Passat V6 3.2 FSI coolant drain and flush

[itchie]

Hi,
I've just spent a few hours in searching my car and the internet to see how to drain/flush/replace the coolant from my V6 3.2 FSI. I could find no information specific to (and matching) my car (Passat B6) with this engine, nor the 3.6 FSI, nor the 3.2 V6 in an Audi. I don't have a stop-cock on the lower radiator return....but I do have a plastic tee-piece there with (I think) a thermocouple housing in the stem of the tee - which I see in no mention of a V6 motor but does seem to be there in the Audi T1.8!!. I pulled the clip off that but couldn't (easily) dislodge the thermocouple - for fear of breaking the plastic tee-piece. Ideas please.

[Umai Naa!!]

I just pull the temp sensor out of the bottom of the radiator, on the passenger's side.

I also remove the lower inner guard liner so less mess is made.

[itchie]

So I assume that's the thermocouple I was referring to....which in mine is located in a tee-piece integral with the bottom of the radiator btm LHS (passenger's side)

...and...BTW - what's the "lower inner guard"?

[Passat R36]

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f27/r36-coolant-change-109708.html?highlight=

I ended up removing the BLUE arrow pointed clamp to disconnect the hose. Even easier.

[itchie]

Hey thanks guys.

The photo in the "R36 coolant change" link is exactly what I see too.

I removed the inner guard (not really necessary but made it easier to see everything clearly) and pulled out the temp sensor...which was (nice and) easy. The o-ring on the sensor was n good shape. I could only get maybe 4L to drain out. Flushed with tap water then demin water (probably about 10 L in total), replaced the temp sensor (again easy) and refilled. I got close to 6L of fresh coolant+demin water back into the "system". Dropped those freaking Torx tools into the bucket (of hot coolant) twice (it wouldn't be DIY if I didn't do something like that) but came away with all skin on knuckles and a satisfy sense of having done it "right"