Cooling System: Service and Repair

Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding

Special Tool(s) / General Equipment

Materials

1. WARNING: Before beginning any service procedure. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

Refer to: Engine Cooling System Health and Safety Precautions. Engine Cooling System Health and Safety Precautions

2.

3. Refer to: Jacking and Lifting - Overview.
4.

5. NOTE: Use a drain hose to drain the coolant.

3. NOTE: Follow these steps when adding or topping off the engine coolant.

- Measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle.
Special Tool(s): ROB75240 (Coolant/Battery Refractometer (Fahrenheit))

- Determine the concentration desired based on the vehicle duty cycle of extreme hot or cold operating conditions
- For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (equates to the temperature range shown), use the following coolant.
Material: Motorcraft(R) Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted / VC-3DIL-B (WSS-M97B44-D2)
Temperature: -30° F (-34,4° C)
Temperature: -34° F (-36,7° C)

- For all other concentrations, use the following coolant and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
Material: Motorcraft(R) Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated / VC-3-B (WSS-M97B44-D)

4.
- For extremely cold climates less than the following temperature:
Temperature: -34° F (-36,7° C)

- 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% provides freeze protection down to the following temperature.
Temperature: -58° F (-50° C)

- Engine coolant concentration above 60% decreases the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

5.
- 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% provides freeze point protection down to the following temperature.
Temperature: -15° F (-26,1° C)

- Engine coolant concentration below 40% decreases the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

6. Vehicle driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
1. Fill the cooling system through the degas bottle to the MAX line.
2.
- Turn the key on or, if equipped, press the START button.
- Transmission in park.
- Climate control system off.

3.
- Enter system fill mode.
- Press the brake pedal for 10 seconds, release.
- Press the accelerator pedal to 100% for 10 seconds.

4. Hold the accelerator pedal to 100% for 1 minute. The coolant pump will operate at 100% and the engine will operate at 2,000 RPM.
5. Check the coolant level and fill to degas bottle MAX line. Check if the thermostat is open (lower radiator hose is hot).
6. Hold the accelerator pedal to 100% for 5 minutes. The coolant pump will operate at 100% and the engine will operate at 2,000 RPM.
7. Check the coolant level and fill to degas bottle MAX line. Check if the thermostat is open (lower radiator hose is hot).
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until the thermostat is open (lower radiator hose is hot).
9. Hold the accelerator pedal to 100% for 5 minutes. The coolant pump will operate at 100% and the engine will operate at 2,000 RPM.
10. Check the coolant level and if necessary fill to degas bottle MAX line.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 until coolant level no longer drops and for an additional 20 minutes.
12. Check the coolant level and fill to degas bottle MAX line.
13.