Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding: Filling-Bleeding
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Ford Windstar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
CAUTION:
Engine coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, cooling efficiency, and corrosion protection to the engine and cooling components. In order to obtain these protections, the engine coolant must be maintained at the correct concentration and fluid level in the degas bottle.
When adding engine coolant, use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and clean, drinkable water.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Add Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant VC-4-A (in Oregon VC-5, in Canada CXC-10) or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A (green color), or Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant VC-7-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Use the same coolant that was drained from the system. Do not mix coolant types.
- Do not add orange-colored Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant such as VC-2, meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D. 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 unless it meets the requirements of Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A or WSS-M97B51-A1. Not all coolant recycling processes meet these Ford specifications. Use of such a coolants may harm the engine and cooling system components.
NOTE:
The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets VC-6 or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M99B37-5 (except as noted in ES-F6SE-19A511-AA) darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
- During the initial fill, fill the degas bottle to the top of the cold fill range.
- Move the temperature blend selector to the full warm position and the fan motor control to MAX for the front and rear unit, if equipped.
- Start the vehicle with the coolant pressure relief cap off and allow to idle until the thermostat is open.
- Top off the coolant in the degas bottle to the top of the cold fill range. Install and tighten the coolant pressure relief cap.
- Increase the engine rpms to 3,000 for 15 seconds, and then return to idle for one minute.
- Repeat the previous step four times or until heat is coming from the rear unit while the vehicle is idling.
- Allow the vehicle to cool and top off the coolant in the degas bottle to the cold fill range.