Antifreeze — General Information and Precautions (VW Sharan 1)

Standard liquid (antifreeze) is used as a coolant - a mixture of water and ethylene glycol. Anti-corrosion additives contained in antifreeze prevent the formation of rust and scale in the cooling system.

Warning! When handling antifreeze, remember that it is poisonous and causes severe poisoning.

Company "Volkswagen" fills the cooling system of its engines with concentrated antifreeze G11, and, starting in 1999, instead of G11, it uses antifreeze G12, which can be identified by its color, which has become red instead of green.

Attention! Antifreezes G11 and G12 should never be mixed, as they are incompatible.

Ford fills its engines' cooling systems with antifreeze "Motorcraft Super Plus 4".

Antifreeze should be in the cooling system all year round. If you have to dilute antifreeze with water, you must adhere to the following proportions:

• freezing point up to –25°C:
• with one heat exchanger - 3.6 liters of antifreeze per 5.4 liters of water;
• with two heat exchangers - 4.5 liters of antifreeze per 4.5 liters of water;
• with two heat exchangers and an additional heater - 4.6 liters of antifreeze per 6.8 liters of water;
• freezing point up to –35°C:
• with one heat exchanger - 4.3 liters of antifreeze per 6.5 liters of water;
• with two heat exchangers - 5.4 liters of antifreeze per 5.4 liters of water;
• with two heat exchangers and an additional heater - 5.7 liters of antifreeze per 5.7 liters of water.

The mixture should be prepared in a watering can or other similar container for water and poured into the cooling system already prepared. Often, antifreeze is poured into the cooling system first, and then water is added, but the mixture does not form immediately, since it must first be run through the cooling system several times by the water pump.

Attention! When diluting antifreeze with water, it is not allowed to use sea or hard water or alkali to soften the water.

Note: In the cooling systems of both engines (2.0L and VR6) the same amount of coolant is poured in.

The cooling system should be checked for leaks using the VW1274 injection pump (Fig. 185).

Install the VW1274 injection pump on the expansion tank (Fig. 185), bring the pressure to 1.0 atmospheres and check that it is maintained for at least 2 minutes. If this does not happen, then there is a coolant leak in the cooling system. In this case, check the following:

• are the radiator, engine and heater hoses sealed?;
• condition of the hoses by squeezing them with your hand. If the hoses are not elastic, but hard and cracked, they should be replaced;
• density of hose fits on branch pipes;
• tightening the hose clamps.