Cooling System Draining and Filling GE 47716

Tools Required

Caution: With a pressurized cooling system, the coolant temperature in the radiator can be considerably higher than the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure. Removal of the surge tank cap, while the cooling system is hot and under high pressure, causes the solution to boil instantaneously with explosive force. This will cause the solution to spew out over the engine, the fenders, and the person removing the cap. Serious bodily injury may result.

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Remove the surge tank cap.
3. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
4. Remove the air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement .
5. Place a drain pan under the radiator.
6. Insert a piece of clean flexible hose through the access hole in the cradle onto the radiator mounting pin.
7. Slowly loosen the drain cock and drain the coolant into the drain pan. Do not completely remove the drain cock.
8. Inspect the engine coolant for the following conditions:

•	Discolored appearance--Follow the flush procedure. Refer to Flushing .

•	Normal in appearance--Follow the Vac N Fill Procedure below.

9. Tighten the drain cock.

1. Install the J 42401 onto the coolant surge tank.

Caution: To avoid being burned, do not remove the radiator cap or surge tank cap while the engine is hot. The cooling system will release scalding fluid and steam under pressure if radiator cap or surge tank cap is removed while the engine and radiator are still hot.




2. Attach the Vac N Fill cap to the J 42401 .



3. Attach the vacuum gage assembly to the Vac N Fill cap.



4. Attach the fill hose to the barb fitting on the vacuum gage assembly.

Ensure that the valve is closed.





Important: 

•	Use a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL antifreeze and clean, drinkable water.

•	Always use more coolant than necessary. This will eliminate air from being drawn into the cooling system.

5. Pour the coolant mixture into the graduated reservoir.
6. Place the fill hose in the graduated reservoir.

Important: Prior to installing the vacuum tank onto the graduated reservoir, ensure that the drain valve located on the bottom of the tank is closed.

7. Install the vacuum tank on the graduated reservoir with the fill hose routed through the cut-out area in the vacuum tank.



8. Attach the venturi assembly to the vacuum tank.



9. Attach a shop air hose to the venturi assembly.

Ensure the valve on the venturi assembly is closed.




10. Attach the vacuum hose to the vacuum gage assembly and the vacuum tank.



11. Open the valve on the venturi assembly. The vacuum gage will begin to rise and a hissing noise will be present.



12. Continue to draw vacuum until the needle stops rising. This should be 610-660 mm Hg (24-26 in Hg).

Cooling hoses may start to collapse. This is normal due to vacuum draw.

13. To aid in the fill process, position the graduated reservoir above the coolant fill port.



14. Slowly open the valve on the vacuum gage assembly. When the coolant reaches the top of the fill hose, close the valve. This will eliminate air from the fill hose.
15. Close the valve on the venturi assembly.
16. If there is a suspected leak in the cooling system, allow the system to stabilize under vacuum and monitor for vacuum loss.

If vacuum loss is observed, refer to Loss of Coolant .

17. Open the valve on the vacuum gage assembly. The vacuum gage will drop as coolant is drawn into the system.



18. Once the vacuum gage reaches zero, close the valve on the vacuum gage assembly and repeat steps 11-17.
19. Detach the Vac N Fill cap from the J 42401 .
20. Remove the J 42401 from the coolant surge tank.
21. Add coolant to the system as necessary.
22. Inspect the concentration of the coolant mixture using J 26568 .

Important: After filling the cooling system, the extraction hose can be used to remove excess coolant to achieve the proper coolant level.

23. Detach the vacuum hose from the vacuum gage assembly.



24. Attach the extraction hose to the vacuum hose.



25. Open the valve on the venturi assembly to start a vacuum draw.



26. Use the extraction hose to draw out coolant to the proper level.
27. The vacuum tank has a drain valve on the bottom of the tank. Open the valve to drain coolant from the vacuum tank into a suitable container for disposal.
28. Install the surge tank cap.

Cooling System Draining and Filling Static Fill

Tools Required

J 26568 Coolant and Battery Fluid Tester

Caution: With a pressurized cooling system, the coolant temperature in the radiator can be considerably higher than the boiling point of the solution at atmospheric pressure. Removal of the surge tank cap, while the cooling system is hot and under high pressure, causes the solution to boil instantaneously with explosive force. This will cause the solution to spew out over the engine, the fenders, and the person removing the cap. Serious bodily injury may result.

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Remove the surge tank cap.
3. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle .
4. Remove the air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement .
5. Place a drain pan under the radiator.
6. Insert a piece of clean flexible hose through the access hole in the cradle onto the radiator mounting pin.
7. Slowly loosen the drain cock and drain the coolant into the drain pan. Do not completely remove the drain cock.
8. Inspect the engine coolant for the following conditions:

•	Discolored appearance--Follow the flush procedure. Refer to Flushing .

•	Normal in appearance--Follow the Fill Procedure below.

Notice: The procedure below must be followed. Improper coolant level could result in a low or high coolant level condition, causing engine damage.

1. Close the radiator drain cock.
2. Install the air deflector. Refer to Front Air Deflector Replacement .
3. Lower the vehicle.
4. Slowly add a mixture of 50/50 DEX-COOL antifreeze and clean drinkable water to the cooling system through the top of the surge tank opening. Refer to Approximate Fluid Capacities .
5. Slowly fill the cooling system until the coolant stabilizes at 25 mm (1 inch) above the FULL COLD mark on the surge tank.
6. Install the surge tank cap.
7. Start the engine.
8. Run the engine at 2,000-2,500 RPM until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
9. Allow the engine to idle for 3 minutes.
10. Shut the engine OFF.
11. Allow the engine to cool.
12. Add or remove coolant as necessary from the surge tank until the level is stabilized at the FULL COLD mark.
13. Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
14. Using J 26568 inspect the concentration of the engine coolant .