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Cooling System Vacuum Purge and Refill Kit

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skulldrinker

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Dec 25, 2011
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Bolingbrook, IL
Any favorites? ATD, Mighty Vac, Astro Pneumatic, UVIEW ?

After watching the Mighty Vac MV4535 video when they say it's modular for tight situations that might be handy. All the rest have the black rubber cone attached to the valve.
 
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RV77

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Jan 4, 2012
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I have Snap-on version and real happy with it.I rinse and dry it before storage but its mostly stainless.
 
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MattPersman

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Apr 1, 2009
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Indiana
I use an airlift, works great no complaints, took me a few times to get the hang of it but I am not known for my smarts
 
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Charlief

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Jun 28, 2012
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The vac systems are great. Easy to use and avoids air pockets in the system.
 
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gsingh

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Dec 26, 2012
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NOVA
In here for the suggestions. I hate having to drive the car long distances to make sure there in no air in the system. Some other guys have it in the shop, but I don't know how this tools works.
 
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logikal

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Jun 30, 2013
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Pittsburgh
Basically it creates a vacuum in the cooling system, then fills the entire system with coolant thus preventing the need to use bleed screws and having the car to idle with the heater on.
 
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skulldrinker

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Question; does the radiator need to be drained first? In other words these hand held units do not **** out the coolant they only create the vacuum on an empty radiator. Obviously the emptier the better for changing old coolant for new.
 
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MattPersman

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Indiana
Yes you need it empty at least the radiator, then pull vacuum on the system this will also tell you if you have a leak as well. Leave vacuum on for a while then pull your coolant in.
 
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bob_the_builder

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Apr 25, 2010
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404
How does it work if you drain the block. Do you have to run the vacuum twice? Once to fill the radiator and then run the vehicle up to temperature and vacuum fill again?

Bob
 
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redmondjp

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Nov 25, 2014
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Redmond, WA
bob_the_builder said:
How does it work if you drain the block. Do you have to run the vacuum twice? Once to fill the radiator and then run the vehicle up to temperature and vacuum fill again?

Bob
Click to expand...
The whole benefit of using this device is you only need to do it once - with no air trapped in the system and a good vacuum, atmospheric pressure completely refills the system with coolant.
 
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Lotek

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Dec 9, 2007
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Location
Los Angeles, Ca.
Best thing for cooling system repairs since sliced bread. I bought mine to do Volt batteries, but use it for everything now.
 
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bob_the_builder

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redmondjp said:
The whole benefit of using this device is you only need to do it once - with no air trapped in the system and a good vacuum, atmospheric pressure completely refills the system with coolant.
Click to expand...

I am sorry for being a rookie, I am still trying to figure out how a cause bleed system works. If you only run it once with the engine off how does the thermostat open to bleed the block?

Bob
 
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redmondjp

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bob_the_builder said:
I am sorry for being a rookie, I am still trying to figure out how a cause bleed system works. If you only run it once with the engine off how does the thermostat open to bleed the block?

Bob
Click to expand...

What do you mean to bleed the block?

Refilling the system the conventional way, you have air inside the block at first, some of which is trapped in the upper portions of the cooling system when you add coolant. Then yes, in some cases you need the thermostat to open in order to flush this air out (although most modern thermostats, as least those used on foreign cars, now have a tiny bleeder valve built into them that allows air to pass even if the thermostat is closed). Many modern cooling systems also now have air bleeder valves at the highest points in the system so this trapped air can be expelled.

Using this vacuum device after draining the coolant, there is NO AIR inside the block, or anywhere else inside the cooling system (all of your cooling system hoses collapse - it looks weird). With the vacuum still on the system, you then open a valve which introduces only coolant back into the system, completely refilling it. There is then no air in the system to bleed out.

Does this help any?
 
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devoncoolman

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Mar 17, 2013
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Location
quakertown pa
bob_the_builder said:
I am sorry for being a rookie, I am still trying to figure out how a cause bleed system works. If you only run it once with the engine off how does the thermostat open to bleed the block?

Bob
Click to expand...

Using an air lift uses vacume to draw the coolant into the system. It fills the system on both sides of the t-stat virtually not needing to bleed the system. I still run them then drive then allow to cool down and top off after.
 
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bob_the_builder

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Apr 25, 2010
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Thanks for clearing that up. I understood how the vacuum system works but I did not know the t-stat had a bleeder so even if it is closed you can still pull a vacuum past it. I guess I need to find out if the never GM trucks have a bleeder in the t-stat so a vacuum system would make sense.

In the past I have just filled up the coolant tank and ran the truck for a while with the tank cap off and then refined the tank as required. It just take such time to get the truck to temp. Just trying to figure out if a vacuum system would make sense for GM vehicles.

Bob
 
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bwitt

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Jan 25, 2013
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78
Location
Oak Creek, WI
AirLift here. Thing works unbelievably well. Saves tons of time and will tell you right away if you have leaks. It's not too difficult to set up. Most important thing is that you have a large bucket of 50/50 that you are pulling from. You don't want to run out of coolant in the middle of your refill procedure. For Bob, I have used it on GM trucks with no problems, block drained and all.
 
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Flat-rate

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Nov 21, 2013
Messages
637
U-View, the cheapo version with a rubber cone. Had this for 10 yrs works great with a empty system. Not so with a partially filled system as it will draw out the coolant and spit it all over.
Has also caused water pumps to leak. Maybe they were on the way out before the vacuum who knows. I won't use them on any GM 3.6 V6. unless its a brand new pump.

Still a great tool esp for hard to purge/fill systems like mid 90's LT1 reversed cooling system.
 
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enrare

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Oct 17, 2011
Messages
425
After draining the radiator and you start to pull a vacuum on the cooling system will these vacuum refill tools remove any remaining anti-freeze in the cooling system?
 
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