Did anyone flush cooling system himself? I’ve got ZX3 2000 zetec and I
want to change the coolant. I have the general idea what to do the
only problem is to locate block drain plug. If someone knows the easy
way to do it or any tips at all, I will apraciate.
27
Jan
Cooling system servicing (draining, flushing and refiling)
I did mine and it was very easy. Around 35K miles and the coolant was
very clean.
I drained the radiator into a pan for disposal. I got out about 4
quarts this way. Plastic drain plug is on drivers side of bottom. I
then ran water through the expansion tank until clear water ran out of
the radiator drain. I closed the drain, filled the system with water
and ran the negine until it warmed up and the thermostat opened, let
it cool some and and drained it again, like the first time. To get
more out of the block.
I closed the drain cock and filled the radiator with concentrated
coolant – a bit less than one gallon of coolant will do. 6 quart
system, I think. Fill the rest of the way with clean water (distilled
is preferred), start the car and watch the reservoir level for a few
days, as air comes out. I found that it drained and filled well. No
air pockets that can make it overheat.
I used Prestone green as the original stuff was green.
You can also pull the thermostat, replace the housing and you won’t
have to wait for it to warm up, flush, replace ‘stat, fill with
coolant and go.
Gary
I was looking at my 2001 Focus Wagon and can’t even find the radiator
cap. Where is it..?
I would like to flush and fill my Focus also…
On 4 Mar 2004 20:43:09 -0800, gm…@yahoo.com (Gary) wrote:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>I did mine and it was very easy. Around 35K miles and the coolant was
>very clean.
>I drained the radiator into a pan for disposal. I got out about 4
>quarts this way. Plastic drain plug is on drivers side of bottom. I
>then ran water through the expansion tank until clear water ran out of
>the radiator drain. I closed the drain, filled the system with water
>and ran the negine until it warmed up and the thermostat opened, let
>it cool some and and drained it again, like the first time. To get
>more out of the block.
>I closed the drain cock and filled the radiator with concentrated
>coolant – a bit less than one gallon of coolant will do. 6 quart
>system, I think. Fill the rest of the way with clean water (distilled
>is preferred), start the car and watch the reservoir level for a few
>days, as air comes out. I found that it drained and filled well. No
>air pockets that can make it overheat.
>I used Prestone green as the original stuff was green.
>You can also pull the thermostat, replace the housing and you won’t
>have to wait for it to warm up, flush, replace ‘stat, fill with
>coolant and go.
>Gary
> I was looking at my 2001 Focus Wagon and can’t even find the radiator
> cap. Where is it..?
> I would like to flush and fill my Focus also…
I should have mentioned this part. There is no radiator cap, per se.
The coolant reservoir is pressurized with the cooling system and its
cap IS the pressure cap for the cooling system! The reservoir is
higher than the rest of the system and gravity will flow the coolant
you add to the radiator and engine. I think European cars have used
this set up for years.
So, slowly remove the cap first (when engine is cool!), then remove
the radiator drain plug and go from there. I flushed and refilled from
the reservoir cap opening.
Gary