Cooling System Draining and Filling (Static LM2)

Special Tool GE-26568 Coolant and Battery Fluid Tester 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. Remove the radiator surge tank cap.
2. Raise and support the vehicle. Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle
3. Attach a rubber hose to the radiator drain port to guide the coolant into the drain pan.
4. Place a drain pan under the drain cock.
5. Rotate the radiator drain cock counterclockwise to open.
6. Drain the cooling system.
7. Rotate the radiator drain cock clockwise to close.
8. Disconnect the rubber hose.
9. Remove the drain pan.
10. Remove the supports and lower the vehicle.
11. Inspect the coolant.
12. If the coolant is discolored, perform the flushing procedure. Flushing Filling Procedure

Note

The vehicle is equipped with an automatic coolant service fill (ACSF) feature that assists with removing air while completing the fill of the cooling system. Use the vehicle’s specified concentration of DEX-COOL coolant and clean drinkable water to fill the cooling system during this process. The vehicle must be on a level surface.

1. Prepare a vehicle specific mixture of DEX-COOL antifreeze and clean, drinkable water in a quantity that equals the maximum capacity of the cooling system: Adhesives, Fluids, Lubricants, and Sealers Approximate Fluid Capacities
2. Using the GE-26568 Coolant and Battery Tester, inspect the concentration of the engine coolant.
3. With a cold system, add the coolant mixture to the fill line on the radiator surge tank.
4. Place the ignition in service mode. Power Mode Description and Operation
5. Turn off the air conditioning.
6. Set the parking brake.
7. 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.

8. 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.
9. Install the radiator surge tank cap.
10. 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. 10.1. Run the engine speed at 3500 RPM for three minutes. 10.2. Lower the engine speed to 1200 RPM and run for three minutes. 10.3. Raise the engine speed to 3500 RPM and run for three minutes. 10.4. 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. 10.1. Fill the radiator surge tank to the cold fill line and wait two minutes. 10.2. Repeat steps 4-10 until the ACSF cycle completes with the coolant level maintained in the surge tank for the entire process.

11. Turn ignition off.
12. Allow the engine to cool
13. Adjust the coolant level in the surge tank to the cold fill line.
14. Install the radiator surge tank cap.