Priora 16 valve coolant drain bolt where is it located?

A car engine cannot operate without coolant, which prevents the power unit from overheating. On absolutely any passenger car, and accordingly on the Russian Lada Priora, after a certain mileage, the antifreeze needs to be replaced. Let's say right away that this can be done independently, without contacting a car service, the most important thing is to know how to drain the antifreeze correctly and as expected, as well as how many liters of antifreeze to fill. We will talk about this and other nuances of replacement in this material.

General information on replacing antifreeze in Priora

The widespread 16-valve popular Lada Priora is one of the most popular in the domestic automotive market, and replacing the coolant in it is carried out in 6 stages, each of which is quite simple. As a rule, in severe frosts, the cooling system loses its tightness and antifreeze begins to leak; the same can happen with sudden changes in temperature. If this happens, you should find the location of the leak and tighten the clamps on the pipes more tightly, this will help correct the unpleasant situation. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the level of this fluid and replace it if necessary.

Antifreeze for your car can be purchased at a specialized auto store. The liquid has different price tags.

List of necessary materials and preparation for work

First of all, you need to purchase supplies and prepare the car.

Materials and tools for replacing fluid:

• antifreeze - 8 liters, you can also purchase coolant concentrate and dilute it with distilled water yourself;
• key “13”;
• crosshead screwdriver.

How to drain antifreeze on a Priora? The following instructions must be followed:

• remove the engine crankcase protection;
• unscrew the expansion tank cap;
• After making sure that the engine has cooled down, place a bucket under the engine and use the “13” key to unscrew the drain plug.

After all the antifreeze has run out of the engine, screw the plug back on. Now you need to drain the liquid from the radiator; to do this, remove the cap on the radiator.

Attention! When the engine is not cooled down, the cooling system is under pressure; it is not advisable to remove the plug, as you can get burned. Substituting a bucket, unscrew the drain plug on the radiator and wait until all the antifreeze comes out.

What color and how much antifreeze should I use?

One of the main questions of car owners is: how many liters of antifreeze should I fill? According to the official technical documentation for Russian-made Lada Priora cars, the required volume of antifreeze is 7.84 liters. For full operation of the power unit, you can fill 6 liters each; this option is suitable for the winter period. However, it is best not to deviate from the regulations and fill in the required amount of liquid so that no problems arise.

Each antifreeze is divided into classifications, and it can be distinguished even by color if there is no label, for example. So, in our country, red antifreeze is predominantly poured - the so-called carboxylate. Regardless of the type, it is important to know how many liters of antifreeze to fill and follow this rule.

When to replace?

The manufacturer recommends changing the standard coolant after 75,000 km or 5 years of vehicle operation. These figures are typical only for a new car, since all SOD parts are new without traces of oxidation or rust. If the car was purchased on the secondary market, it is recommended to replace it with flushing the system immediately after its purchase. And subsequently change the antifreeze every 50,000 km or 3 years of operation.

An example of old antifreeze with rust

If the Priora was filled with antifreeze for some unknown reason, then it should be replaced with antifreeze. Antifreeze has more active chemicals that over time react with aluminum, thereby damaging the thermostat or pump.

Article number and cost of antifreeze for Priora

According to factory standards, coolant of different brands cannot be mixed in Lada Priora. The Lada-A40 brand is suitable for Priora, its catalog number is: 88888100005082. The cost of the liquid is approximately 550 RUR. rub. for 5kg. There is also a list of acceptable liquids:

• Antifreeze G-48;
• OZH-K Tosol-TS;
• Macra Cool Stream liquid Standard/Premium;
• 2 types OZh-40 Tosol-TS/OZh-65 Tosol-TS.

What types of car malfunctions can occur due to antifreeze?

When the coolant begins to drain, the owner of the Lada Priora should think about why this is happening. Antifreeze leaks often occur due to mechanical damage to the cooling system. In the worst case scenario, the engine overheats and the cylinder head gasket burns out.

