coolant - refilling - possible air lock

[Guy]

reet

I drained the coolant system by undoing the bottom radiator hose.

I flushed the system using coolant flush.

I popped a new expansion tank on as the old one was minging.

Flushed it a bit more to make sure the water was running crystal clear.

Went to fill the expansion tank back up and it only too about 1/10th of a watering can (not even a litre) and only 1 bottle of 1.5L G12 Plus Plus....

Coolant level on expansion tank reads max. Both top and bottom radiator hoses are hot when the engine is running. Water temperature is reading 90 degrees C, Oil temp is reading 88 degrees C after extended idle.

Is it possible that the is one god almighty air lock in the system.. or might the hose water used for the coolant system flush still be in the system... it all seemed to drain away merrily?

[spunkymonkey]

I would run it at a fast idle (3000rpm) for about 5 mins then leave it. When you go out to it 2moz you will prob find the bottle is empty.

[Guy]

I would run it at a fast idle (3000rpm) for about 5 mins then leave it. When you go out to it 2moz you will prob find the bottle is empty.

i'll try that in the morning... thank you... gave it a thrash for about that time tonight to see if it would make a difference... was purely guesswork though

why would the fast idle make a difference?

[Ben Lessani]

Fast idle just to spin up the water pump and get the water flowing, RubJonny has posted a guide on getting air locks clear.

Did you say you filled it up with 1l of water and 1.5 litres of coolant? 2.5l total then ... isn't that the capacity of the system anyway?

[Guy]

Fast idle just to spin up the water pump and get the water flowing, RubJonny has posted a guide on getting air locks clear.

Did you say you filled it up with 1l of water and 1.5 litres of coolant? 2.5l total then ... isn't that the capacity of the system anyway?

i would have thought the capacity was closer to 9 - 12l ? tbh idk though

will look up rubjohnny's thread

[Ben Lessani]

That's almost 3 gallons! Are you mad?!?! Starts looking for Haynes to get exact figure ...



For the MK4 its ...

Cooling system capacity
• 1.8L engine 5.3 quarts (5.0 liters)
• 1.9L engine 6.3 quarts (6.0 liters)
• 2.0L engine 5.3 quarts (5.0 liters)
• 2.8L engine 9.5 quarts (9.0 liters)

Still looking for MK3

[Guy]

That's almost 3 gallons! Are you mad?!?! Starts looking for Haynes to get exact figure ...

i looked in haynes - couldn't find it

rubjohnny says 5l and i definately didn't put that amount in... i can only assume from the flush that there was water sitting in the system somewhere

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=106380.0

[Ben Lessani]

I just pipped you to the post with the figures The block holds a fair amount in it, and the heater matrix won't drain out either given the outlet is at the top.

[Guy]

I just pipped you to the post with the figures The block holds a fair amount in it, and the heater matrix won't drain out either given the outlet is at the top.

erm?! 

« Last Edit: Today at 22:48 by Ben Lessani »

anyway... figured about the matrix... didn't figure about the block

wanted to start from scratch with the coolant... as it were, to see if it discoloured over time to tell if the matrix or anything else was corroding... is there a way to completely drain the system without holding the car upside down and shaking it? (bar the matrix of course)

[Ben Lessani]

rubjohnny says 5l

« Last Edit: Today at 22:48 by Ben Lessani »

Yeah man, consider your post pipped ... by 1 minute Don't feel bad