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VW issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 199601) which states that
the blue G11 coolant causes corrosion to the aluminum head. The TSB says
to change to the new red G12 coolant. If you would like to see this TSB,
just go to your dealership and ask to see it. Yes, you are authorized to
see it no matter what they tell you! Also if your coolant is brown, its
seen better days and needs to get changed.
Changing coolant on Passat GLX VR6.
The Bentley manual says to mix 3.5l of coolant with 6.5l distilled water
to achieve a 35% mixture which is good for -13=B0F. To achieve -31=B0F,
go with a 50% mixture. (I'm sure you can figure out the math.) North
American cars have 35 % mix with Canada getting the 50% according to the
95 Passat owners manual.
1) Remove reservoir cap to bleed off pressure.
2) Remove drain plug. You can find the drain plug by looking under the
car, in the gap between the oil filter housing and air conditioning
compressor. The plug is about the size of a nickel and has a screw
driver slot in it.
3) Apply compressed air to the coolant system. The easiest way to do so,
unless you have the proper VW tool, is to install the cap and remove the
small coolant hose from the reservoir. With a blow gun nozzle and air
compressor, or a bicycle pump if you can find a nozzle for it, apply air
to the system to force out any trapped coolant.
4) Reinstall drain plug. Unless you have very skinny hands you will need
a 6-7" piece of garden hose to get the plug back up there. Cut a slit in
the hose in case the plug is bigger then your hose and if the plug slips
out of the hose, cut a slot to fit the plug into. (Mechanical fingers
would work also.)
5) Fill system with distilled water and run the car until at least the
coolant fan comes on, preferably a bit longer.
6) Repeat steps 1 through 5 until the water comes out clean. (The clean
water will splash against the engine block and may pick up some
rust/dirt so you may try to put a piece of plastic between the block and
the splashing water.)
7) Fill your coolant system with your mix of G12.
Run car and check for leaks.
9) Top off if needed.
10) Mark your reservoir to read "G12 Coolant Only!". Mixing coolants is
a bad thing and you'll have to do this all over again
The G12 coolant is supposedly "Lifetime", but it is probably best if
changed every 4 years or sooner if it gets cloudy.
Changing coolant on Passat GLS 2.0l 8V and Passat TDI.
1) Remove reservoir cap to relieve pressure.
2) Drain coolant by removing two bolts from thermostat flange and remove
thermostat. (The flange is the part of the water pump with the big hose
is attached to.)
3) Apply air as described above.
4) Reinstall thermostat and flange. It is recomended to use a new
thermostat O-ring. (Personally I've reused mine in the past without
problems. Your results may vary.)
5) Fill system with distilled water and run engine until at least the
coolant fan turns on, preferably longer. Filling system will take about
5 minutes. (I guess that's how long it takes for air to escape.)
6) Repeat 1 through 5 until clear water comes out.
7) Fill coolant system with G12 coolant.
- 2.0l engine vehicles with automatic transmission
-- -13=B0F protection gets 2.5l coolant, 3.7l distilled water. (40%)
-- -31=B0F protection gets 3.1l coolant, 3.1l distilled water. (50%)
- 2.0l engine vehicles with manual transmission
-- -13=B0F protection gets 2.2l coolant, 3.4l distilled water. (40%)
-- -31=B0F protection gets 2.8l coolant, 2.8l distilled water. (50%)
- TDI
-- -13=B0F protection gets 2.6l coolant, 3.9l distilled water. (40%)
-- -31=B0F protection gets 3.25l coolant, 3.25l distilled water. (50%)
Run engine, check for leaks and top off if needed.
9) Mark reservoir with "G12 Coolant only!".
So there it is. The only data missing is for the 16V engine, but I'm
sure all we need is the mixture quantity. Draining the system is
probably the same as the other 4 cylinder cars.
As far as the quantities, they are what I got out of the Bentley so you
may or may not use all of the coolant but you'll have the proper mix for
topping off later if you have more then you need.
E-mail me with any corrections/additions I need to make so we can put
this in the FAQ.
