Maintenance: How Do I......

01_SVT · Feb 16, 2004

.....correctly flush the radiator coolant out of my 2001 Cobra? I have not changed the coolant since I bought the car brand new in 2001. I overheard one day at the dealer that there's a certain protocol to follow when refilling the coolant system...something to do with releasing air out of the system by turning an inline nipple?? Does anyone know what I am referring to?

I've never taken my old 1988 Stang to the dealer to flush the coolant. I hate to pay for something I can do myself....but if i have to, I will . Please let me know. thanks in advance!

99SVTAddict · Feb 16, 2004

I would just take it to a local oil change shop and have the flush it out. I'm not sure how to do it yourself. But as far as "burping" the system, there's a cap at the very top of the cross over tube...you undo that and since it's the highest point, you can release any air biuld up from there.

Thunder5.0 · Feb 16, 2004

The proper way is to lift up the front of the vehicle only when refilling. This will minimize air pockets in the system.

01_SVT · Feb 16, 2004

Cool, thank you both! how would I know the air is out?

COBRA90GT · Feb 16, 2004

Someone has posted all of the steps over on Corral's board (just run a search for "coolant flush" in the SVT/DOHC section of the msg board):

Here's one thread:

How to Flush Coolant, step by step

copied:

Heres the proper way to fill the coolant and get pockets out.

DO all of the above with the car not running.

1. Remove filler cap to tank
2. Remove plug on coolant rail
3. Use 50-50 mix of antifreeze/water
4. Fill at Coolant rail. Fill slowly
5. As you fill Coolant rail watch the mixture level rise in expansion tank.
6. When the coolant level reaches the full mark on the tank put the cap to the tank back on.
7. Continue pouring mixture into coolant rail slowly. It should take another quart of water or so. Continue pouring until it wont accept any more water.
8. Put plug on rail back on.
9. Start car and let run at idle for 10 minutes
10. Watch temp level.
11. Go test drive.

01_SVT · Feb 16, 2004

Very Helpful! Thanks everyone!

That thread you sent the link for was hilarious!

STUD · Feb 16, 2004

coolant flush

01_SVT said:
.....correctly flush the radiator coolant out of my 2001 Cobra? I have not changed the coolant since I bought the car brand new in 2001. I overheard one day at the dealer that there's a certain protocol to follow when refilling the coolant system...something to do with releasing air out of the system by turning an inline nipple?? Does anyone know what I am referring to?

I've never taken my old 1988 Stang to the dealer to flush the coolant. I hate to pay for something I can do myself....but if i have to, I will . Please let me know. thanks in advance!

Let the dealer do it, or somebody really competent. I had my 99 flushed at the dealer. I drove the car off the lot and it started to over heat. I took it back just as the temp started to climb. The tech was dumbfounded. He eventually added more coolant and it was solved. For some reason, the backflush machine did'nt get all the air out. Just make sure you run the car for a few minutes before you leave the dealer. They use a special machine that sucks all the old coolant out and pumps new coolant in. It's worth the money to have it done right. If you do it wrong and it overheats, you'll burn up the aluminum engine fast, as well as blown head gasket.

Good luck

01_SVT · Feb 17, 2004

STUD said:
Let the dealer do it, or somebody really competent. I had my 99 flushed at the dealer. I drove the car off the lot and it started to over heat. I took it back just as the temp started to climb. The tech was dumbfounded. He eventually added more coolant and it was solved. For some reason, the backflush machine did'nt get all the air out. Just make sure you run the car for a few minutes before you leave the dealer. They use a special machine that sucks all the old coolant out and pumps new coolant in. It's worth the money to have it done right. If you do it wrong and it overheats, you'll burn up the aluminum engine fast, as well as blown head gasket.

Good luck

Hey! Are you saying I'm not competent?

LOL Joking! I didn't know they used a machine to do that.....If the Dealer Mech was dumbfounded....then why should I bring it to them? I think I'll follow Cobra90gt's suggestion. It shouldn't be that hard.....and if I blow anything up, then that's when my bumper to bumper comes in....I hope

Thank you for your replies!!

Drive Safe!!

Lo Pony · Feb 18, 2004

It's not hard - really. You can do it any way you want, but make sure you displace tap water from the garden hose with distilled at the last step, and fill at the plug on the crossover pipe only (the highest point in the system). I read all these intricate directions and people whining about their cars overheating, and thought it was crazy. So I did it myself with no problems whatsoever. It's no big deal.

COBRA90GT · Feb 18, 2004

Lo Pony said:
It's not hard - really. You can do it any way you want, but make sure you displace tap water from the garden hose with distilled at the last step, and fill at the plug on the crossover pipe only (the highest point in the system). I read all these intricate directions and people whining about their cars overheating, and thought it was crazy. So I did it myself with no problems whatsoever. It's no big deal.

What he said, it's not that bad at all. Just be sure to use the distilled H2O & fill at the coolant crossover tube like Lo Pony said...

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