[Vwdiesel] Fw: Cooling system flushing

[Tad]

Thanks for the advice James.

Can you elaborate on how one should properly test?

Of course everyone should know to never mix different types (colors) of
antifreeze, so I wonder if the same rule applies to the "replenishment"
additives?

On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 5:13 PM, James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net> wrote:

> Coolant has come a long way, the newer shell stuff is rated for life in
> heavy trucks or construction equipment.  You can buy an anti-corrosion
> additive booster if testing shows it is necessary.
> Off the top of my head, I don't recall when I last changed coolant in
> anything.  Oh, the 89 Jetta maybe 10 years ago when I was determined to
> make
> the heater put out heat- did the citric acid flush, de-bar's leaked the
> core, jumped through half a dozen hoops... etc...
>
> But change coolant, hmm.   If I had to change coolant in every piece of
> machinery just once, it would generate around two hundred gallons of waste
> coolant.   Not too smart, but good for the guy selling it.  Why not test
> the
> coolant to see if it's used up?  I routinely test mine every year in the
> newer stuff, every few in the older stuff. Cylinder corrosion in some
> engines is a real issue, and a leak there is not fun, but I would consider
> a
> 2 year change to be bad advice.
> -james
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
> Behalf Of Tad
> Sent: November-16-10 3:19 PM
> To: Arkady Mirvis
> Cc: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Fw: Cooling system flushing
>
> Cite?
>
> Of course the ever-helpful VW website has stopped providing maintenance
> schedule information, but as I recall the last time I looked, coolant
> change
> was not mentioned at all (other than the "lifetime" reference).
>
> A web search mostly finds recommendations to change the coolant from sites
> that want to sell you new coolant.
>
> Also, how would one change the coolant without first flushing the old
> coolant?  Or do you mean just drain-and-fill, which would leave much of the
> old coolant in place?
>
> On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 11:45 PM, Arkady Mirvis
> <arkadymirvis at gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > Accoirding to manufacturer's instructions coolant must be changed every 2
> > years. During this period the engine metal is protected by the coolant
> > additives. Regular coolant change will prevent corrosion and when drained
> > will take with it impurities. Flushing never will be needed.
> > My german mentor Andreas Hagedorn Maximilian Gerold ( inspector at MB )
> who
> > does engines rebuild and is an excellent tuner, did show me aluminum
> engine
> > heads with no corrosion visible in engines over 10 years old. All to good
> > maintenance.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Tad" <tadc at europa.com>
> > To: "Rudy" <petersenrudy at hotmail.com>
> > Cc: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> > Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 10:32 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Cooling system flushing
> >
> >
> > > I've never heard of using anything but plain water for the job.
> > > Considering
> > > that the "stuff" you want to flush is likely corrosion products of
> > > iron/aluminum, I wouldn't expect a grease cutter to do much good... but
> I
> > > guess a detergent would help to suspend the particles so the water can
> > > flush
> > > them out, but I'd be concerned about the residue interacting with the
> new
> > > coolant... but  then what do I know?
> > >
> > > On that subject (and sorry if this is a thread hijack), but I often
> > wonder
> > > about the "lifetime" coolant (G12) in my 01 TDI.  Just how long is a
> > > "lifetime" anyway?  I know that some portion of the coolant (and
> > therefore
> > > additives) have been renewed when for example my T-belt was changed,
> but
> > > my
> > > car has never had it's coolant fully flushed/exchanged in it's
> lifetime.
> > > I've heard some people recommend 100k, but I doubt that's based on any
> > > real-world evidence.
> > >
> > > I just did a bit of googling on the subject and found one guy saying
> that
> > > the main concern is buildup of acid in the coolant, and all you need to
> > do
> > > is test the PH and adjust (with BG Cooling System Conditioner according
> > to
> > > him).
> > >
> > > On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Rudy <petersenrudy at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Anyone have any Tricks or ideas on what is the best detergent for the
> > >> job?
> > >> Think it would be ok to use a heavy duty, mix with water, Grease
> cutter?
> > >>
> > >> Rudy
> > >>
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