Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Ford Pickup, 2012 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2012 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2012 Ford Cab & Chassis. 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. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

NOTE: Engine coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, corrosion 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. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:

Do not mix coolant types. 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.
Do not mix with recycled coolant. Use of such coolant may harm the engine and cooling system components.

NOTE: With the engine cold, fill vehicles to within the cold fill range shown on the degas bottle. This fill level will allow for coolant expansion. Overfilling the degas bottle may damage the pressure cap, which can cause the engine to overheat.

Fig 1: Filling And Bleeding Cooling System Using Airlift Cooling System Tester

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Install the Airlift Cooling System Tester and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the cooling system.
- Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 ethylene glycol 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.