Do I fill the radiator with new coolant or the reservoir tank or both.
I am doing a radiator flush on my
mazda protege 2002. I have already
drained the nasty nasty, filled radiator
back up with water and a radiator flush
cleaner for good measure. Turned
heater full blast drove for ten min. Then
drained that nasty nasty flushed with
water till it ran clear and put drain plug
back in. Now here is where I am
confused and need specifics. Do I fill
the actual radiator when adding new
coolant or pour it in the reservoir
plastic tank that's off to the side. Or
directly into where I took the radiator
cap off.should I fill the reservoir tank to
full first and then the actual
radiator.also I should do this with the
car running correct. Please help
nowhere I can find specifys the
difference they talk like radiator and
reservoir tank are the same.i took a pic
showing radiator cap hole and
reservoir tank.
I took a pic of radiator hole and reservoir tank just to be more helpful
Let the engine cool down then fill the radiator directly with a 50 50 mixture of water and antifreeze. Start the engine. Top off the radiator until the coolant stops going down in the radiator. This may take a few top offs. With the radiator filled to the very top, put the radiator cap on and fill the plastic coolant recovery tank to the full line. If yours is marked full hot, full cold, and add, fill to the full hot line. Tomorrow, after the vehicle has sat overnight, check the level in the recovery tank again with the engine cold. If it's above the full line, that's fine. If it's below the full line add coolant to bring the level up to the full or full cold line. Don't remove the radiator cap unless the plastic recovery tank is empty. Then add coolant to the very top of the radiator, put the cap back on then top off the recovery tank. Hope that helps! Jim
Thank you very much. And thank you for being specific as well as getting me an answer so fast it's very much appreciated.
So after doing all of that to a T. I took it around the block and ots driving very bogged down doesn't wanna go blub blub blub blub but after say 1st gear mines automatic but it drives seemingly fine. I thought I waited with the cap off for all air or bubbles to get out but the way its driving doesn't that mean air is still trapped
You're welcome. Glad to help! No, I don't think that has anything to do with the cooling system. Possibly something got wet in the engine compartment. Like a sensor or maybe the ignition system. Give it a day or so and see if it straightens itself out. Hope that helps! Jim
Ignition coil possibly? Mine was just doing that same thing car had sat for 2 years when I got it.. first when I'd try to accelerate it would lose all power and sometimes die. Code was for maf. Replaced that and was fine for a day then started doing it again just not as extreme tit was the blub blub new ignition coil fixed that. Now I think either a new therm or coolant sensor is needed as it runs cold. Boss said he replaced them not long ago and it's not that but the code for coolant not reaching temp never popped up til yesterday
