Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler - Coolant Expansion Tank Systems

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Ford Pickup. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: Vehicle cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft® Specialty Orange Engine 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.

NOTE: 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. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:

Add Motorcraft® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D (orange color). 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® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.

Vehicles equipped with a 6.2L engine

NOTE: For coolant flow diagrams, refer to ENGINE COOLING in Description and Operation .

Release the clamp and disconnect the heater inlet hose from the heater inlet tube.
Fill the radiator through the radiator fill neck until engine coolant flows from the heater inlet tube.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 engine coolant 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.
Connect the heater inlet hose to the heater inlet tube and position the clamp.
All vehicles
Fill the radiator through the radiator fill neck until the coolant level is at the bottom of the filler neck.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 engine coolant 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.
Install the radiator cap.
Fill the coolant expansion tank until the coolant reaches the COLD FILL mark.
Select the maximum heater temperature and blower motor speed settings. Position the control to discharge air at A/C vents in instrument panel.

NOTE: If the air discharge remains cool and the engine coolant temperature gauge does not move, the engine coolant level is low in the engine and must be filled. Stop the engine, allow it to cool and fill the cooling system. Failure to follow this instruction may result in damage to the engine.

Run the engine at idle until it reaches normal operating temperature.
Turn the engine off and allow it to cool.
Add the correct coolant mixture to the coolant expansion tank until the coolant level is at the COLD FILL mark.
Start the engine and allow it to idle until it reaches normal operating temperature. While the engine is idling, feel for hot air from the A/C vents.
- Hot air should discharge from the A/C vents. The engine coolant temperature gauge should maintain a stabilized reading in the middle of the NORMAL range and the upper radiator hose should feel hot to the touch.
Check the engine coolant level in the coolant expansion tank and fill it as necessary.
Repeat the previous 5 steps as necessary.