Engine Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding
For information on Ford Color Coded Illustrations refer to OEM COLOR CODING .
Special Tool(s) / General Equipment
| ROB75240Coolant/Battery Refractometer (Fahrenheit) | |
|---|---|
| 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
- Refer to: Engine Cooling System Health and Safety Precautions .
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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.
- With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. Refer to: Jacking and Lifting - Overview .
- Remove the retainers and the under body shield.
- Remove the retainers and the front under body shield.
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WARNING: Be prepared to collect escaping fluid.NOTE: Use a drain hose to drain the coolant.
Open the radiator drain valve and drain the engine coolant in a suitable, clean container.
Filling
- Close the radiator drain valve.
- Install the front under body shield and the retainers.
- Install the under body shield and the retainers.
- Install the vacuum cooling system filler and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill the system. Use the General Equipment: Cooling System Vacuum Tester and Refiller
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NOTE: Follow these steps 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
- For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (equates to the temperature range shown), use the following coolant.
Material: Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant / VC-3DIL-B (WSS-M97B44-D2)
Temperature
: -30 - -34 deg.F (-34.4 - -36.7 deg.C)
- For all other concentrations, use the following coolant and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
Material: Motorcraft® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant / VC-3-B (WSS-M97B44-D)
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- For extremely cold climates less than the following temperature:
Temperature
: -34 deg.F (-36.7 deg.C)
- 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 the following temperature.
Temperature
: -58 deg.F (-50 deg.C)
- Engine coolant concentrations above 60% decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
- For extremely cold climates less than the following temperature:
-
- 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 the following temperature.
Temperature
: -15 deg.F (-26.1 deg.C)
- Engine coolant concentrations below 40% decrease the freeze and corrosion protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
- Vehicle driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
Bleeding
- Fill the cooling system through the degas bottle to the MAX line.
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- Turn the key on or, if equipped, press the START button.
- Transmission in park.
- Climate control system off.
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- Enter system fill mode:
- Press the brake pedal for 10 seconds, release.
- Press the brake pedal for 10 seconds, release.
- Press the accelerator pedal to 100% for 10 seconds.
- Hold the accelerator pedal to 100% for 1 minute. The coolant pump will operate at 100% and the engine will operate at 2, 000 RPM.
- Check the coolant level and fill to degas bottle MAX line. Check if the thermostat is open (lower radiator hose is hot).
- Hold the accelerator pedal to 100% for 5 minutes. The coolant pump will operate at 100% and the engine will operate at 2, 000 RPM.
- Check the coolant level and fill to degas bottle MAX line. Check if the thermostat is open (lower radiator hose is hot).
- Repeat steps 6 and 7 until the thermostat is open (lower radiator hose is hot).
- Hold the accelerator pedal to 100% for 5 minutes. The coolant pump will operate at 100% and the engine will operate at 2, 000 RPM.
- Check the coolant level and if necessary fill to degas bottle MAX line.
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- For vehicles filled with the Vacuum System Filler: Repeat steps 9 and 10 until a total of 20 minutes elapse after the thermostat opens.
- For vehicles filled without the Vacuum System Filler: Repeat steps 9 and 10 until a total of 20 minutes elapse after either the thermostat opens or the coolant level stabilizes, whichever is longer.
- Install the pressure relief cap.