Simple 3-step complete coolant drain (updated w/ refill procedure + water pump tips)
02-04-2019, 03:57 PM
#106
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Glad to hear this DIY continues to be useful. Re flushing product, I don't really see the need unless you have oil coolant intermix.
Distilled water is good enough and fresh coolant will provide the corrosion protection the engine needs.
Distilled water is good enough and fresh coolant will provide the corrosion protection the engine needs.
02-04-2019, 04:23 PM
#107
Three Wheelin'
I use the uview vacuum tool for both refilling as well as evacuating coolant. The Uview comes with rubber adaptors to fit onto the coolant bottle perfectly, then I just use the air compressor to evacuate coolant for the entire system. Mu 997.2 holds about qts of coolant and was able to purge 7 qts without having to remove any hoses. To me, evacuating 7 qts is good enough. Great writeup on the process through.
02-04-2019, 04:54 PM
#108
Just a car guy
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Makes sense on the flush product. There is no evidence of intermix. Flushing with heated water should be just the ticket.
02-04-2019, 05:02 PM
#109
If the coolant you're removing is considering a lifetime coolant and you're replacing it with a Porsche approved coolant, what do you expect to gain by flushing it? The only thing left is a bit of older coolant that your engine was just fine with before you drained it. It's a closed system. If the coolant you removed was contaminated it would be a good idea but otherwise why bother?
02-04-2019, 05:19 PM
#110
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
I use the uview vacuum tool for both refilling as well as evacuating coolant. The Uview comes with rubber adaptors to fit onto the coolant bottle perfectly, then I just use the air compressor to evacuate coolant for the entire system. Mu 997.2 holds about qts of coolant and was able to purge 7 qts without having to remove any hoses. To me, evacuating 7 qts is good enough. Great writeup on the process through.
02-04-2019, 06:11 PM
#111
Just a car guy
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If the coolant you're removing is considering a lifetime coolant and you're replacing it with a Porsche approved coolant, what do you expect to gain by flushing it? The only thing left is a bit of older coolant that your engine was just fine with before you drained it. It's a closed system. If the coolant you removed was contaminated it would be a good idea but otherwise why bother?
Define "lifetime". The additives break down over time. Plus debris from any number of sources may be introduced.
Personally, I won't be taking a chance on it. I have no knowledge of what was in the car when I bought it. I could test it - but why not start with a clean slate, knowing full well what is going in and at what concentration? Again it can, and will, be tested periodically. If one is opening the system to replace components (waterpump, thermostat, etc.) - wouldn't one want to put a little more investment into it to be safe and provide additional confidence?
I guess that's why I'd bother.
Last edited by Scott at Team Harco; 02-04-2019 at 06:56 PM.
02-04-2019, 06:19 PM
#112
Rennlist Member
^^The smart and safe thing to do, I did too!
02-04-2019, 08:54 PM
#113
I'm not suggesting reusing old coolant. I just replaced my water and used the recommended Porsche coolant. As far as I know the coolant was 14 years old. I was wondering more about flushing the system. I'm a terrible writer.
Not sure if you are directing this at me. I'll field it anyway...
Define "lifetime". The additives break down over time. Plus debris from any number of sources may be introduced.
Personally, I won't be taking a chance on it. I have no knowledge of what was in the car when I bought it. I could test it - but why not start with a clean slate, knowing full well what is going in and at what concentration? Again it can, and will, be tested periodically. If one is opening the system to replace components (waterpump, thermostat, etc.) - wouldn't one want to put a little more investment into it to be safe and provide additional confidence?
I guess that's why I'd bother.
Define "lifetime". The additives break down over time. Plus debris from any number of sources may be introduced.
Personally, I won't be taking a chance on it. I have no knowledge of what was in the car when I bought it. I could test it - but why not start with a clean slate, knowing full well what is going in and at what concentration? Again it can, and will, be tested periodically. If one is opening the system to replace components (waterpump, thermostat, etc.) - wouldn't one want to put a little more investment into it to be safe and provide additional confidence?
