Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
Cooling System Draining, Filling and BleedingSpecial Tool(s)
Material
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.
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. Using contaminated coolant may result in damage to the engine or cooling system components.
CAUTION: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant.
CAUTION: Stop-leak style pellets/products must not be used as an additive in this engine cooling system. The addition of stop-leak style pellets/products may clog or damage the cooling system, resulting in degraded cooling system performance and/or failure.
NOTE: Less than 80% of 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.
2. Release the pressure in the cooling system by slowly turning the pressure relief cap one half to one turn counterclockwise to the first stop on the filler neck. When the pressure has been released, remove the pressure relief cap.
3. Remove the front splash shield.
4. Place a suitable container below the radiator draincock. Drain the coolant.
5. Close the radiator draincock and install the front splash shield when finished.
Filling and Bleeding with RADKITPLUS
NOTE: For vehicles equipped with an optional rear heater, RADKITPLUS must be used whenever the underbody coolant lines and/or rear heater core are drained or removed.
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. When adding engine coolant, use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and clean, distilled water.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
^ Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Use the same coolant that was drained from the cooling system. Do not mix coolant types.
^ Do not add Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant or an equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D. Mixing coolants can 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.
CAUTION: Stop-leak style pellets/products must not be used as an additive in this engine cooling system. The addition of stop-leak style pellets/products may clog or damage the cooling system, resulting in degraded cooling system performance and/or failure.
NOTE: For vehicles equipped with an optional rear heater, RADKITPLUS must be used whenever the underbody coolant lines and/or rear heater core are drained or removed.
1. Open the degas bottle cap and fill the degas bottle to the MAX fill line.
2. Close the degas bottle cap.
3. CAUTION: If the engine overheats or the fluid level drops below the minimum fill line, shut off the engine and add fluid to the degas bottle maximum fill line once the engine cools.
Start the engine and let idle for 10 minutes or until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
4. Repeat Step 3 if necessary.
5. Start the engine and turn the heater to the MAX position.
6. CAUTION: If the engine overheats or the fluid level drops below the minimum fill line, shut off the engine and add fluid to the degas bottle maximum fill line once the engine cools.
Run the engine at 2,500 rpm for 10 minutes.
7. Repeat Step 6 if necessary.
8. 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.
Check the engine coolant level in degas bottle and fill as necessary.