Cooling System Draining, Vacuum Filling and Bleeding

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

Special Tool(s) / General Equipment

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

Materials

Name	Specification
Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant VC-3DIL-B	WSS-M97B44-D2
Motorcraft® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant VC-3-B	WSS-M97B44-D

Draining

NOTE: 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 result in damage to the engine or cooling system components.

NOTE: The vehicle cooling system is filled with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of the coolant. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

NOTE: 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 in COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHING - With Oil Contamination or COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHING - Without Oil Contamination . Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

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.

1.

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WARNING: When releasing the cooling system pressure, cover the coolant expansion tank cap with a thick cloth.

Remove the pressure relief cap.

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2.

Refer to: Jacking and Lifting - Overview .

3.

Remove the underbody shield.

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4.

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WARNING: Be prepared to collect escaping fluid.

Open the radiator drain valve and drain the engine 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

NOTE: Filling the cooling system with a vacuum cooling system filler is the preferred method.

1.
- NOTE: The cooling system is filled with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of the coolant. Failure to follow these instructions 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: Add Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent.
  
  NOTE: Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolant. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.
  
  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 in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
  
  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.
- Add, top-off or adjust the coolant as follows:
- For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34C to -37C [-30F to -34F]) use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range.
  Material: Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant / VC-3DIL-B (WSS-M97B44-D2)
- For all other concentrations, use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
  Material: Motorcraft® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant / VC-3-B (WSS-M97B44-D)
- 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.

2.

Close the radiator drain valve.

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3.

Install the underbody shield.

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4.

Install the vacuum cooling system filler and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the system.
Use the General Equipment: Cooling System Vacuum Tester and Refiller

5.

Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 engine coolant to distilled water (freeze protection -34C to -37C [-30F to -34F]).

6.
- For extremely cold climates (less than -37C [-34F]):
- 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 -50C (-58F)
- Engine coolant concentrations above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

7.
- 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 freeze and corrosion protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

8.

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

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9.

Fill the degas bottle to 15 mm above the MAX FILL line.

10.

Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.

11.

Run the engine at 2, 000 RPM for 20 minutes.

12.

Increase the engine speed to 4, 000 RPM and maintain it for 5 seconds.

13.

Decrease the engine speed to 2, 000 RPM and maintain it for 10 minutes.

14.

Switch the engine off.

15.

Check the cooling system for leaks.

16.

Allow the engine to cool.

17.

Check the engine coolant level in degas bottle and if necessary fill to the top of the MAX FILL line on the degas bottle.

18.

Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.

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Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler

19.
- NOTE: The cooling system is filled with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of the coolant. Failure to follow these instructions 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: Add Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent.
  
  NOTE: Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolant. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.
  
  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 in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
  
  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.
- Add, top-off or adjust the coolant as follows:
- For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34C to -37C [-30F to -34F]) use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range.
  Material: Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant / VC-3DIL-B (WSS-M97B44-D2)
- For all other concentrations, use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
  Material: Motorcraft® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant / VC-3-B (WSS-M97B44-D)
- 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.

20.

Close the radiator drain valve.

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21.

Install the underbody shield.

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22.

Fill the degas bottle to the MAX FILL line.

23.

Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 engine coolant to distilled water (freeze protection -34C to -37C [-30F to -34F]).

24.
- For extremely cold climates (less than -37C [-34F]):
- 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 -50C (-58F)
- Engine coolant concentrations above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

25.
- 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 freeze and corrosion protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

26.

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

27.

Fill the degas bottle to 15 mm above the MAX FILL line.

28.

Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.

29.

Run the engine at 2, 000 RPM for 20 minutes.

30.

Increase the engine speed to 4, 000 RPM and maintain it for 5 seconds.

31.

Decrease the engine speed to 2, 000 RPM and maintain it for 10 minutes.

32.

Switch the engine off.

33.

Check the cooling system for leaks.

34.

Allow the engine to cool.

35.

Check the engine coolant level in degas bottle and if necessary fill to the top of the MAX FILL line on the degas bottle.

36.

Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.

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