Simple 3-step complete coolant drain (updated w/ refill procedure + water pump tips)
#76
Instructor
Thanks from me too Ahsai!
I was replacing my water pump / thermostat and found orange (not pink Porsche) coolant. I'd bought Porsche coolant to replace it but needed to flush the old stuff thoroughly to avoid even the possibility of a mix reaction. This and the airlift tool made it easy. :-)
I was replacing my water pump / thermostat and found orange (not pink Porsche) coolant. I'd bought Porsche coolant to replace it but needed to flush the old stuff thoroughly to avoid even the possibility of a mix reaction. This and the airlift tool made it easy. :-)
Last edited by silvergray951; 01-29-2017 at 01:35 AM.
#77
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Thanks from me too Ahsai!
I was replacing my water pump / thermostat and found orange (not pink Porsche) coolant. I'd bought Porsche coolant to replace it but needed to flush the old stuff thoroughly to avoid even the possibility of a mix reaction. This and the airlift tool made it easy. :-)
I was replacing my water pump / thermostat and found orange (not pink Porsche) coolant. I'd bought Porsche coolant to replace it but needed to flush the old stuff thoroughly to avoid even the possibility of a mix reaction. This and the airlift tool made it easy. :-)
#78
Drifting
Great thread Ahsai.Thank you for sharing all the tech details with us.
I was apprehensive about using the compressed air to do the final flush that Ahsai did.I did not trust the pressure regulator down to 10psi on my old monster compressor. Instead I used a big shop vac (blow end ,not suck!) and that worked well.Just don't make a sealed connection between the shop vac hose and the coolant hose. You only need a high volume/low pressure air supply.It made a big mess on the floor!
I was apprehensive about using the compressed air to do the final flush that Ahsai did.I did not trust the pressure regulator down to 10psi on my old monster compressor. Instead I used a big shop vac (blow end ,not suck!) and that worked well.Just don't make a sealed connection between the shop vac hose and the coolant hose. You only need a high volume/low pressure air supply.It made a big mess on the floor!
#81
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
#83
Hard to say, since so much of the coolant from the rad ended up on the garage floor.....
I think it's safe to say I've recovered 4.5 gallons in the various containers, and it's not too far a stretch to estimate about 1.5 gallons gushed out on to the garage floor.
Just got the water pump and thermostat off after getting the 10mm 1/4" drive deep socket and the 1/4" universal, both are a must, and a few bolts were still not easy to remove, should be a load of fun to install these bolts back in with the new water pump and low-temp thermostat now!!
I think it's safe to say I've recovered 4.5 gallons in the various containers, and it's not too far a stretch to estimate about 1.5 gallons gushed out on to the garage floor.
Just got the water pump and thermostat off after getting the 10mm 1/4" drive deep socket and the 1/4" universal, both are a must, and a few bolts were still not easy to remove, should be a load of fun to install these bolts back in with the new water pump and low-temp thermostat now!!
#84
Drifting
#85
Rennlist Member
You can give it a try but the I think the 3/8" are too big to get in there and maneuver.
#87
Rennlist Member
The thread that keeps on giving. I decided to purge the entire system before replacing the water pump, thermostat and some coolant hoses as the PO had the coolant replaced a week before he sold it to me and I'm pretty sure the shop didn't use oem coolant. I've heard they don't mix well, so wanted to thoroughly flush the system. Nothing like this thread and about 20 gallons of purified water to do the trick. Thanks a ton for this info -- and the airlift system idea. Had never heard of it, but won't do another coolant flush without one.
The only drama i ran into was installing the thermostat prior to remounting the hard coolant line on the same side. Just required me to disconnect the hard line at the other end that's on the opposite side of the car to route the line back in between the t-stat housing and the engine block and then reconnect both ends. Oh and those damn oem hose clamps. I'm sure they're great when new, but even with the hose clamp tool i bought, those clamps suck once old. Top thip: anyone replacing hoses should definitely replace those too. I didn't feel like waiting another week to order more, so just used worm gear clamps in the two spots where the oem clamps had lost their functionality.
The only drama i ran into was installing the thermostat prior to remounting the hard coolant line on the same side. Just required me to disconnect the hard line at the other end that's on the opposite side of the car to route the line back in between the t-stat housing and the engine block and then reconnect both ends. Oh and those damn oem hose clamps. I'm sure they're great when new, but even with the hose clamp tool i bought, those clamps suck once old. Top thip: anyone replacing hoses should definitely replace those too. I didn't feel like waiting another week to order more, so just used worm gear clamps in the two spots where the oem clamps had lost their functionality.
#88
Rennlist Member
Ahsai, I went to use the refill method for the first time on Blue Chips car after getting the FSI installed. I couldn't pull a vacuum over -20 cmhg and then it would immediately leak out. So I filled it manually and brought the car up to temp. Instead of filling it the rest of the way up after the thermostat opening, I put the vacuum back on. This time I pulled it up to -45cmhg without issue. I closed the valve and it still leaked back out over probably a 30s period. Should I be concerned at this point? Should I get a pressure tester and check it out in your opinion or is this minimal enough to move on?
#89
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Are you sure you have a good seal between the vacuum tool and the neck of the reservoir? The 30s 'leak out" maybe due to internal air pockets being extracted slowly?
#90
Rennlist Member
I'm not 100% sure the first time as it was my first time to use the tool. Air pockets would make sense on the 30s leakout.