

| Subject: | Re: Coolant Question |
| From: | Stuart MacMillan |
| Date: | Tue, 5 Sep 2000 13:18:18 -0700 |
Yes, 50-50 is the only way to go. The only way to completely drain the system is to open both heater valves (front and rear) remove both radiator hoses at the front, the connections at the engine, the lower connection at the expansion bottle, and, last and the biggest PITA, remove the pushrod shields and you will find drain plugs on each water jacket. You can skip the last step (which can take you all day!) and flush the old coolant out of the engine by hooking everything back up, filling with water, running the engine for a short time, then disconnecting everything again. You can also install a tee (Prestone makes one that is available from any auto parts store) in one of the heater hoses after draining, and hook up a hose to flush the system with water. Since you can't get all the water out without removing those plugs on the engine, add the proper amount of straight, undiluted coolant (50% of the system capacity) and add water to fill the system. Bleed, and top up with more water. After bleeding and a week of driving, if there is any coolant drop top up with 50-50 mix and look for leaks! It is a time consuming process, which is why I now use the long life orange stuff, Havoline Dexcool or Prestone Extended Life, so I only have to do this every five years instead of two years. Both are best for Vanagons anyway, ethylene glycol based, no phosphates, and utilize a totally new anticorrosion chemistry that doesn't break down to form corrosive acids like the old stuff does, including VW's Autobahn coolant. It must be fall, the time when young men's hearts turn to changing their antifreeze. . .or something like that! -- Stuart MacMillan Seattle '84 Vanagon Westfalia '65 MGB (Driven since 1969) '74 MGB GT (Restoring) Assisting on Restoration: '72 MGB GT (Daughter's) '64 MGB (Son's) Parts cars: '68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
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