How To Change The Coolant

[mts]

Originally posted by "mazda-fla"

 

The radiator drain plug is on the lower left hand corner (passenger side) of the radiator. On the lower, left, bottom of the radiator. You look up there, and you see what looks like a screw. It is screwed in with a phillips-head screwdriver.

 

Draining

 

1. Remove the radiator cap and loosen the radiator drain plug. (You do not need to fully remove the drain plug, just loosen it).

 

2. Drain the coolant into a container.

 

3. Disconnect the oil cooler hoses (S model only). The oil cooler is the housing that the oil filter is screwed into. Disconnect both hoses (in and out) that are connected to the housing where the oil filter is screwed into.

 

4. Point the oil cooler hoses down towards the container, and drain.

 

5. Flush the cooling system with water until all traces of color are gone and the water runs clear.

 

6. Let system drain completely again.

 

7. Connect oil cooler hoses.

 

8. Tighten the radiator drain plug.

 

Refilling

 

1. Fill the radiator reservoir to the FULL mark.

 

2. Start engine and let it idle until it warms up.

 

3. If the temperature increases beyond normal, there is excessive air in the system. Stop the engine and allow it to cool, then repeat steps 1 and 2.

 

4. Run the engine at 2200-2800 rpm for five minutes; repeat several times.

 

5. Stop the engine and allow it to cool.

 

6. If the coolant level has dropped, repeat the refilling procedure from step 1.