Cooling System Draining, Vacuum Filling and Bleeding

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty, and 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

For information on Ford Color Coded Illustrations refer to OEM Color Coding .

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. 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.

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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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With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. Refer to: Jacking and Lifting - Overview .
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WARNING: Be prepared to collect escaping fluid.

Connect a hose to drain the coolant. 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.

- NOTE: Before filling the cooling system, evaluate the cooling system condition. For additional information, refer to Cooling System Condition Evaluation . Failure to follow these instructions can result in damage to the engine.
  
  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 -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) use Motorcraft ® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
Close the radiator drain valve.

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

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
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]).
- 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.
- 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.
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.

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

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Filling and Bleeding without a Vacuum Cooling System Filler

NOTE: Filling the cooling system with a vacuum cooling system filler is the preferred method. Carry out the following procedure only if a vacuum cooling system filler is not available.
- NOTE: Before filling the cooling system, evaluate the cooling system condition. For additional information, refer to Cooling System Condition Evaluation . Failure to follow these instructions can result in damage to the engine.
  
  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 -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) use Motorcraft ® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.
Close the radiator drain valve.

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NOTE: Failure to block the radiator off will require more time before the thermostat will open.

Position a piece of cardboard on the driver side half of the radiator.
NOTE: The degas bottle cap must be loose so that the cooling system does not get pressurized.

Fill the degas bottle to the MAX FILL line.
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]).
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Install the degas bottle cap until it starts to ratchet. Back the degas bottle cap off one-half turn.
Start and idle the engine until the coolant level stabilizes.
Refill the degas bottle to the maximum fill line. Install the degas bottle cap until it starts to ratchet. Back the degas bottle cap off one-half turn.
Run the engine at 2, 000 RPM for 2 minutes.
Bring the engine to an idle.
Determine if the thermostat has opened by feeling the temperature of the upper radiator hose at the radiator. If the hose is cool then the thermostat has not opened. If the hose is warm or hot then the thermostat has opened.
If the coolant level has dropped below the minimum fill line then refill the degas bottle to the maximum fill line. Install the degas bottle cap until it starts to ratchet. Back the degas bottle cap off one-half turn.
NOTE: The coolant level will rise before the thermostat opens due to thermal expansion. The coolant level will drop after the thermostat opens due to air exiting the system.

Repeat Steps 20 through 23 until the thermostat opens.
Stop the engine and remove the cardboard from the radiator.
Restart and idle the engine for 5 minutes to stabilize the coolant temperature.
Fill the degas bottle to 20 mm (0.787 in) above the maximum fill line.
Install the degas bottle cap until it contacts the hard stop.

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