Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding

Special Tool(s)

Material

Draining

1. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. Refer to Section 100-02.

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.

   NOTICE: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Always fill the cooling system with the manufacturer's specified coolant. Chemically flush the cooling system if a non-specified coolant has been used. Refer to Cooling System Flushing. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

   NOTICE: Use Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the coolant corrosion protection and may damage the engine or cooling system.

   NOTICE: 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 can clog or damage the cooling system, resulting in degraded cooling system performance and/or failure.

   NOTE: During normal vehicle operation, Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/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.

   NOTE: Less than 80% of coolant capacity can be recovered with the engine in the vehicle. Dirty, rusty or contaminated coolant requires replacement.

   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 9 bolts, 5 pin-type retainers and the front splash shield.

4. Place a suitable container below the radiator draincock. Open the radiator draincock and drain the coolant.

5. Close the radiator draincock.

Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler

1. Install the front splash shield, the 9 bolts and the 5 pin-type retainers.

2. 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 Orange Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent. 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 Orange Antifreeze/Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.

   NOTICE: 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 can clog or damage the cooling system resulting in degraded cooling system performance and/or failure.

   Install the vacuum cooling system filler and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the cooling system.
   When adding or topping off the engine coolant:
   1. Measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle using Coolant/Battery Refractometer 300-ROB75240 or equivalent.
   2. Determine the concentration desired based on the vehicle duty cycle of extreme hot or cold operating conditions.
   3. Add/top off or adjust the coolant as follows:
      • For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34ºC (-30ºF) to -37ºC (-34ºF), use Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range (freeze protection down to -37ºC (-34ºF] ).
      • For all other concentrations, use Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
      • When refilling the engine coolant after a flush procedure, use a mixture of Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
   4. Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34ºC (-30ºF) to -37ºC (-34ºF) ) engine coolant to distilled water.
   5. For extremely cold climates (less than -37ºC (-34ºF) ):
      • 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 point protection down to -50ºC (-58ºF).
      • Engine coolant concentration above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
   6. 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 -34ºC (-30ºF).
      • Engine coolant concentration below 40% will decrease the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
   7. Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34ºC (-30ºF) to -37ºC (-34ºF) ) mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.

3. Fill the degas bottle to 25 mm (0.984 in) above the COLD FILL line.

4. Install the degas bottle cap until at least 1 audible click is heard.

5. Turn the climate control system off.

6. Start the engine and increase the engine speed to 3,500 rpm and hold for 30 seconds.

7. Turn the engine off for and wait for 1 minute to purge any large air pockets from the cooling system.

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 if necessary fill to 25 mm (0.984 in) above the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL on the degas bottle if the engine is warm or to the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL if the engine is cold.

9. Start the engine and let it idle until the engine reaches normal operating temperature and the thermostat is fully open. A fully open thermostat is verified by the cooling fan cycling on at least once.

10. Increase the engine speed to 3,500 rpm and hold for 30 seconds.

11. Allow the engine to idle for 30 seconds.

12. Turn the engine off for 1 minute.

13. Repeat steps 8 through 12 a total of 5 times to remove any remaining air trapped in the system.

14.  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 if necessary fill to 25 mm (0.984 in) above the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL on the degas bottle if the engine is warm or to the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL if the engine is cold.

15. Install the degas bottle cap until at least 1 audible click is heard.

Filling and Bleeding Without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler - 2.0L GTDI

NOTE: This fill and bleed procedure should only be used for 2.0L GTDI engines and only if a vacuum cooling system filler is not available. 3.5L Ti-VCT and 3.5L GTDI MUST use the Filling and Bleeding With a Vacuum Cooling System Filler procedure.

1. Open the bleed valve on the heater core outlet hose.

2. 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 Orange Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent. 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 Orange Antifreeze/Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.

   NOTICE: Do not use stop-leak style pellets/products as an additive in this engine cooling system. The addition of stop-leak style pellets/products can clog or damage the cooling system resulting in degraded cooling system performance and/or failure.

   Fill the cooling system through the degas bottle until coolant flows from the bleed valve.
   When adding or topping off the engine coolant:
   1. Measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle using Coolant/Battery Refractometer 300-ROB75240 or equivalent.
   2. Determine the concentration desired based on the vehicle duty cycle of extreme hot or cold operating conditions.
   3. Add/top off or adjust the coolant as follows:
      • For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34ºC (-30ºF) to -37ºC (-34ºF) ), use Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range (freeze protection down to -37ºC (-34ºF).
      • For all other concentrations, use Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
      • When refilling the engine coolant after a flush procedure, use a mixture of Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
   4. Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 engine coolant to distilled water.
   5. For extremely cold climates (less than -37ºC (-34ºF):
      • 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 point protection down to -50ºC (-58ºF).
      • Engine coolant concentration above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
   6. 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 -34ºC (-30ºF).
      • Engine coolant concentration below 40% will decrease the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
   7. Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34ºC (-30ºF) to -37ºC (-34ºF) ) mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.

3. Close the bleed valve.

4. Fill the degas bottle to 25 mm (0.984 in) above the COLD FILL line.

5. Install the degas bottle cap until at least 1 audible click is heard.

6. Turn the climate control system off.

7. Start the engine and increase the engine speed to 3,500 rpm and hold for 30 seconds.

8. Turn the engine off for and wait for 1 minute to purge any large air pockets from the cooling system.

9.  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 if necessary fill to 25 mm (0.984 in) above the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL on the degas bottle if the engine is warm or to the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL if the engine is cold.

10. Start the engine and let it idle until the engine reaches normal operating temperature and the thermostat is fully open. A fully open thermostat is verified by the cooling fan cycling on at least once.

11. Increase the engine speed to 3,500 rpm and hold for 30 seconds.

12. Allow the engine to idle for 30 seconds.

13. Turn the engine off for 1 minute.

14. Repeat steps 9 through 13 a total of 5 times to remove any remaining air trapped in the system.

15.  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 if necessary fill to 25 mm (0.984 in) above the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL on the degas bottle if the engine is warm or to the top of the COLD FILL LEVEL if the engine is cold.

16. Install the degas bottle cap until at least 1 audible click is heard.