cooling system not taking required amount of coolant???

[shdai]

ey guys did a flush on my V6 2day and i was getting so frusterated cos the thing was only taking 3 litres of coolant wen i know it can take 12!!

i ended up doing about 6 flushes from pretty much every hose and it still didnt take any more than about 3 litres. the radiators clean cos clear water runs out, the engine aint overheating cos ive taken it for a couple of drives, i just want it to take the total amount of coolant for peace of mind. ive also bled out the system and all. any help as to how i can feed it the full 12 litres would be great.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

It probably won't take the full 12 litres because you didn't drain the full 12 litres out of it. It may take 12 litres when everything is bone dry, but coolant will sit in the block and the heater core if you just pull the radiator hose off. To drain most of the coolant, you will need to remove the knock sensor.

[shdai]

thanks m8, i had begun 2 remove one of the sensors b4 the flush but got the heat shield off then couldnt go n e further cos i didnt hav the 20mm socket or wateva it is to get the sensor off. guess it makes sense now.

[accentstencil]

As said, it won't take the full 12 litres but it should definitely take more than 3, you might not be disconnecting enough hoses during the flush.
After a flush I put in 6 litres of coolant concentrate (which fits in no problem) then I top up with water, ( it usually only takes another litre or two) which gives me 12 litres at a 50/50 ratio.

[showbags]

Unless you take out both knock sensors, you will never drain all of the coolant out. Easiest way is to disconnect top and bottom radiator hoses and remove thermOstate(replace housing), and with engine running flush with garden hose running until water runs clear out of engine. Replace hoses and thermostat, fill radiator with the required coolant for 12 litres and top up with water. Job done. (don't forget to add the pellets from GMH, bleed out any air.

[VYMAD]

+1 for the reason being the remaining coolant in the block/heater core. Mine takes about 6-8 litres after a general flush, without draining the block.