Simple how to: Ford Focus coolant (anti-freeze) change (service)

Easy DIY how to: flushing and refilling coolant (anti-freeze) on a Ford Focus Mk 1 (1998--2004).
If you're looking for the newer Focus Mk 2 with the Duratec HE engine, try this video: • How to: Ford Mondeo & ...
You will need:
* Coolant concentrate, 2.5--3 liters, OAT long life (to Ford spec ESD-M97B-49A)
* Pure / distilled water, 10 liters or more
* Tap water
* Oil tray or similar
* Funnel
* Screwdriver or alternative
You do not need to jack or raise the car to do this job.

[@OsmanAli-wr8kg]

This is by far the simplest and the most informative video about changing coolant. I recently found out that coolant has expiration date and i am kinda nervous driving around not knowing what type of coolant the previous owner used and when did he use it. Thank you very much, sir. p.s. your voice is so calming, you should be a e-book reader or radio guy.

[@_________________7791]

Yaw osman yalakalik yapma her yerde ya uffff 🤮

[@timgiles9413]

He's right. 1st, turn heater to HOT. Drain the radiator with cold engine. Engine off, Flush radiator with a garden hose until it runs clean. Close petcock, add radiator flush/cleaner and DISTILLED WATER for 10 minutes @ 2500 RPM. Always leave heater on hot. Engine cold, drain radiator then add DISTILLED WATER 3 or 4 times until drained water is clear. The complete system (engine, radiator, heater core and hoses) is approximately 6.8 quarts. As you have noticed, you were only able to remove about 1/2 that amount. What is now left in the engine is only DISTILLED WATER. Finish by adding CONCENTRATED MOTORCRAFT YELLOW ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT, 3-3.4 QUARTS. I hope this was helpful.😊

[@g3rmainh3rnand3z9]

Who dose this guy think he is , with his calm ass voice and informative ass video 🥱

[@SunnyFLBoy]

your voice is like from an airport speaker or something like that. xD

[@crankyticket6061]

Great vid. ta :) ... (Love the drive up intro's as well, very funny)!

[@joe23.]

fantastic video , very well made and step by step instructions , 100% ,thanks very much for taking the time to make and put on youtube 👍🏻

[@lonesomedovepk]

Very well and nicely explained procedure.

[@johnVVest]

Good and helpful video,thanks mate!

[@hubert1142]

Thanks man, this helped a lot!

[@gmailaccount4108]

I won't be pouring it down the toilet but thanks for the rest of the video. I'll go do it now

[@markasmus7907]

in his defense, EPA says it's OK: www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/34/document/guidance/gd_615.pdf

[@gmailaccount4108]

@@markasmus7907 i got a septic tank. there is living stuff in there that needs to keep living, bleach, amonia and so on chemicals has got to be kept to a minimum

[@markseymour8767]

Excellent video. Tried to locate the drain plug using my old Haynes manual and couldn't. So You Tube search pointed me to several similar vids. Yours is best by far. Do you recommend a chemical flush treatment as well as or instead of fresh water flush?

[@dbourke7385]

What a lovely Ford Fockus!

[@mestanonym]

Great video! Though, in Sweden we are not allowed to flush it down the toilet. Anti-freeze (glycol) is considered as hazardous waste and should be taken to the waste station.

[@stevemccooleq]

In the US you should check with your city or local sewage treatment district. In most parts of the US it is ok, in fact the anti freeze chemicals are very similar to what the sewage management uses to treat the raw sewage.

[@mrpoing8977]

Very helpful, thanks 👍🏽

[@JonahMoriarty]

cute intro- give your girlfriend a raise for that great response.

[@chinesegary1]

very easy to understand!!!

[@joshuaramos9676]

Can I just keep using tap water to flush it out till it gets clear or do I need to use distilled also won’t I just be fine judging using tap water

[@paulburden3172]

She's 🔥 great vid too 😁

[@dragore07]

thanks man i have Focus Sport 2009 duratech he motor & its the same process

[@WILLGYS]

Good vid bro

[@williamperkins7132]

you had a great actress in your video......:-)

[@rubiconnz1754]

Yes lady is pretty !

