Part 1. Preparation and safety
Objective
- Drain cooling system and refill with correct mixture of engine coolant.
Personal safety
Whenever you perform a task in the workshop you must use personal protective clothing and equipment that is appropriate for the task and which conforms to your local safety regulations and policies. Among other items, this may include:
- Work clothing - such as coveralls and steel-capped footwear
- Eye protection - such as safety glasses and face masks
- Ear protection - such as earmuffs and earplugs
- Hand protection – such as rubber gloves and barrier cream
- Respiratory equipment – such as face masks and valved respirators
If you are not certain what is appropriate or required, ask your supervisor.
Safety check
- Never drain and refill the cooling system of a hot engine. Wait for it to cool down first.
- Always make sure that you wear the appropriate personal protection equipment before starting the job. It is very easy to hurt yourself even when the most exhaustive protection measures are taken.
- Always make sure that your work area/environment is as safe as you can make it. Do not use damaged, broken or worn out workshop equipment.
- Always follow any manufacturer's personal safety instructions to prevent damage to the vehicle you are servicing.
- Make sure that you understand and observe all legislative and personal safety procedures when carrying out the following tasks. If you are unsure of what these are, ask your supervisor.
Points to note
- Some vehicles have drain plugs on the side of the engine block. The shop service manual will tell you if these need to be opened when draining the coolant.
Part 2: Step-by-step instruction
- Locate drain plug
Locate the cooling system drain plug or valve on the bottom tank of the radiator. Place a clean drain pan large enough to contain all the coolant underneath the drain valve.
- Drain radiator
Carefully remove the radiator pressure cap. This will allow air into the cooling system so that it can drain quickly and completely. Open the drain valve so that the coolant can drain into the pan below. When all the coolant has drained out, close the drain valve.
- Refill coolant system
Check the shop service manual for the capacity of the system, and the recommended type and mixture of coolant for the operating conditions of the vehicle. Measure the recommended amount of coolant and using a funnel pour it in through the top of the radiator.
- Start engine and verify
Air can be trapped in the cooling system, so leave the radiator cap off to allow it to escape, and run the engine for a few minutes to allow the coolant to circulate and get rid of trapped air. Then replace the radiator cap and bring the engine up to operating temperature. Check the coolant level in the reservoir and top it up to the high or hot engine mark.
- Dispose of waste
Antifreeze is toxic, so dispose of the waste coolant carefully and in an environmentally recommended way.