The car owner noticed that antifreeze was constantly flowing, reasons:

• Leak between block and cylinder head. In this case, you can tighten the bolts better.
• When the radiator is damaged. You can try to replace it, but there are times when only repairs are required.
• The water pump has become unusable. The situation can be corrected by replacing the pump.
• The pipes are damaged. Initially, you need to tighten the clamps; if the problem does not go away, you can replace the hoses and pipes with new ones.
• The expansion tank of the automobile cooling system is damaged. There is only one option - replace the tank.
• Malfunctions can also be short-term in nature:
• There is scale on the cooling jacket; it can also be seen on the pipes and on the walls of the radiator. Flushing the system will help. Next, fill in new high-quality coolant.
• The existing antifreeze circulates poorly through the system. In certain cases, the pump, and in some cases the entire water pump, needs to be replaced.
• When the car owner first notices a low coolant level, he needs to top it up to the level. If the leak becomes regular, the system needs to be checked for leaks.

Timing for coolant replacement

In VAZ Priora cars with a 16-valve engine manufactured in 2011 and other years of production, the frequency of antifreeze changes is 75 thousand kilometers. Then the working fluid begins to lose its properties. In addition, the refrigerant that is poured during production is changed every five years, if during this time the car has not traveled 75 thousand km. But this applies to the initial replacement of the fluid that is filled in from the factory. If you use regular antifreeze, then its service life is shorter and is about 30-40 thousand kilometers.

The need to change the working fluid can be determined by the following “symptoms”:

• the antifreeze has become dirtier, black, and traces of deposits have appeared in it;
• a refrigerant leak has occurred, as a result of which more liquid will need to be added to the system, and if you do not know what kind of antifreeze was added, then it will have to be changed;
• the presence of deposits and dirt in the expansion tank, this indicates that the substance has lost its properties;
• foam formation in the reservoir under the hood;
• the stove began to work worse in the winter season;
• the engine began to boil.

Details about mixing antifreeze in Priora

Remember that antifreeze should never be mixed with antifreeze. In all other cases, a certain scheme applies:

• Type G11 can be mixed with: G11/G12+/G12++. G must not be mixed with type G12.
• Type G12 can be mixed with: G11/G12+. Do not mix with G11/G12++/G.
• It is permissible to mix with each other (combine): G13/G12++/G12+.

Remember that the type of liquid is certainly indicated on the packaging; it is always the letter “G” with a 2-digit number and pluses. The type of coolant is also TL - this is antifreeze.

How to choose a coolant?

Answering the question of what antifreeze to use in Priora, the manufacturer did not provide a large assortment to its users. It is best to use the Felix-40 cooler. You can use other brands, but this is not recommended. The engine system may wear out in a shorter period of time. As a result, you will have to contact the service for global repairs and replacement of parts.

To find out what kind of antifreeze your car uses, look under the hood. There should be a barrel with a sticker next to the fuel compartment.

If you are using antifreeze from another manufacturer, it is recommended to study its characteristics. It must meet international quality standards.

How to check the fluid level and how much will be enough?

To determine how many liters of coolant are needed to fill the tank, carefully read the vehicle's owner's manual. You will need approximately 7.8 liters. Some car owners prefer to fill a little less - 6 liters.

You can check the antifreeze level in the tank even on a cold engine. To do this, lift the hood lid. You will see a tank. There are two marks on it with a maximum and a minimum value. The fluid level must be within these marks.

If there are no recognition symbols on the tank itself, look for them nearby. There should be a scale that indicates how much antifreeze is in the tank on a Priora with 16 valves. For the engine to operate properly, the level of cooling fluid must remain stable.

How to remove an air lock on a Priora

On a car, malfunctions occur in the cooling system, and an air lock may form. To remove air from the system, you need to use its hoses. This is done in one of two ways. In each case, you need to wait until the power plant has completely cooled down, and only then begin to troubleshoot the problem.