[@mohanranasinghe7170]

Thanks ...its helpful .

[@MrZucchinii]

I changed my coolant without a ford focus; is my car okay?

[@GeorgeAusters]

"You don't wanna get it on the driveway" - All over the driveway lol

[@CraigsDIY]

+1MUFC Is that a 1.6 L motor? I don't have experience with it, but if there's no drain plug, you can just remove the lower coolant hose to drain. It will be a bit messier so take care and clean up well afterward. You will need suitable pliers to work that clip. Suggest you replace the rusting OEM clip with a stainless steel hose clamp for an easier job next time.

[@smith27uk]

Overall an excellent how to but after refilling you should always run the engine up to temperature with the cap off to allow trapped air to escape and then top it up when it has cooled down.....

[@micinum]

my old skoda had a cap with a spring in it when the engine overheats the spring compresses and the excess water/vapour gets out from the little hole. i always wondered on the new cars if the engine overheats where does the vapour go? the cap will explode? there must be some kind of system for that because i see no spring nor space for excess pressurised water to come out

[@filoIII]

You ever figure it out?

[@micinum]

filoIII i have no idea 😂 will ask my mechanic the next time

[@CraigsDIY]

The coolant system is supposed to be self-bleeding. Do not run the engine up to maximum temperature with the cap removed; this will prevent the system from pressurizing, and the upper range of the normal operating temperature could see your coolant boil because of the lower pressure. The cap on the expansion tank includes a pressure relief valve - take a closer look at the underside of it.

[@Steve.Douglas]

@@CraigsDIY It's also worth noting (for anyone that may read this) that you can do some preventative maintenance, by replacing this cap, if it's likely it's quite old. If the pressure relief valve fails, then you may end up getting leaks elsewhere in the system. So it's worth changing that old cap for a new one, while you are already working on the system, and it's on your mind.

[@nikolajugovic5103]

Same color on my focus mk1 2CQC color

[@ramonramirez6055]

es posible los vídeos en español muy buenos vídeos

[@appollion32]

at first i thought this looked a bit kinky. then realized it was fairly informative. then, after a few days, the girl reappears from the house. so i was right all along.

[@davidmeyers3549]

appollion32 the beginning looked like the intro of a porn flik

[@opreacg]

LOL exactly what I was thinking. Glad I'm not the only one.

[@rubiconnz1754]

Enjoyed this esp start as lady drives in !

[@kyleh6802]

Great guide, thx. Wasn't sure how much of the system would drain out if I should use premixed or concentrate. In North America at least flushing coolant in the toilet is NOT ok, treatment facilities are not designed for that. Recycle/dispose of it safely, many part stores, fire halls, and waste sites will collect it and keep the rivers healthy ;)

[@OutdoorsandLifeMA]

The old coolant won't flush please help

[@johansvensson9586]

Hello. One Question! When you have your car running, does the coolant move/cirkluate in your reservoir? And when you rev you can see IT flow faster and even more??

[@CraigsDIY]

Yes a little, but engine must be at normal running temp.

[@mikeleveller5213]

Going to change the coolant because it’s green?! Maybe explain why! And why you changed to red. Maybe squeeze the hoses to help bleed out air locks.

[@rubiconnz1754]

Cat is bonus

[@nininiininimimimim6275]

i made a big mistake once, i flushed the coolant with hot engine. And than after few days my Head Gasket was blown.

[@mysterydude1]

On my reservoir cap on my ford focus it says not to use red coolant. Make sure you check that or you will do more harm than good.

[@salvadorballinas4386]

What’s the name of the liquid behind the anti freezer ?

[@CraigsDIY]

If you're talking about the one with the steering wheel icon and "Power Steering Fluid"...

[@tacticalderpy2077]

Didn't understand the need focus step. Now I'm trapped in the trunk.

[@MobilediscowirralCoUk]

What coolant is best is same for most engines mines 2014 connect

[@CraigsDIY]

The right one. Get the Ford spec for your car and check its compatibility with product.

[@_________________7791]

Motul inugel optimal !

