cap with cloth and open carefully. –  Check coolant level and top up if necessary. When the engine is at normal operating temperature, the coolant level must be on the max. mark; when the engine is cold, between the min. and max. marks.