Owner Maintenance; Maintenance and Care; To change coolant- Page 219

8-17

Maintenance and Care

Owner Maintenance

Form No. 8S15-EA-03G

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 and 
water as necessary to provide freezing 
and corrosion protection.

5. In extremely cold climates, add the 

amount recommended in the coolant 
manufacturer’s instructions.

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 to the first stop.
Step back while the pressure escapes. 
When you’re sure all the pressure is 
gone, press down on the cap — still 
using a cloth — turn the cap, and 
remove it.

WARNING

Tighten

Loosen

Tighten

Loosen

J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book  Page 17  Thursday, August 21, 2003  10:04 AM