Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Draining
1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist.
2. 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. Using contaminated coolant may damage the engine or cooling system components.
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.
Release the pressure in the cooling system by slowly turning the pressure relief cap one half turn counterclockwise. When the pressure has been released, remove the pressure relief cap.
3. Place a suitable container below the lower radiator hose.
- Release the clamp, disconnect the lower radiator hose from the radiator and allow the coolant to drain.
Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler
NOTICE: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. 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 Cooling System Flushing. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.
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 in the coolant expansion tank.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Add Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D (orange color).
- Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolants. Mixing coolants degrades 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) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
1. Connect the lower radiator hose to the radiator and position the clamp.
2. 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 -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.
Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler
NOTICE: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. 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 Cooling System Flushing. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.
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 in the coolant expansion tank.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Add Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D (orange color).
- Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolants. Mixing coolants degrades 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) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
1. Connect the lower radiator hose to the radiator and position the clamp.
2. Fill the radiator through the degas bottle until the coolant level is at the max fill line on the degas bottle.
- 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 pressure relief cap.
4. NOTICE: If the engine overheats or the fluid level in the coolant expansion tank drops below the min fill line, allow the engine to cool. Once engine is cool, add coolant to the coolant expansion tank to the max fill line. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine.
Start the engine, run and hold at 2,500 rpm for 15 minutes.
5. NOTICE: If the engine overheats or the fluid level in the coolant expansion tank drops below the min fill line, allow the engine to cool. Once engine is cool, add coolant to the coolant expansion tank to the max fill line. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine.
Increase the engine speed to 5,000 rpm and then decrease to idle. Repeat six times.
6. NOTICE: If the engine overheats or the fluid level in the coolant expansion tank drops below the min fill line, allow the engine to cool. Once engine is cool, add coolant to the coolant expansion tank to the max fill line. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine.
Increase the engine speed to 4,000 rpm for ten seconds, then return the engine speed to 2,500 rpm and hold for another ten minutes.
7. Decrease the engine speed to idle, shut the engine off and allow to cool.
8. Check the engine and cooling system for any leaks.
9. Check the coolant level in the degas bottle and fill as necessary.