https://i.imgur.com/zxa3TC2.jpg
circled in Blue
Tomorrow is the day of reckoning. The car is entirely back together, except I am leaving the front bumper off for now so I am better able to check for leaks. Would have been back way earlier but for a 4 week delay due to a parts mix up from the online vendor…
Really my (hopefully) last question relates to the coolant fill up procedure. The manual isn’t much help because it uses a pressurized coolant filler, which I do not have. So far I have only been able to put in 9 qts or so of the 15.9 qt capacity.
What is the method people use to refill the system after a complete drain?
Here’s the pic with the new w/p, tensioner, idler pulley and belt. Resealed oil pan and oil cooler.
http://audirevolution.net/addons/albums/images/428187129.jpg
Praying for success…
keep up the great work! i am about to go through this process. what did you end up doing to fill up the coolant all the way without positive pressure?
Haha, that was my question in the post immediately before the last picture. Hoping to get some advice here.
fill to the max fill line start the car and wait for a few min. The water pump will still pull water out of the resivware. You will be able to fill the entire system with no issues. Just check back and top off.
found this tool on ECStuning
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben-parts/coolant-refill-air-purge-tool/003466sch01/
not too pricey, and good for other vehicles
Had the engine idle for about 15 minutes with the bumper off while I checked for leaks. Car is totally together now.Put about 50 miles on it with no apparent issues.
The coolant refill is really simple. I added coolant a couple of times via the reservoir, and it has stabilized at the MAX fill line. I wouldn’t buy any special tool based upon this experience.
So far, I am very, very happy with the results of this project. Many issues were addressed that I hope will result in tens of thousands of trouble miles.
haha…I’d like some “trouble-free miles.” Troubled miles I can do without.
good to hear the car is back and running well.
And yeah filling the coolant is an event free issue. Just poor and top off its crazy simple. If you some how get an air line in the system the coolant tank is the highest point so it will sort it self out. But absolutly worst case you can leave the fill cap off with no pressure and the air bleeds itself out.
I really appreciated your advice on this. I have never done a coolant refill, so I was a bit nervous. It’s nice having people with hands on experience give tips.
Anytime this is a great forum with lots of DIY guys. I think your approch was solid and thats be cautious and ask questions first. Vs make a mess and try to figure out how to fix it.