Powertrain Secondary Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Draining
WARNING: Always allow the engine to cool before opening the cooling system. Do not unscrew the coolant pressure relief cap when the engine is operating or the cooling system is hot. The cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid can come out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.
NOTICE: Always fill the cooling system with the manufacturer's specified coolant. If a non-specified coolant has been used the cooling system must be chemically flushed. Refer to Cooling System Flushing. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system. Powertrain Secondary Cooling System Flushing
NOTICE: Recover the coolant in a suitable, clean container for reuse. If the coolant is contaminated, dispose of it properly and fill the system with new coolant. Flush the cooling system. Refer to Cooling System Flushing or Cooling System Flushing - With Fluid Contamination. Failure to follow these instructions may damage to the cooling system. Powertrain Secondary Cooling System Flushing Powertrain Secondary Cooling System Flushing - with Fluid Contamination
NOTE: During normal vehicle operation, Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant may change color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the engine coolant is clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the engine coolant has degraded nor does it require the engine coolant to be drained, the system to be flushed, or the engine coolant to be replaced.
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Jacking and Lifting Service and Repair.
2. Place a suitable container below the radiator draincock.
3. Remove the pressure relief cap from the degas bottle.
4. Open the radiator draincock and drain the coolant into a suitable clean container.
5. Close the radiator draincock when finished.
6. If necessary, disconnect the transmission fluid cooler inlet hose from the transmission fluid cooler and the fuel cooler outlet hose from the fuel cooler to completely drain the system. Drain the coolant into a suitable clean container. Reconnect the hoses when finished.
Filling and Bleeding with Vacuum Cooling System Filler
NOTICE: Before filling the cooling system, evaluate the cooling system condition. For additional information, refer to Cooling System Condition Evaluation. Failure to follow these instructions can damage the cooling system. Powertrain Secondary Cooling System Condition Evaluation
NOTICE: Vehicle cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the cooling system.
NOTICE: Coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, corrosion protection and cooling efficiency to the cooling system components. In order to obtain these protections, maintain the coolant at the correct concentration and fluid level. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the cooling system.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolants degrades the coolant corrosion protection.
- Do not add alcohol, methanol or brine, or any coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. These can cause cooling system damage from overheating or freezing.
- Do not mix with recycled coolant. Use of such coolant may harm the cooling system components.
NOTE: Filling the cooling system with a vacuum cooling system filler is the preferred method.
1. NOTICE: With the engine cold, fill vehicles to within the cold fill range shown on the degas bottle. This fill level allows for coolant expansion. Overfilling the degas bottle may result in damage to the pressure cap, which can cause the cooling system to overheat.
Install the vacuum cooling system filler and follow the tool manufacturer instructions to fill and bleed the cooling system.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 ethylene glycol to distilled water.
- For extremely cold climates (less than -37°C [-34°F]):
- It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
- NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
- Maximum coolant concentration is 60/40 for cold weather areas.
- A coolant concentration of 60% will provide freeze point protection down to -50°C (-58°F).
- Engine coolant concentration above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
- For extremely hot climates:
- It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration above 40%.
- NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
- Minimum coolant concentration is 40/60 for warm weather areas.
- A coolant concentration of 40% will provide freeze point protection down to -26°C (-15F).
- Engine coolant concentration below 40% will decrease the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
- Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler
NOTICE: Before filling the cooling system, evaluate the cooling system condition. For additional information, refer to Cooling System Condition Evaluation. Failure to follow these instructions can damage the cooling system. Powertrain Secondary Cooling System Condition Evaluation
NOTICE: Vehicle cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the cooling system.
NOTICE: Coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, corrosion protection and cooling efficiency to the cooling system components. In order to obtain these protections, maintain the coolant at the correct concentration and fluid level. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the cooling system.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolants degrades the coolant corrosion protection.
- Do not add alcohol, methanol or brine, or any coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. These can cause cooling system damage from overheating or freezing.
- Do not mix with recycled coolant. Use of such coolant may harm the cooling system components.
NOTE: Filling the cooling system with a vacuum cooling system filler is the preferred method. Carry out the following procedure only if a vacuum cooling system filler is not available.
1. NOTE: Failure to block the radiator will require more time before the thermostat opens.
Position a piece of cardboard on the driver side half of the radiator.
2. NOTE: The degas bottle cap must be loose so that the cooling system does not get pressurized.
Fill the degas bottle to the maximum fill line.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 ethylene glycol to distilled water.
- For extremely cold climates (less than -37°C [-34°F]):
- It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
- NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
- Maximum coolant concentration is 60/40 for cold weather areas.
- A coolant concentration of 60% will provide freeze point protection down to -50°C (-58°F).
- Engine coolant concentration above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
- For extremely hot climates:
- It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration above 40%.
- NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
- Minimum coolant concentration is 40/60 for warm weather areas.
- A coolant concentration of 40% will provide freeze point protection down to -26°C (-15°F).
- Engine coolant concentration below 40% will decrease the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
- Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
3. Install the degas bottle cap to the first stop.
4. Start and idle the engine until the coolant level stabilizes.
5. Fill the degas bottle to the maximum fill line.
- Install the degas bottle cap to the first stop.
6. Run the engine at 2,000 rpm for 2 minutes.
7. Bring the engine to an idle.
- Determine if the low temperature thermostat has opened by feeling the lower part of the LH side of the secondary radiator, under the high temperature thermostat housing. If the radiator is cool then the thermostat has not opened. If the radiator is warm then the low temperature thermostat has opened and coolant is flowing through the entire system.
8. If the coolant level has dropped below the minimum fill line fill the degas bottle to the maximum fill line.
- Install the degas bottle cap to the first stop.
9. Repeat Steps 5 through 7 until the thermostat opens.
- The coolant level will rise before the thermostat opens due to thermal expansion. The coolant level will drop after the thermostat opens due to air exiting the system.
10. Repeat Steps 5 and 7 until the coolant level stabilizes.
11. Stop the engine and remove the cardboard from the radiator.
12. Restart and idle the engine for 5 minutes to stabilize the coolant temperature.
13. Fill the degas bottle to 5 mm (0.196 in) above the maximum fill line.
- Install the degas bottle cap.
14. Verify that the cardboard has been removed from the radiator.