Engine Coolant Replacement
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mazda 6. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
WARNING:
- Drain the engine coolant when the engine is cold, otherwise it may burn you and cause serious injury.
- Remove the cooling system cap and the radiator drain plug.
- Drain the coolant into a container.
- Flush the cooling system with water until all traces of color are gone.
- Let the system drain completely.
- Tighten the radiator drain plug.CAUTION:
- The engine has aluminum parts that can be damaged by alcohol or methanol antifreeze. Do not use alcohol or methanol in the cooling system. Use only ethylene-glycol-based coolant.
- Use only soft (demineralized) water in the coolant mixture. Water that contains minerals will reduce the coolant's effectiveness.
- Engine coolant damages paint. If engine coolant does get on a painted surface, rinse it off quickly.
- Referring to Fig 2, select proper volume percentage of the water and coolant.
Antifreeze solution mixture percentage
- Slowly pour the coolant into the radiator up to the coolant filler port. (L3 engine model)
- Fill the engine coolant into the coolant reservoir tank up to the F mark on the coolant reservoir tank.
- Tighten the cooling system cap.CAUTION:
- If the coolant temperature becomes too high, stop the engine to prevent it from overheating.
- Start the engine and idle it until the cooling fan operates.
- After engine warms up, perform the following steps.
- Run the engine at 2,500 rpm for 5 min.
- Run the engine at 3,000 rpm for 5 s , then idle.
- Repeat steps (2) several times.
- Idle the engine for 1 min.
- Stop the engine and wait until it is cool.
- Inspect the coolant level.
- Install the cooling system cap.
- Inspect for coolant leakage. (See ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE INSPECTION .)