Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2)

Special Tools GE-26568 Coolant and Battery Tester GE-42401-A Radiator Cap and Surge Tank Test Adapter GE-47716 Vac-N-Fill Coolant Refill Tool Equivalent regional tools: Special Tools

Warning

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. Draining Procedure

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Remove the radiator surge tank cap.
3. Raise and support the vehicle. Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle
4. Attach a rubber hose to the radiator drain port to guide the coolant into the drain pan.
5. Place a drain pan under the drain cock.
6. Rotate the radiator drain cock counterclockwise to open.
7. Drain the cooling system.
8. Rotate the radiator drain cock clockwise to close.
9. Disconnect the rubber hose.
10. Remove the drain pan.
11. Inspect the coolant.
12. If the coolant is discolored, perform the flushing procedure. Flushing Vac-N-Fill Procedure

Note

The vehicle is quipped with an automatic coolant service fill (ACSF) feature that assists with removing air while filling the cooling system.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 1

1. GE-42401-2 Adapter Assembly (3) » Install
2. GE-42401-3 Radiator Test Adapter - Female (2) » Install
3. GE-47716-8 Vac-N-Fill Cap  (1) » Install

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 2

4. Attach the vacuum gauge assembly (1) to the Vac-N-Fill cap (2).

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 3

5. Attach the fill hose (1) to the barb fitting on the vacuum gauge assembly (2). Ensure that the valve is closed.

Note

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

Note

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

6. Prepare a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL antifreeze and clean, drinkable water in a quantity that is slightly greater than the maximum capacity of the cooling system. Adhesives, Fluids, Lubricants, and Sealers Approximate Fluid Capacities
7. Inspect the concentration of the coolant mixture using GE-26568 Coolant and Battery Fluid Tester.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 4

Note

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

8. Pour the coolant mixture into the graduated reservoir (1).
9. Place the fill hose in the graduated reservoir (1).
10. Install the vacuum tank (2) on the graduated reservoir with the fill hose routed through the cut-out area (3) in the vacuum tank.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 5

11. Attach the venturi assembly (1) to the vacuum tank (2).

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 6

12. Attach a shop air hose to the venturi assembly (1). Ensure the valve (2) on the venturi assembly is closed.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 7

13. Attach the vacuum hose (1) to the vacuum gauge assembly (2) and the vacuum tank (3).

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 8

14. Open the valve (1) on the venturi assembly (2). The vacuum gauge will begin to rise and a hissing noise will be present.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 9

15. Continue to draw vacuum until the needle stops rising (1). This should be 610 - 660 mm Hg (24 - 26 in Hg). Coolant hoses may start to collapse. This is normal due to vacuum draw.
16. To aid in the fill process, position the graduated reservoir above the coolant fill port.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 10

17. Slowly open the valve (1) on the vacuum gauge assembly (2). When the coolant reaches the top of the fill hose, close the valve. This will eliminate air from the fill hose.
18. Close the valve on the venture assembly.
19. 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.
20. Open the valve on the vacuum gauge assembly. The vacuum gauge will drop as coolant is drawn into the system.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 11

21. Once the vacuum gauge reaches zero (1), close the valve on the vacuum gauge assembly and repeat steps 15 - 22.

22. GE-47716-8 Vac-N-Fill Cap  (1) » Remove

23. GE-42401-3 Radiator Test Adapter - Female (2) » Remove

24. GE-42401-2 Adapter Assembly (3) » Remove

25. Adjust the cooling system to the proper level. Adhesives, Fluids, Lubricants, and Sealers

26. If the cooling system level is over the maximum level allowed within the radiator surge tank, perform steps 28 - 31 until the correct level is achieved.

Note

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

27. Detach the vacuum hose form the vacuum gauge assembly.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 12

28. Attach the extraction hose (1) to the vacuum hose (2).

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 13

29. Open the valve (1) on the venturi assembly (2) to start a vacuum draw.

Cooling System Draining and Filling (GE 47716 LM2) — figure 14

30. Use the extraction hose (1) to draw out coolant to the proper level.
31. 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.
32. With a cold system, add the coolant mixture to the fill line on the radiator surge tank.
33. Place the ignition in service mode. Power Mode Description and Operation
34. Turn off the air conditioning.
35. Set the parking brake.
36. Press the accelerator and brake pedal for two seconds at the same time, then release.

Note

There will NOT be a message on the Driver Information Center (DIC) to indicate that the ACSF is activated. It may take up to 60 seconds for the ACSF procedure to become audible.

37. Start and run the engine at 1200 RPM for three minutes while adding coolant mixture as the level drops below the fill mark on the radiator surge tank until the level stabilizes.
38. Install the radiator surge tank cap.
39. Run the engine as follows while watching the coolant temperature gauge ensuring that the temperature is rising, but not overheating. If the radiator surge tank empties during the procedure below, stop the process and fill the radiator surge tank with the coolant mixture to the fill mark and start the procedure over. 39.1. Run the engine speed at 3500 RPM for three minutes. 39.2. Lower the engine speed to 1200 RPM and run for three minutes. 39.3. Raise the engine speed to 3500 RPM and run for three minutes. 39.4. Lower the engine speed to 1200 RPM and run for three minutes.

Note

If you are unable to maintain the coolant level at the cold fill line of the surge tank and the surge tank empties while the process is running, turn the ignition off. The vehicle will only allow one ACSF process per key cycle. 39.1. Fill the radiator surge tank to the cold fill line and wait two minutes. 39.2. Repeat steps 37 - 40 until the ACSF cycle completes with the coolant level maintained in the surge tank for the entire process.

40. Turn ignition off.
41. Allow the engine to cool
42. Adjust the coolant level in the surge tank to the cold fill line.
43. Install the radiator surge tank cap.