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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 777
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OP
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i would like to try to flush the coolant in the old 97 zetec, dont want to spend all that money. does anyone know how to do it? i tried to seach for similar posts, but i didnt find much, just a broken linky. thanks
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888
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remove the drain plug on the radiator.. and the fill cap on the reservior.. let the coolant drip out. then fill with water and run.. (leave the heater on at full blast even if its not cold.. and let the engine run.. turn off engine and let the coolant drop out.. do this a couple of times until the coolant is just plain water coming out.. that means that all the old coolant is coming out... not make sure you have at least 1/ 1/2 ballons of fluid out of the coolant system.. then tighten the drain plug on the radiator... now fill with 1/ 1/2 gallon of antifreeze and them the rest water... start up engine and keep adding water to the overflow container... let it idle or drive it for aboue 10-15 minutes and watch for the coolant level to drop i the coolant overflow tank and add some more water...
then next day check the coolant level in the coolant overflow tank and add some more water if its low, if not then you finished....
hope this helps... also to make sure i had no air pockets in the engine/hoses.. i grabbed most of the hoses and gave them a good squeeze to make sure that any air pockets moved along..... you can now turn the heater off if you dont need it... but make sure its on when trying to get the coolant in as its part of the coolant system....
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 777
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OP
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do you know where the plug on the radiator is? left, right, front, back, hard to get at?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
Passenger side bottom/back,, remove splash shield, insert flat head screwdriver into it and turn,, some say it's tricky, but I haven't had problems draining coolant. Get a haynes manual if you don't have one already.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888 |
and leave the overflow tank cap on until you remove the plug and get up so the coolant force does not come down until you get up and take it off... the release of the vacuum will let it come out easier....
like the other poster said, get the Haynes manual, mine cost about $12 at auto zone in 1996 for the 96 contour GL. well worth it.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
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Originally posted by dbird:
remove the drain plug on the radiator.. and the fill cap on the reservior.. let the coolant drip out. then fill with water and run.. (leave the heater on at full blast even if its not cold.. and let the engine run.. turn off engine and let the coolant drop out.. do this a couple of times until the coolant is just plain water coming out.. that means that all the old coolant is coming out... not make sure you have at least 1/ 1/2 ballons of fluid out of the coolant system.. then tighten the drain plug on the radiator... now fill with 1/ 1/2 gallon of antifreeze and them the rest water... start up engine and keep adding water to the overflow container... let it idle or drive it for aboue 10-15 minutes and watch for the coolant level to drop i the coolant overflow tank and add some more water...
then next day check the coolant level in the coolant overflow tank and add some more water if its low, if not then you finished....
hope this helps... also to make sure i had no air pockets in the engine/hoses.. i grabbed most of the hoses and gave them a good squeeze to make sure that any air pockets moved along..... you can now turn the heater off if you dont need it... but make sure its on when trying to get the coolant in as its part of the coolant system....
this will work, but it is much easier to either have a flush done (I know valvoline instant oil does thewm for about $60) or go to autozone or wherever you buy auto stuff and get a flush kit. You can hook it up to the collant system and using a water hose from your house, you can flush the system this way. much easier and less time consuming then drain, run, fill, drain, run, fill, that the other guy was talking about.
Both ways will work though so wahtever you fell like I guess, just thought I would let you know of the other options
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