Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler - Coolant Expansion Tank System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2014 Ford F-150. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: Vehicle cooling systems are 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.

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® 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.

Connect the vacuum cooling system filler and the appropriate rubber adapter to the radiator.

Fig 1: Connecting Vacuum Cooling System Filler Using Adapter
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Clamp the radiator-to-coolant expansion tank hose near the radiator.

Fig 2: Clamping Radiator-To-Coolant Expansion Tank Hose
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Follow the vacuum cooling system filler manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the cooling system.
When adding or topping of the engine coolant:
1. Measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle using the 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 coolant as follows:
  - For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (equates to a freeze point between -31°C [-30°F] and -34°C [-37°F]), use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range.
  - 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 (freeze protection -31°C [-30°F] to -34°C [-37°F]).
5. 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% provides freeze point protection down to -50°C (-58°F).
  - Engine coolant concentration above 60% decreases 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 -26°C (-15°F).
  - Engine coolant concentration below 40% decreases 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 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water (freeze protection -31°C [-30°F] to -34°C [-37°F]) for optimum cooling system and engine protection.