Draining coolant with a shop vac - with pics

castlerox · Last edited by castlerox on Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

As you all know by now I am a newbie at doing mechanical work...

since I did have sparkling success with draining about 95% of the fluid out of my van using the shop vac method I thought I would post a few pics to help anyone else who is going to try this incredibly easy and clean method of removal... I was dreading it and it was just too easy.

Here is the vac I used:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is the adaptor that made it so easy, fit right into the tank:

And here it is in the tank:

REMEMBER TO TAKE OUT THE RADIATOR BLEED SCREW!

and suck away. once I removed the practically dry front hoses from the radiator I gave them a good suck too... and got about 1/2 gallon more out.

Barely any fluid spilled on the ground, so my dogs are safe from ground scores.

Here is the 5 gallon bucket of crap after it all:

When it was all done I simply sucked up some freshly chlorinated pool water and boom =)... the vac was nice N clean =)

Hope this helps anyone looking to try this out!

Matt
_________________
1985 Wolfsburg weekender SVX
1998 Gen 2.5 Montero - all locked up
2014 Acura RDX - my never let me down

240Gordy · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

VOILA!

thanks for that!
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Tencentlife said,
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2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
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climberjohn · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:01 pm Post subject:

Okay, bonehead question here:
Does the engine need to be running when you do this shop vac technique?
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

240Gordy · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject:

I don't think that would be a good thing.
_________________
Tencentlife said,
"So, now that you know what you're doing, go to town."
2010 GOLF TRENDLINE 2.5
1985 GL now with more! a 2.1L
H&R SPORT(RED) Springs FRONT , SLAM SPECIALTIES RE6 AIRBAGS REAR

castlerox · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

negative, do this when it is cold and NOT running.

Thanks to James for the help on tips too...
_________________
1985 Wolfsburg weekender SVX
1998 Gen 2.5 Montero - all locked up
2014 Acura RDX - my never let me down

climberjohn · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

That's what I thought.
Engine running, no coolant . . . that would not be a Good Thing.

I was just curious if the water pump was needed to circulate the coolant back to the overflow tank during the process. I can see that it's not.

Thanks!
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

tencentlife · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

Well done!
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is death to doctrine.

riosclass · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject:

I'm gonna try that on my next oil change Laughing

_________________
1986 vanagon poptop wolfsburg edition

Westendwulf · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject:

CARPE ANTIFREEZEM !!!!!!!!!
_________________
85 1.9 with a 2.1 exhaust
86 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg Edition
EJ25 DOHC RJES Bellhousing Auto -> Manual
87 2.1 Wolfsburg Edition

Damn that syncro lust!

singler3360 · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:28 am Post subject:

I think I may try this. Some questions:
What/where is the 'bleed screw' and why does it have to be removed?
What antifreeze did you use and how much?
I once added a flush kit to a Toyota pickup, I wonder if this is an option with the vanagon. Did you think of a system flush or is your suck/drain method enough?

Great post, thanks.

Dogpilot · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:05 am Post subject:

You open the bleed screws so that it allows air to replace the coolant on the far end of the system. Then the coolant can migrate to the vac without collapsing the lines or the radiator.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

iiigoiii · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:

so...this is making me think...might this technique be adapted for bleeding the coolant system?

i'm wondering if there would be some way to do this without damaging the radiator. maybe make some kind of adapter for the highest bleed point in the system...maybe with some sort of hand controlled carburation to avoid excess vacuum?

fill, vacuum until fluid starts coming out, repeat until no more air is in the system.

what do you all think - possible, or would it be too much risk of damage to the radiator or water pump or ?
_________________
1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Ed. w/ Subaru EJ22 power

castlerox · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

I leave that one to the pros... Confused

_________________
1985 Wolfsburg weekender SVX
1998 Gen 2.5 Montero - all locked up
2014 Acura RDX - my never let me down

insyncro · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject:

I am in the process of converting a 2wd Carat van to a Syncro cooling setup with all cast parts and stainless lines. No more plastic parts to melt or crack.
I used the ShopVac today to get all the coolant out of the front to back coolant pipes.
Worked like a charm.
Can't believe I didn't think of this years ago.
Thanks for the post.

dylan

castlerox · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject:

Glad I could actually contribute something useful to the forum since I don't know jack!

I just read many threads with alot of questions about it but it is really easier than it seems.

Pictures worth 1,000 words!
_________________
1985 Wolfsburg weekender SVX
1998 Gen 2.5 Montero - all locked up
2014 Acura RDX - my never let me down

keithwwalker · Samba Member Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 886

Wow great tip, I wasn't making any progress with my other gadget....

whip618 · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:05 am Post subject:

This is a great idea, after reading this thread I went out to the garage and gave it a try in preparation for pulling my motor today.

I went a steep further and jacked the front of the syncro up like I used to do when bleeding the system, then removed the bleed screw and turned on the wet/dry vac, it took about ten minutes and didn't spill a drop.

Phil
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Life is simple....either you're qualified or you're not.
USSVI.......Pride Runs Deep
USSVI Life member and Holland Club member

Samba Member No. 3307

tencentlife · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:11 am Post subject:

Hey Phil, getting ready to stuff that Suby?
_________________
Shop for unique and useful Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
also available at VanCafe.com!

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is death to doctrine.

whip618 · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject:

Hey Chris, no, the SVX is still sitting out behind the garage, the heads are leaking on my syncro so I thought I would just pull the 2.1 and freshen everything for now.

I'm tooled up for doing your rods now, pm me if your interested.

Phil
_________________
Life is simple....either you're qualified or you're not.
USSVI.......Pride Runs Deep
USSVI Life member and Holland Club member

Samba Member No. 3307

Blix · Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

I was going to drain the coolant today. Once I got the shields off of the bottom of the engine I got an allen wrench up there and the bolt was really stuck in there. Maybe with a different tool and some pb blaster I could get it off. I'm thinking now to do the shop vac method and bypassing taking those drain bolts off. A few questions....

Should I only open the screw/bleeder at the top of the radiator when I vac it?

Should I roll the van up on the car ramps first? Elevating the front end to drain from the expansion tank then rolling it off in neutral when I go to fill.
_________________
When I say whas up, you know where I'm from.

84 Westy


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Draining coolant with a shop vac - with pics
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