SEAT Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Draining off and filling coolant

Special tools and workshop equipment required

t	Adapter for cooling system tester -V.A.G 1274/8-

t	Drip tray for workshop hoist -VAS 6208-

t	Hose clip pliers -V.A.G 1921-

t	Coolant charger -VAS 6096-

t	Refractometer -T10007-

Emptying:   WARNING When the engine is warm, the cooling system is under pressure! Hot steam/hot coolant can escape - risk of scalding. Cover filler cap on coolant expansion tank with a cloth and open carefully to dissipate pressure.   Note Collect drained coolant in a clean container for re-use or disposal. –  Remove the sound insulation → Bodywork, exterior installation work; Rep. gr.50 –  Place drip tray for workshop cranes -VAS 6208- beneath engine.

–  Disconnect coolant hose -1- from radiator (right side) and drain off coolant. –  Remove the air filter housing → Chapter.

–  Disconnect coolant hose -arrow- from radiator (left side). Hold down coolant hose in the collecting tray as far as possible to allow the coolant to drain out of the engine.

–  Disconnect bottom coolant hose leading to continued coolant circulation pump -V51--arrow- and drain off coolant.

Vehicles with auxiliary heater: –  Disconnect coolant hoses -arrows- and drain off remaining coolant. Filling:   Note A decisive factor of the effectiveness of the coolant is the amount of water used for mixing. Due to the different contents in the various countries that may even deviate locally, Volkswagen has decided to define the quality of the water to be used in the coolant system. Purified water fulfils all requirements. It is therefore recommended that purified water is mixed with the coolant whenever an older model's coolant is toped up or replaced. On newer vehicle models (model year 2010 ►), the use of purified water is absolutely essential.   Caution It is only permissible to use purified water for mixing with G12 plus-plus. The use of purified water ensures optimum protection against corrosion.   Note t  Only use antifreeze additive G 12 plus-plus according to specification TL VW 774 G. t  Anti freeze additives with the indication „according to TL VW 774 G“ avoid damage due to corrosion, freezing or lime sedimentation. They also increase the boiling temperature of the liquid coolant. For this reason, the cooling system must be filled with coolant additive all year round. t  Thanks to this rise in the boiling point, the coolant guarantees good running, even when the engine undergoes heavy strain, especially in countries with tropical climates. t  The antifreeze protection must be guaranteed to approx. - 25 ºC (down to approx. -35°C in countries with arctic climate). t  The concentration of the coolant must not be reduced by adding water in summer or in countries with hot climates. The amount of anti-freeze in the coolant must be at least 40 %. t  If the climate requires a stronger anti-freeze, the anti-freeze agent can be increased, but only up to 60% (anti-freeze protection down to approx. -40ºC). If the proportion is greater, the cooling and anti-freeze protection capacity is reduced. t  The refractometer -T10007- is recommended for determining the current anti-freeze density. t  If radiator, heat exchanger, cylinder head or cylinder head gasket has been replaced, do not reuse old coolant. Recommended mixture ratios:

Anti-freeze protection up to	Anti-freeze proportion	G 12 plus-plus1)	purified water1)
-25 ℃  -35 ℃	40 % 50 %	3.2 l  4.0 l	4.8 l  4.0 l

1) The quantity of coolant can vary depending on the vehicle equipment. –  Connect all coolant hoses. –  Install noise insulation → Bodywork, exterior fitting work; Rep. gr.50 –  Fill coolant reservoir of -VAS 6096- with at least 8 litres of pre-mixed coolant in correct mixture ratio: l  Coolant additive (40 %) and distilled water (60 %) for frost protection to -25 ℃ l  Coolant additive (50 %) and distilled water (50 %) for frost protection to -35 ℃ l  Coolant additive (60 %) and distilled water (40 %) for frost protection to -40 ℃ l  Coolant additive → ETKA (Electronic parts catalogue).

–  Unbolt coolant expansion tank -arrows- and tilt forwards slightly.

–  Fit adapter for cooling system tester -V.A.G 1274/8- onto coolant expansion tank. –  Attach cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096- to adapter -V.A.G 1274/8-. –  Close both valves -A- and -B- (turn lever at right angles to direction of flow). –  Run vent hose -1- into a small container -2-.   Note The vented air draws along a small amount of coolant, which should be collected. –  Connect hose -3- to compressed air. l  Pressure: 6 ... 10 bar of pressure

–  Open valve -B- by setting lever in direction of flow. l  The needle on the pressure gauge should move into the green zone. –  Also briefly open valve -A- (turn lever in direction of flow) so that hose on reservoir of -VAS 6096- can fill with coolant. –  Close valve -A- again. –  Leave valve -B- open for another 2 minutes. l  The suction jet pump still generates a vacuum in the cooling system. The pointer of the pressure gauge must remain in the green zone.

–  Close valve -B-. –  Pull out pressure hose. –  The needle on the pressure gauge must stay in the green zone.   Note t  If the needle does not reach the green zone, repeat the process. t  Check cooling system for leaks if the vacuum is not maintained. t  The subsequent filling must be performed »slowly«.

–  Open valve -A- slowly. l  The vacuum in the cooling system causes the coolant to be drawn out of the reservoir of -VAS 6096-; the cooling system is then filled. –  Detach cooling system charge unit -VAS 6096- from adapter -V.A.G 1274/8- on coolant expansion tank. –  Start engine and set heater to »warm«. –  Keep engine speed at approx. 2000 rpm for about 3 minutes. –  Allow engine to run at idling speed until radiator fan -V7- cuts in.

–  Check the level of coolant and top up or extract it if necessary. When the engine is at normal operating temperature, the coolant level must be at the top mark, and when the engine is cold, in the middle of the shaded area.