I guess that's why I'd bother.
02-05-2019, 09:04 AM
#114
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I think I got that from your post. In my case, I have no idea if the coolant has ever been changed. The car is 18 years old, with 123k miles. I found a little "salt" on the waterpump. I believe that flushing it will do no harm, and may actually be beneficial. There may be aluminum scale or other impurities in the system that I would like removed. I've got a few things to do before I will start driving the car. This is not holding that up. Why not do it?
02-05-2019, 11:40 AM
#115
Great write up! I have used it on my 2001 C2 and it worked perfectly!
I have a third radiator so it took all of 6 gallons of mixed coolant to fully fill mine!!!
If I remember correctly someone mentioned that a name brand fabric softener was a "cheater" product used to flush the oil out of the cooling system when you have oil in it!?
Does anyone know what it was? I think the logic was that the product would not harm the block, heads, lines or fittings unlike some other cleaning products made to flush out your cooling system... but it did a number to the stuck on oil?
I have a third radiator so it took all of 6 gallons of mixed coolant to fully fill mine!!!
If I remember correctly someone mentioned that a name brand fabric softener was a "cheater" product used to flush the oil out of the cooling system when you have oil in it!?
Does anyone know what it was? I think the logic was that the product would not harm the block, heads, lines or fittings unlike some other cleaning products made to flush out your cooling system... but it did a number to the stuck on oil?
02-05-2019, 11:45 AM
#116
Drifting
Great write up! I have used it on my 2001 C2 and it worked perfectly!
I have a third radiator so it took all of 6 gallons of mixed coolant to fully fill mine!!!
If I remember correctly someone mentioned that a name brand fabric softener was a "cheater" product used to flush the oil out of the cooling system when you have oil in it!?
Does anyone know what it was? I think the logic was that the product would not harm the block, heads, lines or fittings unlike some other cleaning products made to flush out your cooling system... but it did a number to the stuck on oil?
I have a third radiator so it took all of 6 gallons of mixed coolant to fully fill mine!!!
If I remember correctly someone mentioned that a name brand fabric softener was a "cheater" product used to flush the oil out of the cooling system when you have oil in it!?
Does anyone know what it was? I think the logic was that the product would not harm the block, heads, lines or fittings unlike some other cleaning products made to flush out your cooling system... but it did a number to the stuck on oil?
02-06-2019, 11:57 AM
#118
Rennlist Member
If the coolant you're removing is considering a lifetime coolant and you're replacing it with a Porsche approved coolant, what do you expect to gain by flushing it? The only thing left is a bit of older coolant that your engine was just fine with before you drained it. It's a closed system. If the coolant you removed was contaminated it would be a good idea but otherwise why bother?
same here as what others said. I bought the car a week after the coolant had been changed, but wasn’t able to confirm what was used for the refill. Given I had heard that various coolants don’t mix well, I wanted to flush/rinse out as much of the old (brand new unknown coolant) as possible. Perhaps a bit over the top, but wanted to consider the coolant system “done for a while” once finished and took the extra half hour to flush distilled water through the system before filling with the proper fluids.
02-06-2019, 12:04 PM
#119
same here as what others said. I bought the car a week after the coolant had been changed, but wasn’t able to confirm what was used for the refill. Given I had heard that various coolants don’t mix well, I wanted to flush/rinse out as much of the old (brand new unknown coolant) as possible. Perhaps a bit over the top, but wanted to consider the coolant system “done for a while” once finished and took the extra half hour to flush distilled water through the system before filling with the proper fluids.
02-06-2019, 01:14 PM
#120
Three Wheelin'
If the coolant you're removing is considering a lifetime coolant and you're replacing it with a Porsche approved coolant, what do you expect to gain by flushing it? The only thing left is a bit of older coolant that your engine was just fine with before you drained it. It's a closed system. If the coolant you removed was contaminated it would be a good idea but otherwise why bother?
BTW, you don't need Porsche's coolant with 300% markup. They don;t make coolants and I use Zerex G40 which is 100% .