Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Special Tool(s)
Material
Draining
1. WARNING: When releasing the system pressure, cover the pressure relief cap with a thick cloth to prevent the possibility of coolant scalding. Failure to follow this instruction can result in personal injury.
CAUTION: The coolant must be recovered in a suitable, clean container for reuse. If the coolant is contaminated it must be recycled or disposed of correctly.
CAUTION: All vehicle cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent. Always refill the cooling system with the same type of coolant that was drained from the system. Do not mix coolant types.
NOTE: The addition of Stop Leak Pellets darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
Relieve the cooling system pressure by slowly turning the pressure relief cap a quarter of a turn.
2. Remove the pressure relief cap when all the pressure has been released.
3. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
4. Remove the retainers and the engine undershield.
5. NOTE: Drain the coolant into a suitable container.
Open the radiator drain valve to drain the coolant.
6. Close the drain valve when all the coolant has been drained from the system.
7. Install the retainers and the engine undershield.
Filling and Bleeding with RADKITPLUS
1. Using the special tool, install the RADKITPLUS and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the cooling system.
Filling and Bleeding without RADKITPLUS
CAUTION: Engine coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, cooling efficiency, and corrosion protection to the engine and cooling components. In order to obtain these protections, the engine coolant must be maintained at the correct concentration and fluid level in the degas bottle.
When adding engine coolant, use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Vehicle cooling systems are filled with Premium Gold Engine Coolant. Always fill the cooling system with the same coolant that is present in the system. Do not mix coolant types.
- Do not add/mix orange-colored Motorcraft Speciality Orange Engine Coolant VC-2 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D or green colored Premium Engine Coolant. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.
- Do not add alcohol, methanol, or brine, or any engine coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. These can cause engine damage from overheating or freezing.
- Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
- Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Follow your community's regulations and standards for recycling and disposing of automotive fluids.
NOTE: The addition of Stop Leak Pellets darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
1. Disconnect the heater inlet hose from the engine.
2. Using a funnel, fill the cooling system through the inlet hose until the coolant starts to trickle from the engine.
3. Reconnect the heater inlet hose.
4. NOTE: Make sure that the in-vehicle heater temperature control is in the HOT position and the heater blower switch is in the OFF position. Make sure the air conditioning is switched OFF.
Refill the degas bottle to the MAX mark (with the engine switched off).
5. Install the degas bottle cap.
6. Warm the engine to 2,750 RPM for two fan cycles.
7. Allow the engine to cool down and then recheck the coolant level. Top off to the MAX mark as required.