Strosek Ultra

Reading the owners manual it says the engine coolant volume is about 16 liters (4.2 US gallon). Every time I have changed coolant I noticed far less fluid being drained out of the engine and radiator combined. Recently when I did the coolant change on the red car I decided to measure the volume of fluid drained and it was almost exactly 10 liters. I flushed the system with the water hose and let it sit overnight. Next day I replaced the fluid, this time with distilled water mixed with ethylene glycol 50/50 and 10 liters went in.
The question is where does the remaining 6 liter of coolant fluid hide or is the statement in the owners manual incorrect?
Åke

worf928

There's 2 - 3 liter of 'air bubbles' until you heat-cycle the engine after a coolant change.
It takes me ~3.5 gallons (~13 liter) for a coolant change. Assuming I don't spill any.

There's about a liter left in the block, heater core, etc.

Edit: Must be more left in the block and hoses.

SwedeInSiam

I use about 14 liters on a change on my 80

Mrmerlin

if you also drain the block then you should be very close to adding 4 gallons = 2 coolant and 2 distilled water
NOTE the block holds about 1.1 gallons on each side,
total 2.2 gal approx.

Strosek Ultra

Of course I drained the block at both sides as well as the radiator (blue plug).
The heater was set in hot position. I have had the engine through a heat cycle and the level dropped by about half an inch. Less than a liter went in to get the fluid level right. Still I am way off from 16 liter of volume as well as you guys. I have had 928 cars since 1986 (three car since 2000) and as far I recall I have never been able to use 16 liters when filling up the coolant system.
Åke

worf928

When the engine and radiator go back into the bay after on-stand assembly of the engine, it takes 4 gallons. There's a significant volume of coolant left even after pulling the drain plugs and letting them drain.

It may also depend upon how long you let them drip. The radiator will continue to drip,drip,drip for what seems like weeks LoL.

Mrmerlin

are you running the engine with the heater turned on?
that will use about 1/2 gallon to fill the heater core.
if you cant put in the amount then you have a plugged block or radiator core or heater core or all three

Mongo

This is probably a dumb set of questions but related to this topic.

I have an engine block full of water right now and no antifreeze. I poured a whole gallon of Zerex G05 into my lower radiator hose, split with my reservoir bottle, including an entire 12oz bottle of Water Wetter. How much more straight antifreeze should I add? What is the fluid capacity of the engine block for coolant?

FredR

If the fill volume is 13 litres then you need to add 1.72 US gallons of antifreeze- you already added 1 gallon [US?] so in round terms you will need another 3/4 of a gallon.

Whether or not the stuff you have in there already allows this volume to be added no so clear-To date you have added 1.1 x2 water plus 1 gallon anti freeze plus the water wetter. This is 12.2 litres- if the fill volume is 13 litres you do not have enough room.

Mrmerlin

its safe to buy 2 gallons of coolant and 2 gallons of distilled water,
pour half of 1 gallon of coolant into the engine,
then pour 1/2 a gallon of distilled water into the gallon of coolant, mix.

then add the other gallon of coolant and other 1 1/2 of water to the engine,
this will leave you with 1 gallon jug with 50/50 coolant remaining

Strosek Ultra

I had the engine sit overnight with all the drain plugs out. Could not detect any dripping in the next morning. Do you mean I need to remove the radiator in order to get all the coolant fluid out?
Åke

Strosek Ultra

Thank you guys for the feedback. Yes I did put the heater to hot position. I really cannot see I have a plugged block, radiator or heater. This is a car with rather low miles, I have had and serviced the car since the year 2000. Everything is working, no overheating of the engine, the heater is working very good at the low temperatures we can see over here.
A number of years ago I changed coolant in the blue car. According to my notes 11 liters went in. It is now time to do the coolant on the blue car again. I will thoroughly measure the volumes drained and filled. Maybe I shall remove the radiator to make sure it is all drained.
Åke

worf928

Well, only if you've got a fetish for getting rid of all the old coolant.

The comments about what's left in the rad, heater core, etc, explain the difference between the system capacity of >4 gallons and the observed change volume of ~3.5-3.75 gallons.

Wisconsin Joe

Probably.

I "drained" my radiator last winter while doing the TB. Pulled the plug and let it drain for a while. Pulled the hoses & let them drain too. After a few days, I pulled the radiator out (for working room) and set it aside.

The next day, there was a pretty big puddle on the floor by the lower hose outlet.

Just to see (and to get all the old coolant out because I was replacing), I put a block under the other end and tilted it toward the hose outlets (toward the back of the car if installed) to get the hose outlet to the lowest possible spot. Also put a pan under the outlet to minimize the mess. I was a bit surprised at how much accumulated.
Maybe half a liter total (including the puddle).

FredR

Åke,

Drained my engine jackets down today and managed to avoid the usual ethylene glycol shower one usually gets working under axle stands! Put the caught coolant into a 5 gallon container and reckon the total caught was about 3.5 gallons [13 litres +/-] so I should be OK with the 4 gallons I have ready to put back in.

Rgds

Fred