Note. Recommended interval: every 50,000 km or 24 months.
Attention! Do not allow coolant to come into contact with clothing or body paintwork. Otherwise, rinse the surface with plenty of water. Collect and dispose of the drained coolant.
Change the coolant at the recommended intervals and after any work has been done on the cooling system components, draining the coolant. If the cylinder head, head gasket, radiator or oil heat exchanger was replaced during the repair, fill the cooling system with fresh coolant. This is due to the fact that the anti-corrosion additive in the coolant is deposited during engine operation and creates anti-corrosion protection. In used coolant, anti-corrosion additives are not active enough to form a protective layer on newly installed parts.
Coolant drain
Drain the coolant on a cold engine.
Remove the cap from the radiator.
Pic. 2.36. Location of the coolant drain pipe from the radiator
Install a container to collect the coolant under the radiator drain pipe. Attach a 9.5 mm ID hose to the drain port to direct the coolant into a container. On some models, the hose is installed at the factory. Open the drain plug and drain the coolant from the radiator (pic. 2.36).
Pic. 2.37. Location of the valve and pipe for draining the coolant from the cylinder block on cars manufactured since 2001
Move a container under the coolant drain pipe from the cylinder block (pic. 2.37). Attach a 9.5 mm ID hose to the drain port to direct the coolant into a container. Open the valve with a wrench and drain the coolant from the cylinder block.
Check the condition of the radiator and heater hoses, as well as the reliability of their fastening with clamps. Replace damaged hoses and clamps.
Flushing
After draining the coolant, remove the thermostat and reinstall the thermostat housing. This will flush the cooling system faster.
Close the radiator drain plug. Set the heater control knob to the maximum heat position so that the radiator and heater hoses are also flushed.
Pic. 2.38. Flushing the cooling system: 1 - garden hose; 2 – the top hose of a radiator; 3 - radiator
Disconnect the upper radiator hose from the radiator, then insert a garden hose into the radiator inlet and flush the system with clean water until clean water comes out of the upper radiator hose (pic. 2.38).
In case of serious contamination of the radiator, remove the radiator and wash it with a special agent, following the instructions for use.
Move the garden hose to the expansion tank and flush the system with clean water until clean water comes out of the upper radiator hose.
Connect the upper radiator hose to the radiator.
Filling
Close the coolant drain plug from the radiator and drain cock from the cylinder block. Reinstall the thermostat.
Set the heater control knob to the maximum heating position.
Slowly pour fresh coolant into the radiator until it emerges from the radiator filler neck. Add coolant to the expansion tank up to the minimum mark.
Close the radiator cap. Start the engine and warm it up to the thermostat opening temperature, while the coolant will begin to flow through the radiator. The radiator and upper radiator hose will start to heat up.
Turn off the engine and wait until it cools down. Add coolant until it comes out of the radiator filler neck.
Squeeze the upper radiator hose several times to bleed air from the cooling system and add coolant if necessary. Install the radiator cap.
Start the engine, warm it up to operating temperature and check the cooling system for leaks.