This is necessary so that the particles of anti-corrosion protection during the running-in period settle on new parts made of light metals and thus form a strong anti-corrosion film.
The content of the anti-corrosion agent in the old coolant is no longer sufficient to form a protective layer on new parts.
Routine coolant changes are performed as part of vehicle maintenance. Attention! The coolant is poisonous. It cannot be poured in random places. To do this, you need to find out where the nearest collection point for special funds is located or to hand over the coolant at a disposal point.
Coolant drain
Attention! There is a risk of injury when jacking up the vehicle and placing it on jackstands. Familiarize yourself with the safety measures before lifting the car, see chapter «car jacking».
1. Place the vehicle on jack stands so that it is level.
Attention! With a hot engine, place a thick cloth over the filler cap before removing the radiator filler cap to prevent burns from hot coolant or steam. Remove the cover only when the coolant temperature is below +90°C.
2. Remove the cover 1 of the filler neck of the expansion tank 2 (see illustration). When performing this operation, place a rag on the cover, push the cover down and turn to the left to relieve pressure in the system. After that, unscrew the cover completely.
3. Place a clean container under the radiator to collect the coolant.
4. Unscrew the plug 3 of the radiator drain hole and drain the coolant into a substituted container (see illustration).
Attention! To ensure that the coolant does not splash when draining in this way, it is recommended to put a suitable hose on fitting 4 (see illustration 3.5).
5. Unscrew the drain plug 5 at the bottom of the engine and completely drain the coolant into a suitable container. The plug is located behind the intermediate shaft 6 of the axle shaft and the exhaust manifold 7 (see illustration).
6. Completely drain the coolant from the system.
7. Screw in the drain plugs of the radiator and engine block. The tightening torque of the engine block plug is 10 Nm.
8. Lower the car on wheels.
Refueling
9. Prepare new coolant.
10. Unscrew, if present, the vent plug on the connecting union of the heater hose.
11. Fill in coolant through the filler neck of the expansion tank.
Attention! Fill coolant slowly to avoid airlock.
12. Screw, if present, the vent plug on the heater hose connector when coolant starts to flow out of it.
13. Cars with a gasoline engine manufactured before 5/99. Drink coolant into the expansion tank 2 up to the upper edge of the plastic jumper 1 (see illustration).
14. Cars with a petrol engine from 6/99 and a diesel engine. Fill expansion tank 2 with coolant up to level 1 (MAX) (see illustration).
Removal of air from the cooling system
15. Start the engine without closing the filler neck of the expansion tank, and leave it to idle.
16. Move the interior heating regulator to the maximum heating power position.
17. Top up the coolant level in the expansion tank until it is level with the MAX mark on the tank.
18. Leave the engine to idle until the coolant temperature reaches 60°-70°C or until the upper radiator hose is warm.
19. Close the filler neck of the expansion tank with a lid.
20. Increase the engine speed to 1500-2000 and leave it running at this speed until the radiator fan turns on and off.
21. Stop the engine.
22. Check the tightness of the cooling system, especially at the hose connections, drain plug and water pump.
23. Let the engine cool down and check the coolant level in the expansion tank. Top up coolant if necessary.