Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding - 2.3L
Partial Drain
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: 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. Contaminated coolant may damage cooling system components.
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 Cooling System Flushing.
NOTE: If cooling system stop leak pellets are used, Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant may darken from yellow to golden tan.
NOTE: Less than 80% of the coolant capacity can be recovered with the engine in the vehicle. Dirty, rusty or contaminated coolant requires replacement.
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Jacking and Lifting Service and Repair.
2. Remove the degas bottle cap.
3. Place a suitable container below the radiator draincock. Drain the coolant.
4. Close the radiator draincock when finished draining.
- Tighten to 2 Nm (18 lb-in).
Complete Drain
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: 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. Contaminated coolant may damage cooling system components.
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. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.
NOTE: If cooling system stop leak pellets are used, Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant may darken from yellow to golden tan.
NOTE: Less than 80% of the coolant capacity can be recovered with the engine in the vehicle. Dirty, rusty or contaminated coolant requires replacement.
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to Jacking and Lifting Service and Repair.
2. Remove the degas bottle cap.
3. Place a suitable container below the radiator draincock. Drain the coolant.
4. Close the radiator draincock when finished.
- Tighten to 2 Nm (18 lb-in).
5. Place a suitable container below the radiator lower hose and disconnect the hose from the thermostat housing.
Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler
NOTICE: All air must be removed from the cooling system. Failure to remove all the air from the cooling system may result in engine damage.
NOTICE: Engine coolant provides boil protection, corrosion protection, freeze protection, and cooling efficiency to the engine and cooling components. In order to obtain these protections, maintain the engine coolant at the correct concentration and fluid level in the degas bottle.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Add Motorcraft(R) Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Use the same type of coolant that was drained from the cooling system. Do not mix coolant types.
- Do not add or mix with any other type of 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(R) Premium Gold Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
NOTE: If cooling system stop leak pellets are used, Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant may darken from yellow to golden tan.
1. Install the vacuum cooling system filler and follow the manufacturer's 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 -36°C [-33°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 -52°C (-62°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 -24°C (-11°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.
Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler
NOTICE: 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. Incorrect coolant or coolant mixtures may damage cooling system components.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Add Motorcraft(R) Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Use the same type of coolant that was drained from the cooling system. Do not mix coolant types.
- Do not add or mix with any other type of 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(R) Premium Gold Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
NOTE: If cooling system stop leak pellets are used, Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant may darken from yellow to golden tan.
Filling and bleeding procedure for use with partial drain
1. Make sure the radiator draincock is completely closed.
2. Add the correct engine coolant mixture to the degas bottle to 15 mm (0.590 in) above the maximum fill level.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 ethylene glycol to distilled water.
- For extremely cold climates (less than -36°C [-33°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 -52°C (-62°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 -24°C (-11°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.
4. WARNING: Do not stand in line with or near the engine cooling fan blade when revving the engine. A damaged fan can separate during operation. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.
Start the engine and hold at 2,500 rpm engine speed for approximately 8 minutes until the thermostat opens.
5. Maintain 2,500 rpm engine speed for an additional 3 minutes.
6. Increase engine speed to 4,000 rpm and hold for 5 seconds.
7. Return engine speed to 2,500 rpm and hold for an additional 3 minutes.
8. Stop the engine and check for leaks.
Filling and bleeding procedure for use with complete drain
9. Install the radiator lower hose and close the radiator draincock.
10. Add the correct engine coolant mixture to the degas bottle to the maximum fill level.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 ethylene glycol to distilled water.
- For extremely cold climates (less than -36°C [-33°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 -52°C (-62°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 -24°C (-11°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.
11. WARNING: Do not stand in line with or near the engine cooling fan blade when revving the engine. A damaged fan can separate during operation. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.
Start the engine and run for approximately 10 seconds at 2,500 rpm to prime the heater circuit then turn the engine off.
12. Top off the coolant level to 15 mm (0.6 in) above the max fill level.
13. Install the degas bottle cap.
14. Start the engine and hold at 2,500 rpm engine speed for approximately 8 minutes until the thermostat opens.
15. Maintain 2,500 rpm engine speed for an additional 3 minutes.
16. Increase engine speed to 4,000 rpm and hold for 5 seconds.
17. Return engine speed to 2,500 rpm and hold for an additional 3 minutes.
18. Repeat the previous 2 steps.
19. Stop the engine and check for leaks.
20. Verify correct fluid level after engine cools for 20 minutes. Top off the degas bottle to MAX line.