I Option:

It is best to wear thick gloves before work to avoid burns. Warm up the engine a little and be sure to turn off the car. Remove the tube and clamp from the heating when antifreeze flows. Put everything back in its rightful place and tighten the clamp again. Air will escape under the resulting pressure.

II Option:

A device such as the throttle assembly clamp needs to be loosened, then the tube must be removed from the heating. Next, open the lid of the special expansion tank of the cooling system located in the engine compartment, cover the neck with a clean rag and blow through it properly. You will see air coming out. You need to tighten the cap when the coolant appears directly.

What to choose: antifreeze or antifreeze

Both antifreeze and antifreeze are coolants. At the same time, antifreeze is the international name denoting coolants for cooling systems of internal combustion engines.

Antifreeze is also an analogue of antifreeze; it was developed back in Soviet times. It is noteworthy that the name TOSOL is not patented. As a result, today antifreeze manufacturers are actively producing products called TOSOL. Such a liquid today has nothing in common with the old Soviet development and is still the same antifreeze. It turns out that this is antifreeze, only domestically produced.

The main thing is to avoid mixing different types of coolants, and also to use products in the cooling system whose properties meet the tolerances of the car manufacturer itself.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing antifreeze in Priora yourself

Replacing the coolant yourself requires some tools and items, check out the list before you get started:

• 13th key;
• Phillips screwdriver;
• Capacity 10 l.;
• Coolant – 8l.

Before the antifreeze is replaced on the LADA Priora, it is, of course, necessary to drain the old antifreeze. First you need to wait until the “engine” and the coolant itself cool down, this is required in order to avoid getting burns.

A procedure such as replacing the coolant is carried out in the following sequence:

• We drive the car into the pit and stop it accordingly.
• Remove the negative terminal from the battery.
• We remove the crankcase protection of the power unit.
• Remove the cap of the expansion tank of the cooling system.
• We substitute the previously prepared container under the “engine”.
• We unscrew the drain plug, a key will help with this.
• The plug should be tightened when all the antifreeze has completely drained out.
• We transfer the container with the drained antifreeze under the radiator and unscrew the cap on it, from here it is also necessary to drain the antifreeze.
• Close the plug after the coolant has drained.
• Disconnect the throttle body heating hose.
• Fill in new antifreeze within the MIN/MAX marks.
• We install the throttle body heating hose in place. Tighten the pipe properly.
• Check the steam outlet pipe for leaks.

So, you have read the instructions on how to replace the coolant on a LADA Priora with 16 valves. If you have a model with 8 valves and air conditioning, then the work will be a little more complicated, since there is no drain plug. The coolant must be drained exclusively from the lower radiator pipe, and upon completion of the entire procedure, install it in place.

How to change it correctly?

Next, we will look at how to correctly replace the working fluid of the cooling system in a Lada Priora car with an electronic pedal or with air conditioning. You can change the refrigerant at a service station, but this task is quite simple and anyone can handle it on their own. For the best effect, it is necessary to flush the cooling system, we will discuss this below.

Preparation

Before you begin the process, prepare the following:

• fresh refrigerant in the required volume;
• seal for the drain cover if the old one is worn out;
• set of wrenches;
• clean rags;
• container for collecting used antifreeze.

The Lada Priora Repair and Maintenance channel provided a video that demonstrated the procedure for draining the working fluid from the cooling system.

