How to change antifreeze on Ford Mondeo
Content
The Ford Mondeo engine cooling system effectively removes heat as long as the antifreeze retains its properties. Over time, they deteriorate, therefore, after a certain period of operation, they must be replaced to resume normal heat transfer.
Stages of replacing the coolant Ford Mondeo
Many car owners, after draining the old antifreeze, immediately fill in a new one, but this is not entirely true. In this case, the replacement will be partial; for a complete replacement, flushing of the cooling system is necessary. This will allow you to completely get rid of the old coolant before you fill in the new one.
During its existence, this model has changed 5 generations, in which there were restylings:
- Ford Mondeo 1, MK1 (Ford Mondeo I, MK1);
- Ford Mondeo 2, MK2 (Ford Mondeo II, MK2);
- Ford Mondeo 3, MK3 (Ford Mondeo III, MK3 Restyling);
- Ford Mondeo 4, MK4 (Ford Mondeo IV, MK4 Restyling);
- Ford Mondeo 5, MK5 (Ford Mondeo V, MK5).
The engine range includes both petrol and diesel engines. Most gasoline engines are called Duratec. And those that run on diesel fuel are called Duratorq.
The replacement process for different generations is very similar, but we will consider the replacement of antifreeze using the Ford Mondeo 4 as an example.
Draining the coolant
For a more convenient drain of the coolant with our own hands, we put the car in the pit and proceed:
- Open the hood and unscrew the plug of the expansion tank (Fig. 1). If the machine is still warm, do it carefully as the fluid is under pressure and there is a risk of burns.
- For better access to the drain hole, remove the motor protection. The drain is located at the bottom of the radiator, so it will be more convenient to work from below.
- We substitute a container under the drain to collect the old liquid and unscrew the plastic plug from the drain hole (Fig. 2).
- After draining the antifreeze, check the expansion tank for dirt or deposits. If there is, remove it to wash. To do this, disconnect the pipes and unscrew the only bolt.
After completing the operation at these points, you can completely drain the antifreeze, in the amount provided by the manufacturer. But a residue remains on the engine block, which can only be removed by flushing it, since there is no drain plug there.
Therefore, we put the tank in place, tighten the drain plug and proceed to the next step. Whether it's flushing or pouring new fluid, everyone will decide for themselves, but flushing is the right action.
Flushing the cooling system
So, at the flushing stage, we need distilled water, since our task is to completely remove the old antifreeze. If the system is heavily soiled, special cleaning solutions must be used.
Instructions for its use are usually located on the back of the package. Therefore, we will not consider in detail its application, but we will continue the action with distilled water.
We fill the system with water through the expansion tank, according to the average value between the levels and close the lid. Start the engine and let it warm up until the fan turns on. When heated, you can charge it with gas, which will speed up the process.
We turn off the engine and let it cool a little, then drain the water. Repeat the steps several times until the water comes out almost clear.
By doing this operation on the Ford Mondeo 4, you will completely eliminate the mixing of the old fluid with the new one. This will completely eliminate the premature loss of properties, as well as the effect of anti-corrosion and other additives.
Filling without air pockets
Before filling in new coolant, check the drain point, it must be closed. If you have removed the flush tank, reinstall it, making sure to connect all the hoses.
Now you need to fill in new antifreeze, this is also done when flushing, through the expansion tank. We fill the level and twist the cork, after which we warm up the car with a slight increase in speed.
In principle, everything, the system is washed and contains new fluid. There are only a few days left after the replacement to see the level, and when it drops, recharge.
Frequency of replacement, which antifreeze to fill
According to the regulations, antifreeze is poured with a service life of 5 years or 60-80 thousand kilometers. On new models, this period has been extended to 10 years. But this is all the information on cars under warranty and ongoing maintenance from dealers.
In a used car, when changing the fluid, you should be guided by the data indicated on the packaging of the fluid being filled. But most modern antifreezes have a shelf life of 5 years. If it is not known what is flooded in the car, then the color may indirectly indicate a replacement, if it has a rusty tint, then it's time to change.
When choosing a new coolant in this case, preference should be given to a concentrate rather than a finished product. Since distilled water remains in the cooling system after flushing, the concentrate can be diluted with this in mind.
The main product is the original Ford Super Plus Premium fluid, which is available as a concentrate, which is important to us. You can pay attention to the full analogues of Havoline XLC, as well as Motorcraft Orange Coolant. They have all the necessary tolerances, the same composition, they differ only in color. But, as you know, color is just a shade and it does not perform any other function.
If you wish, you can pay attention to the goods of any manufacturer - the main rule that must be taken into account. This is so that the antifreeze has the WSS-M97B44-D approval, which the automaker imposes on fluids of this type. For example, the Russian manufacturer Lukoil has the right product in the line. It is available both as a concentrate and as a ready-to-use antifreeze.
How much antifreeze is in the cooling system, volume table
| Model | Engine power | How many liters of antifreeze is in the system | Original liquid / analogues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford mondeo | 1.6 gasoline | 6,6 | Ford Super Plus Premium |
| 1.8 gasoline | 7,2-7,8 | Airline XLC | |
| 2.0 gasoline | 7.2 | Coolant Motorcraft Orange | |
| 2.3 gasoline | Premium Coolstream | ||
| 2.5 gasoline | 9,5 | ||
| 3.0 gasoline | |||
| diesel 1.8 | 7,3-7,8 | ||
| diesel 2.0 | |||
| diesel 2.2 |
Leaks and problems
Leaks in the cooling system can happen anywhere, but this model has a few problem areas. It can ooze from the nozzles to the stove. The thing is that the connections are made quickly, and rubber gaskets are used as seals. It's that they leak out over time.
In addition, frequent leaks can be found under the so-called T. Common causes are its collapsed walls or deformation of the rubber gasket. To solve the problem, it must be replaced.
Another problem is the expansion tank cap, or rather the valve located on it. If it is stuck in the open position, there will be no vacuum in the system and therefore the boiling point of antifreeze will be lower.
But if it is jammed in the closed position, then in the system, on the contrary, excess pressure will be created. And for this reason, a leak can occur anywhere, more precisely in the weakest place. Therefore, the cork must be changed periodically, but it costs a penny, compared to the repair that it may require.
