Engine Cooling System Draining, Vacuum Filling and Bleeding

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Special Tool(s) / General Equipment 

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY	ROB75240 Coolant/Battery Refractometer (Fahrenheit)
Fluid Container
Cooling System Vacuum Tester and Refiller

Materials 

Draining 

1. WARNING: Before beginning any service procedure, refer to Safety Warnings. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

   Refer to: Engine Cooling System Health and Safety Precautions .

2. With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. Refer to: Jacking and Lifting - Overview .
3. 1. Remove the LH inner engine compartment cover.
   2. Remove the nut and position the clamp aside.
   3. Remove the retainers.
   4. Remove the LH engine compartment cover.

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4. 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.

   Remove the pressure relief cap.

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5. Remove the retainers and the underbody shield.

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6. WARNING: Be prepared to collect escaping fluid.

   Connect a hose to drain the coolant. Open the engine coolant drain valves and drain the coolant in a suitable, clean container. Use the General Equipment: Fluid Container

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Filling 

Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler 

1. • NOTE: Use the correct coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types may degrade the coolant corrosion protection and may damage the engine or cooling system.
     NOTE: 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.
     NOTE: 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.
     NOTE: Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
     NOTE: Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolant. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.

     When adding or topping off the engine coolant:

   • Measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle. Use Special Service Tool: ROB75240 Coolant/Battery Refractometer (Fahrenheit).
   • Determine the concentration desired based on the vehicle duty cycle of extreme hot or cold operating conditions. Refer to: Specifications  .
   • Add, top-off or adjust the coolant as follows:
   • For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) Motorcraft® Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range. Refer to: Specifications  .
   • For all other concentrations, use Motorcraft® Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration. Refer to: Specifications  .
   • When refilling the engine coolant after a flush procedure, use a mixture of Motorcraft® Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.

2. Close the engine coolant drain valves.

   Torque: 106 lb.in (12 Nm)

   Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

3. NOTE: Apply Loctite to the bolts before installation.

   Install the underbody shield and the retainers.

   Material: Motorcraft® Threadlock and Sealer / TA-25-B

   Torque: 97 lb.in (11 Nm)

   Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

4. Remove the nuts and position aside the ride height dampener.

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5. Disconnect the electrical connector, remove the bolts, and position aside the degas bottle.

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6. Install the Airlift Cooling System Tester UVU550000 or equivalent and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the system. Use the General Equipment: Cooling System Vacuum Tester and Refiller
7. Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 engine coolant to distilled water (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]).
8. • 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 protection down to -50°C (-58°F)
   • Engine coolant concentrations above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

9. • 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.
   • Engine coolant concentrations below 40% will decrease the corrosion/freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

10. Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

11. Fill the degas bottle above the MAX FILL line to the rim of the degas bottle cap opening.
12. Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.
13. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a minimum of 12 minutes and until the coolant temperature display on the dash reaches 91°C (196°F).
14. Increase the engine speed to 4, 000 rpm and hold for 5 seconds then return to idle.
15. Repeat step 20 a total of 2 times to remove air trapped in the system.
16. Turn the engine off and allow it to cool until the coolant temperature display on the dash is reading ambient temperature.
17. 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.
    NOTE: Do not overfill the degas bottle.

    Check the engine coolant level in degas bottle. If the degas bottle is empty or below the lower coolant hose connection repeat steps 17 to 21. If the coolant level is above the lower coolant hose connection fill to the top of the MAX FILL line on the degas bottle.

18. Position back the degas bottle, install the bolts, and connect the electrical connector.

    Torque: 97 lb.in (11 Nm)

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

19. Position back the ride height dampener and install the nuts.

    Torque: 49 lb.in (5.5 Nm)

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20. Install the pressure relief cap until at least 1 audible click is heard.

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21. 1. Install the LH engine compartment cover.
    2. Install the retainers.
    3. Position back the clamp and install the nut.

       Torque: 53 lb.in (6 Nm)

    4. Install the LH inner engine compartment cover.

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler 

22. • NOTE: Use the correct coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types may degrade the coolant corrosion protection and may damage the engine or cooling system.
      NOTE: 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.
      NOTE: 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.
      NOTE: Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
      NOTE: Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolant. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.

      When adding or topping off the engine coolant:

    • Measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle. Use Special Service Tool: ROB75240 Coolant/Battery Refractometer (Fahrenheit).
    • Determine the concentration desired based on the vehicle duty cycle of extreme hot or cold operating conditions. Refer to: Specifications  .
    • Add, top-off or adjust the coolant as follows:
    • For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) Motorcraft® Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range. Refer to: Specifications  .
    • For all other concentrations, use Motorcraft® Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration. Refer to: Specifications  .
    • When refilling the engine coolant after a flush procedure, use a mixture of Motorcraft® Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.

23. Close the engine coolant drain valves.

    Torque: 106 lb.in (12 Nm)

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

24. NOTE: Apply Loctite to the bolts before installation.

    Install the underbody shield and the retainers.

    Material: Motorcraft® Threadlock and Sealer / TA-25-B

    Torque: 97 lb.in (11 Nm)

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

25. Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 engine coolant to distilled water (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]).
26. • 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 protection down to -50°C (-58°F)
    • Engine coolant concentrations above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

27. • 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.
    • Engine coolant concentrations below 40% will decrease the corrosion/freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

28. Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
29. Fill the degas bottle above the MAX FILL line to the rim of the degas bottle cap opening.
30. Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.
31. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a minimum of 12 minutes and until the coolant temperature display on the dash reaches 91°C (196°F).
32. Increase the engine speed to 4, 000 rpm and hold for 5 seconds then return to idle.
33. Repeat step 38 a total of 2 times to remove air trapped in the system.
34. Turn the engine off and allow it to cool until the coolant temperature display on the dash is reading ambient temperature.
35. 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.
    NOTE: Do not overfill the degas bottle.

    Check the engine coolant level in degas bottle. If the degas bottle is empty or below the lower coolant hose connection repeat steps 35 to 39. If the coolant level is above the lower coolant hose connection fill to the MAX FILL line on the degas bottle.

36. Install the pressure relief cap until at least 1 audible click is heard.

    Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

37. 1. Install the LH engine compartment cover.
    2. Install the retainers.
    3. Position back the clamp and install the nut.

       Torque: 53 lb.in (6 Nm)

    4. Install the LH inner engine compartment cover.

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY