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Old 02-14-2005, 03:17 PM
Duke2.6 Duke2.6 is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Southern California
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Assuming it only happens one or a few times after a coolant change and no more after that, it's probably an issue with your fill techinque.

It should be filled as follows:

1. SLOWLY pour in the proper quantity of Zerex G-05 antifreeze to obtain a 50-70 percent concentration of antifreeze in the final mix. System capacity is in your owner's manual. (Note: the block plug(s) should always be removed otherwise, much of the old coolant will remain in the system.)

2. Once the requisite amount of antifreeze is installed, continue with distilled water. Pour SLOWLY.

3. When the expansion tank reaches between about one-third and one-half capacity and will not take anymore liquid without the level rising, leave the pressure cap OFF, turn the cabin temperature control to maximum and heater blower to max speed if your model has a manually operated blower speed control, start the engine and maintain 1500-2000 revs. Leave doors or windows/sunroof open so cabin heat can escape. (The temperature control at max will circulate coolant through the heater core circuit to purge air, and having the blower on its highest speed will keep the engine from heating up too quickly and possibly boil over, even in hot weather. If you do the job in hot weather and the HVAC system does not detect a demand for heat, the heater control valve will remain closed and air in the heater core circuit will not be purged!!!)

4. The engine should be cold (or cool) when you install the antifreeze and distilled water. Once the themostat opens (at least 80C on most models), the level in the expansion tank should drop. Add distilled water to bring it back up to one-third to one-half full. Prior to the themostat opening, there is likely an air bubble at the top of the radiator. Once the themostat opens, this entrapped air will evenually be drawn to the water pump, circulated through the engine and heater circuits and purged through the vent line at the top of the thermostat housing to the open expansion tank, but it will take several minutes.

5. Monitor the coolant level and add distilled water to maintain the level. Also monitor monitor engine temperature. Install the cap when it reaches 90C or a little above and continue to run the engine at 1500-2000 or take it for a brief drive at low speed and load.

After the engine cools down the level should be checked and corrected as required. This may take more than one cycle, so check and correct the level on every cool down until the coolant surface in the expansion tank stabilizes at the correct level. Checking coolant level is also in your owner's manual.

If you observe hose collapse after this procedure and it continues without change, there is likely a problem with the vacuum relief valve in the expansion tank cap. Coolant system caps have both pressure relief valves and vacuum relief valves. Many auto parts stores have pressure cap testers,but I'm not sure if they can check the vacuum relief valve function.

Duke
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