Refill Your Engine Cooling System

84B23F · 02-13-2021, 10:46 AM

I was watching this Youtube video, The Absolute Best Way to Refill Your Engine Cooling System, and noticed a vacuum was used.

Anyone ever used this method?

Some vehicles have vent bleeders to remove excess air...is this a Gee-Whiz tool, or is it needed on some vehicles?

wennstroma · 02-13-2021, 11:20 AM

Didn't watch the video, but newer cars with complicated systems almost require vacuum filling to avoid air locks. Old Volvos I've never had a problem just filling from the reservoir.

I use this one. https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-.../dp/B0002SRH5G

Ability to hold vacuum can also help tell you if there's a leak before filling the system again, but systems that use o-rings to seal things sometimes leak under vacuum but not pressure as they age/harden.

142 guy · 02-13-2021, 01:29 PM

My other car is a first gen NSX. Engine in back, radiator in front, miles of coolant hoses & pipes and a number of drain ports and bleeder vents. A vacuum refill tool is the preferred refill method for refilling the system if you don't want to spend 1 hour + with the back end of the car up in the air with the engine idling waiting for a complete purge.

Two issues with the vacuum refill systems. First, you do need a mungo sized air compressor to make them work. That portable air compressor you use for your air nailer isn't going to do the trick. Second, the refill process goes so fast that the first bottle of new coolant mix empties in a jiffy and if you are not paying attention you end up sucking a whole bunch of air into the system and have to start the process all over.

On my 142 it is not going to provide a material time saving. On my NSX it provides a significant time saving and paranoia relief by reducing the fear that an air pocket trapped in a convoluted cooling system could do a number on a head gasket on an engine that is rather expensive to fix.

ZVOLV · 02-14-2021, 01:34 PM

I use my vacuum filler for modern stuff.

For the old Volvo, it isn't really needed.

90volvo · 02-14-2021, 07:53 PM

I put a shop vac to radiator once for I could change a heater hose out without loosing a bunch of antifreeze. Well it worked so well it sucked most of the antifreeze out. LOL

02-13-2021, 10:46 AM	#1
84B23F Board Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Kansas, USA	Refill Your Engine Cooling System I was watching this Youtube video, The Absolute Best Way to Refill Your Engine Cooling System, and noticed a vacuum was used. Anyone ever used this method? Some vehicles have vent bleeders to remove excess air...is this a Gee-Whiz tool, or is it needed on some vehicles?

02-14-2021, 01:34 PM	#4
ZVOLV <Master Tech> Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: California	I use my vacuum filler for modern stuff. For the old Volvo, it isn't really needed. __________________ No Start Thread

02-14-2021, 07:53 PM	#5
90volvo Board Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Eldorado Springs Mo.	I put a shop vac to radiator once for I could change a heater hose out without loosing a bunch of antifreeze. Well it worked so well it sucked most of the antifreeze out. LOL __________________ 90 Volvo 240-my current setup. B230ft rebuilt -MS-Turbo-E85 1985 240 Work in progress. sons car- 93 240-15g turbo-chipped-95,000 miles. Slick car Leave feedback- http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=355413

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02-13-2021, 11:20 AM	#2
wennstroma Board Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Idaho	Didn't watch the video, but newer cars with complicated systems almost require vacuum filling to avoid air locks. Old Volvos I've never had a problem just filling from the reservoir. I use this one. https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-.../dp/B0002SRH5G Ability to hold vacuum can also help tell you if there's a leak before filling the system again, but systems that use o-rings to seal things sometimes leak under vacuum but not pressure as they age/harden.

02-13-2021, 01:29 PM	#3
142 guy Board Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada	My other car is a first gen NSX. Engine in back, radiator in front, miles of coolant hoses & pipes and a number of drain ports and bleeder vents. A vacuum refill tool is the preferred refill method for refilling the system if you don't want to spend 1 hour + with the back end of the car up in the air with the engine idling waiting for a complete purge. Two issues with the vacuum refill systems. First, you do need a mungo sized air compressor to make them work. That portable air compressor you use for your air nailer isn't going to do the trick. Second, the refill process goes so fast that the first bottle of new coolant mix empties in a jiffy and if you are not paying attention you end up sucking a whole bunch of air into the system and have to start the process all over. On my 142 it is not going to provide a material time saving. On my NSX it provides a significant time saving and paranoia relief by reducing the fear that an air pocket trapped in a convoluted cooling system could do a number on a head gasket on an engine that is rather expensive to fix.