Step-by-step instruction

How to replace antifreeze on a Priora:

1. Drive the car into a garage with a pit; you will need a flat surface to perform the work. Wait until the engine cools down; the entire process is carried out cold.
2. There should not be high pressure in the cooling system. To reset it, open the hood and unscrew the expansion tank cap. If the engine is hot, coolant may spray out of the hole, so use a rag when opening it.
3. Dismantle the plastic protection of the power unit. To remove it you need to unscrew two fasteners on the sides. It is not necessary to dismantle the clamps, but removing them will make the task more convenient.
4. If your car is equipped with a transmission with control cables, then it is necessary to dismantle the starter device. To do this, disconnect the negative terminal from the car battery. Press the fastening of the connector with the wiring and disconnect the plug from the output of the traction relay. Remove the protective cap from the nut securing the tip of the wire connected to the positive terminal of the battery. Using a 13mm wrench, unscrew the nut and remove the cable tip from the contact screw on the traction relay. Then use the same tool to unscrew the screws and dismantle the starter device. If the car's transmission is controlled by traction, then there is no need to dismantle the starter.
5. Find the drain plug; it is located directly on the cylinder block. You need to place an old bucket or basin under it, into which the used refrigerant will be drained. Unscrew the cap and wait until the liquid comes out of the system. Also unscrew the protective valve under the radiator device; some of the substance will also flow out of it. When the draining is complete, you need to tighten both plugs. Don't forget to check the condition of the seal on the drain cap. If it is worn out or there are traces of defects, the ring must be replaced.
6. Assess the condition of the refrigerant drained from the refrigeration system. If there are traces of deposits, wear products, or the liquid as a whole is very cloudy and viscous, it is recommended to flush all components. To do this, pour about 7.8 liters of distilled water into the system through the expansion tank. You can add vinegar or citric acid to it to remove dirt. The use of special cleaning agents is allowed. After filling, the engine starts, you can perform a test drive. Then the procedure for draining the refrigerant from the power unit is repeated. If the liquid is still dirty, then the washing is repeated until it comes out clear.
7. Assess the condition of all pipes and lines of the cooling system. If there is damage or signs of leaks, the hoses must be replaced.
8. The next step is to pour new refrigerant into the system. To prevent an air lock from appearing in the lines and eliminate air entering the system, it is recommended to slightly loosen the clamp of the pipe connected to the throttle assembly. The hose is then disconnected.
9. The cooling system is filled with fresh antifreeze through the filler neck in the expansion tank. New refrigerant is poured in until it comes out of the pipe disconnected from the throttle. When this happens, the line is connected into place and the clamp is securely tightened. Then the refrigerant is added to the system to the required level.
10. All previously dismantled components are reassembled in reverse order.
11. The engine starts and the journey is carried out. Now you need to once again make sure that the fluid level is correct. Make sure there is no leakage from the drain hole.

Cleaning the Cooling System

Experts recommend cleaning the system after each replacement. When you change antifreeze to antifreeze, or vice versa, switch from antifreeze to antifreeze, be sure to clean the system. What you may need for this:

• Plastic funnel and hose.
• A packet of regular citric acid.
• Distilled water (15 liters for Priora).
• A brush, sized to fit into the neck of a 5-liter bottle.

Please note that if the coolant is not cloudy, then you can only get by with distilled water. Otherwise, be sure to add citric acid. A good working fluid begins to lose color over time, that is, it becomes discolored, and a contaminated fluid always becomes cloudy.

Cleaning of the LADA Priora cooling system should be carried out after removing the air lock. Let water flow through the system through the open pipe. Using a brush, you can clean the expansion barrel separately. After this procedure, damage to the tank body is clearly visible. After cleaning the system is complete, you can add antifreeze.

Why is liquid leaking out?

If there is a constant decrease in the level of antifreeze in the tank, then there is a leak somewhere. Every detail must be examined to quickly identify and repair damage.

What happens if it is too late to replace?

Coolant loses its properties over time. Every year the cooling system will work worse and worse. If you do not change antifreeze on time, you risk the following:

1. The engine will heat up faster. If it constantly operates at elevated temperatures, the system risks breaking down quickly.
2. The liquid will freeze in the tank. As a result, you will not be able to start your car in winter.
3. Blood pressure may increase. Because of this, antifreeze will begin to leak.