Coolant woes.....Q?

[Rallyman]

Ok, this a question for ya!
I have just emptied the coolant on my A4 1.8t quat, Is there some sort of special procedure that you must do when you are refilling it? As I am having difficulty refilling it with the amount of water and it will not circulate the water. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Oh yes the red antifreeze...is it a must? or can you use the blue stuff in these engines? Heeeeelp!
Many thanks
Michael

 

[CraigM]

The handbook and service manual both say that you should only use G12 (red) coolant - not sure if you have to, but it doesn't cost that much from Audi so personally I wouldn't risk anything else.

I guess you will have to open up the bleed valves to get the coolant to circulate round the engine. You will want to set the heater in the car to max to make sure the coolant flows through the heater matrix and gets rid of any air.

Not sure if this is going to be much use to you as it is for the 2.8 - might be worth a look though??

http://www.mcmillan-uk.com/Audi/CoolingSystem.pdf

 

[Phantom_A4]

I have always used the modil stuff, which is recommended apparently for audi/vw. I would never use blue as the pink stuff drops to a lower temperature also the coolant mix should be 70% water. Never mix blue and pink!

Once you've drained the coolant, fill it up to the mark as described 70% water. then run engine for 10 minutes on idle. Switch off and top up with water if necessary.

What i have always done /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[FezzR]

you need to run it until the thermostat opens as it will only circulate the engine not the system till then, in most cases just leave it idling with the cap off until the fans kick in that way you know the thermostat has opened and water is circulating. leave to cool. fit cap, run up again (or drive it) then once its cooled the second or third time it will probably have dropped ago a small amount

 

[Charlies604]

Theres a pipe you have to pull of half way to bleed the first half of the system... (B4 the exp. tank fills)

Hold on ill get the haynes out!

Its the heater unit supply hose, remove it from the bulkhead stub until you can see in the bleed hole.

Take the expansion tank off the mount and raise it 100mm or so fill it at that height. Id support it up there too.. wire it from the bonnet or sumthin.

Fill until coolant runs from the bleed hole, replace that hose and do it up tight. continue to fill until the tank fills up, squeeze the coolant hoses to get rid of any excess air .
Fill up to max on the tank, refit it and run the car till the bottom rad hose gets hot, check ur levels. (BE CAREFUL with the hot exp. tank!)

Done.

 

[Broken Byzan]

you probably have air in the heater matrix, it needs to be bled. You pul one of the hoses slightly to uncover an air hole , allow coolant to pass out then push the pipe back on, and job done.

DOH!! beaten to it,lol

 

[Charlies604]

hehe... Twice in one day! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Rallyman]

Fantastic guys!
Many thanks. I thought it would be something like bleeding one of the many pipes! as I pumped all the hoses and it hadnt taken much, and after letting it idle for a bit and it was getting a wee tad too hot ..... hope i havn't upset it! fingers x'd! ... I'll try later. and I'll stick with the red!
Cheers
Michael

 

[duncansaunders]

With the VW/Audi coolant you should never mix G11 with G12. - There is a risk of it going lumpy!

G12+ (pink) will mix with either.

All that I can buy from my VW dealer is G12+ Must be same for Audi.
£6.50 for 1.5 litres to then dilute to about 40% concentration.
Cheaper than Halfords.