Owner Maintenance; Maintenance and Care; To change coolant- Page 255

8-17

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

To change coolant

1. Remove the cooling system cap.

2. Only when the engine is cool, remove 

the radiator drain plug and drain the 
coolant into a suitable container. 
Properly dispose of the used coolant.

3. Flush out the system with running 

water.

4. Drain the system completely. Insert 

and tighten the plug. Add as much 
ethylene-glycol-based coolant mixture 
and water as necessary to provide 
freezing and corrosion protection.

5. In extremely cold climates, add the 

mixture percentage recommended in 
the coolant mixture percentage table.

6. Run the engine at idle with the cooling 

system cap off. Slowly add additional 
coolant if necessary.

7. At this point, wait until the engine 

reaches normal operating temperature; 
then depress the accelerator two or 
three times. Add more coolant, if 
necessary, until the system is full.

8. Install the cooling system cap. Inspect 

all connections for leaks. Inspect the 
level in the coolant reservoir one more 
time.

Removing the Cooling System Cap:
Removing the cooling system cap 
while the engine is running or hot is 
dangerous. This might lead to cooling 
system and engine damage and could 
result in serious injury from escaping 
hot coolant or steam. Turn off the 
engine and wait until it

’

s cool. Even 

then, be very careful when removing 
the cap.
Wrap a thick cloth around the cap 
and slowly turn it counterclockwise 
about two and a half rotations.
Step back while the pressure escapes.
When you

’

re sure all the pressure has 

escaped, turn the cap 
counterclockwise 

—

 still using a cloth 

—

 and remove the cap.

WARNING

Loosen

Loosen

Tighten

Tighten

J48C_8S18-EA-03I_Edition3.book  Page 17  Monday, February 9, 2004  8:41 PM

Black process 45.0

°

 240.0 LPI