The Volkswagen Passat was introduced in the United States in 1990. The 1990 Passat was equipped with a 2.0-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine, capable of producing 134-horsepower and 133 foot-pounds of torque. The cooling system in the 1990 Volkswagen Passat requires a special coolant called "G11" -- this is a phosphate-free mixture, which reduces the elements of the white chalky substance usually associated with coolants. If your Passat has coolant with a red tint in it, then your vehicle's cooling system contains the "G12" coolant. Do not mix G11 with G12, as this is illegal.
Instructions
- 1
Raise the front of the Passat with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front frame rails, on either side of the engine. Lay beneath the front bumper and move yourself into position, just behind the bumper. Remove the lower splash shield mounted horizontally behind the bumper, in order to access the lower radiator. Use a ratchet and socket to loosen the mounting bolts for the splash shield. Pull the splash shield down, then remove it from your work area.
2Slide a 2-gallon or larger drain pan beneath the radiator, with the bulk of the drain pan going toward the rear of the car. Remove the radiator draincock or plug, using a set of pliers. Turn the plug counterclockwise, until it is able to be turned by hand. Pull the plug out by hand, moving your hand quickly to avoid contact with the engine coolant. Allow the radiator to drain for no less than five minutes. Install the draincock back into the radiator and tighten it snug with the pliers.
3Raise the Passat off the jack stands, then remove the jack stands from beneath the car. Lower the car to the ground.
4Open the coolant recovery tank, located on the driver's rear side of the engine compartment -- the recovery tank looks like a large semi-transparent ball, with a black cap at the top. Fill the recovery tank with G11 coolant. Turn the engine on and let the engine run for no less than 15 minutes. Turn the heater control panel knobs to full fan speed, full heat, then defrost on the panel settings. This will open the heater core and release any air trapped in the core and in the entire cooling system.
5Check the level of the coolant in the overflow reservoir periodically. The entire cooling system of this car takes 7/8-gallons of G11 full-strength coolant. If the mixture you are using is 50-percent water, double the fluid level to 1-3/4-gallons of G11. Continue adding fluid until there are no more air bubbles escaping from the pressurized overflow reservoir, and the fluid level is at the "Full" mark. Replace the fluid reservoir cap when you are finished.