Ralf
95 Passat GLX
87 Golf GT
the blue G11 coolant causes corrosion to the aluminum head. The TSB says
to change to the new red G12 coolant. If you would like to see this TSB,
just go to your dealership and ask to see it. Yes, you are authorized to
see it no matter what they tell you! Also if your coolant is brown, its
seen better days and needs to get changed.
Changing coolant on Passat GLX VR6.
The Bentley manual says to mix 3.5l of coolant with 6.5l distilled water
to achieve a 35% mixture which is good for -13=B0F. To achieve -31=B0F,
go with a 50% mixture. (I'm sure you can figure out the math.) North
American cars have 35 % mix with Canada getting the 50% according to the
95 Passat owners manual.
1) Remove reservoir cap to bleed off pressure.
2) Remove drain plug. You can find the drain plug by looking under the
car, in the gap between the oil filter housing and air conditioning
compressor. The plug is about the size of a nickel and has a screw
driver slot in it.
3) Apply compressed air to the coolant system. The easiest way to do so,
unless you have the proper VW tool, is to install the cap and remove the
small coolant hose from the reservoir. With a blow gun nozzle and air
compressor, or a bicycle pump if you can find a nozzle for it, apply air
to the system to force out any trapped coolant.
4) Reinstall drain plug. Unless you have very skinny hands you will need
a 6-7" piece of garden hose to get the plug back up there. Cut a slit in
the hose in case the plug is bigger then your hose and if the plug slips
out of the hose, cut a slot to fit the plug into. (Mechanical fingers
would work also.)
5) Fill system with distilled water and run the car until at least the
coolant fan comes on, preferably a bit longer.
6) Repeat steps 1 through 5 until the water comes out clean. (The clean
water will splash against the engine block and may pick up some
rust/dirt so you may try to put a piece of plastic between the block and
the splashing water.)
7) Fill your coolant system with your mix of G12.
Run car and check for leaks.9) Top off if needed.
10) Mark your reservoir to read "G12 Coolant Only!". Mixing coolants is
a bad thing and you'll have to do this all over again
The G12 coolant is supposedly "Lifetime", but it is probably best if
changed every 4 years or sooner if it gets cloudy.
Changing coolant on Passat GLS 2.0l 8V and Passat TDI.
1) Remove reservoir cap to relieve pressure.
2) Drain coolant by removing two bolts from thermostat flange and remove
thermostat. (The flange is the part of the water pump with the big hose
is attached to.)
3) Apply air as described above.
4) Reinstall thermostat and flange. It is recomended to use a new
thermostat O-ring. (Personally I've reused mine in the past without
problems. Your results may vary.)
5) Fill system with distilled water and run engine until at least the
coolant fan turns on, preferably longer. Filling system will take about
5 minutes. (I guess that's how long it takes for air to escape.)
6) Repeat 1 through 5 until clear water comes out.
7) Fill coolant system with G12 coolant.
- 2.0l engine vehicles with automatic transmission
-- -13=B0F protection gets 2.5l coolant, 3.7l distilled water. (40%)
-- -31=B0F protection gets 3.1l coolant, 3.1l distilled water. (50%)
- 2.0l engine vehicles with manual transmission
-- -13=B0F protection gets 2.2l coolant, 3.4l distilled water. (40%)
-- -31=B0F protection gets 2.8l coolant, 2.8l distilled water. (50%)
- TDI
-- -13=B0F protection gets 2.6l coolant, 3.9l distilled water. (40%)
-- -31=B0F protection gets 3.25l coolant, 3.25l distilled water. (50%)
Run engine, check for leaks and top off if needed.9) Mark reservoir with "G12 Coolant only!".
So there it is. The only data missing is for the 16V engine, but I'm
sure all we need is the mixture quantity. Draining the system is
probably the same as the other 4 cylinder cars.
As far as the quantities, they are what I got out of the Bentley so you
may or may not use all of the coolant but you'll have the proper mix for
topping off later if you have more then you need.
E-mail me with any corrections/additions I need to make so we can put
this in the FAQ.
Ralf
95 Passat GLX
87 Golf GT
when the mixture separates. idk, i always thought that you diluted it, but this is some cheap stuff(n: ) i used from when i had a cracked heater coolant pipe and hadnt yet diagnosed the problem.
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