Vacuum filling coolant

[hoot504]

I don't see a 200-series thread with anything close to a definitive answer on this.

Is vacuum filling the coolant a good idea on the 3UR-FE? If the consensus to that is yes, does anyone have a recommendation for a good vacuum filler?

 

[hoot504]

One bump before I let this fall off the front page. Anyone?

 

[TeCKis300]

Probably could but why?

I use one on my German car because of it has a convoluted hard to fill/purge coolant system.

With the cruiser, a simple elevated funnel kit will do the job easy. Just pour it in and let the thermostat cycle.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I40ZQWE

 

[Nothinghead]

I have an off the shelf kit from airlift and none of the adapters fit very well so I used the cone shaped one you have to just hold in place to get it to seal. I got to about 20 mmHg and it mostly worked. After a day of driving, I had to fill the overflow again and now it’s all good. I’m sure a funnel would have worked just as well but it’s kind of fun to watch other principles of physics at play and keep my kids interested in engineering and physics.

 

[KLF]

Never heard of this, had to look it up.

I don't see the need for this engine. I have a similar version of the magic funnel posted above, and it works really well. Used carefully, you'll spill about a Tbsp of coolant, which is an easy cleanup. Top off the reservoir after a couple trips, done.

I do wish there was a sure-fire way to completely drain ALL the coolant when doing a change, even from the heater cores.

 

[2021 LC200]

I have the vacuum system for my 535d which by the way is a fantastic 4 door sedan and being an engineer designed pretty perfect.

I have the funnel system for other vehicles and plan to use on the 200 series. I will also put the vehicle on front ramps (I already have 4 of them to facilitate easy diff fluid changes, lubricant prop shafts etc) as to angle the vehicle nose up facilitating any air coming out. Bloc pointed this out, makes a lot of sense and easy to do.

All in all the vacuum method together with the 200 series coolant tank would concern me collapsing and damaging the same. My 535d tank is about twice the wall thickness and a more rounded design.

 

[OregonLC]

I use a standard funnel to fill, the upper hose to burp, and then use the reservoir to adjust and monitor coolant level. Very easy in the 200. The thermostat is high in the system and there is the jingler thingy to prevent air from being trapped (assuming it's properly installed with the jingler at the top).

The vacuum is a requirement in systems that can trap air in a high point other than the radiator cap.

 

[bloc]

I do wish there was a sure-fire way to completely drain ALL the coolant when doing a change, even from the heater cores.

I thought about that, but the volume of those parts is such a small percentage of the total system that unless that fluid condition is truly terrible I’m confident it won’t have a negative impact in the long run. With my first coolant change at 105k I attempted to flush the cores and rear lines with distilled water and I would NOT recommend that. Something back there was preventing me using compressed air to force the clean water out.. so my resulting mixture ended up slightly diluted.

I have the funnel system for other vehicles and plan to use on the 200 series. I will also put the vehicle on front ramps (I already have 4 of them to facilitate easy diff fluid changes, lubricant prop shafts etc) as to angle the vehicle nose up facilitating any air coming out. Bloc pointed this out, makes a lot of sense and easy to do.

All in all the vacuum method together with the 200 series coolant tank would concern me collapsing and damaging the same. My 535d tank is about twice the wall thickness and a more rounded design.

If someone used a vacuum system on a 200 they should not include the reservoir. It isn’t pressurized on our system and would not take well to those forces.

But yes even with slight elevation of the front end I haven’t had air entrapment problems during the roughly five 200-series drain-fills I’ve done.

 

[Nothinghead]

If someone used a vacuum system on a 200 they should not include the reservoir. It isn’t pressurized on our system and would not take well to those forces.

Yup. I was sure to not include that when I tried it: vacuuming straight off of the radiator. I wouldn’t got out of my way to get a vacuum lifter to do just this vehicle.