[@ThatHippyDuck]

so... what if... someone, surely not me, instead of putting antifreeze in there, put wiper fluid in? would this have any negative effects on the car? (totally asking for friend.)

[@CraigsDIY]

+FilthyCasualKai Just flush it properly as if it were the wrong type of coolant. Do a few flushes with pure water. It won't do any harm in the short term, but don't run the car as it may not handle high temperatures as coolant will and it may allow corrosion.

[@Alycanj]

she's cute and excellent video, this is a all am job for sure if done correctly.

[@zurcherzurich213]

Is this Focus still going strong?

[@_________________7791]

Why not, its not a Vw ?😂

[@zurcherzurich213]

@@_________________7791 Correct! Mine is a Focus 1.8 Station Wagon, Zetec, 2004

[@ramzeeeen]

@@zurcherzurich213 and i'm still driving a 2006

[@tiagofaria8064]

I guess you should have removed the air from the system at the end. There should be screws for this on top of the radiator and on the top part of the engine. Great video tho.

[@CraigsDIY]

+Tiago Faria I don't think there are any bleed screws. These Ford coolant systems are self bleeding and you just follow the procedure shown, unless there's a problem (blockage) somewhere. You will notice the engine being run up to temp with the cap off - this is to prevent pressure building, and while running you will see all the air bubbling up, and the fluid level will go right down hence the need to keep topping it up until all air is bled away.

[@CraigsDIY]

+Tiago Faria Watch this video for another example of the Ford coolant expansion tank: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqClZqd6mZmdpdk

[@tiagofaria8064]

Hy Craig, perhaps it is due to differencew in engineering. I just know that the engines I've did that I had to remove the air and that there were screws for that. cheers :)

[@filoIII]

I don't understand how you know you have 50% distilled water still in the system. I thought you drained the distilled water too.

[@CraigsDIY]

As explained at 5:40. Assuming you want a 50:50 mix. If you have a system with 6 L capacity; which has in it an unknown quantity of water remaining; and you add 3 L of concentrate; then fill with water, how much total water must there be?

[@filoIII]

Got it. thx

[@dan_6915]

You had good coolant in it

[@KadargoGaming]

Nice actress

[@JoseGadi1991]

how often to should i change the anti freeze? couple of months?

[@CraigsDIY]

10 yrs, but it's kind of moot because usually you end up being 'forced' to change it because a components fails that necessitates draining coolant, e.g. water pump or thermostat.

[@JoseGadi1991]

10 years than i have nothing to worry about. im guessing it can take it in to a shop and ask them to change it.... would the car tell me? or what are some signs to keep an eye it when is closing to that 10 year mark?

[@CraigsDIY]

The car won't tell you. Coolant should be pure in color and clean, so just inspect the expansion tank for obvious dirt, discolored fluid, caked up gunk. If you take it to a shop, avoid the 'quick lube' places as they may not use the correct spec. A Ford/Mazda place is best, or any respectable shop you trust.

[@JoseGadi1991]

i have a 2014 ford focus. it tell me when there something wrong in the car like low tires oil change. it wont tell me when this is do? well is 10years so is no big deal if it doesnt

[@CraigsDIY]

The service reminder won't tell you re coolant. (If Ford do specify a coolant interval at e.g. 10 years, that would be included in the 10 year service schedule). You are unlikely to need to worry about coolant on a 2 year old car, don't worry about it unless there's a reason.

[@emperornephew6487]

Wtf mine doesn't leak

[@Coyote973]

Do you know that the coolant is toxic? Dispensing it in the toilet is not a thing that you should be proud of.

[@CraigsDIY]

So long as it goes to a treatment plant it's fine.

[@stevemccooleq]

In most areas of the US it is ok to put used anti freeze down the toilet. It contains very similar chemicals used by the sewage treatment plants. Check with your city or local sewage treatment agency.

[@ggoog1845]

nice video & nice girl

[@Daveybhoyjnr]

it's like the start of an awful, awful porno

[@jayc.93]

you should not throw the cooling liquid in toilet :/ you must go to a mechanic shop to give them they have bottles to recycling

[@CraigsDIY]

+Julio pérez That's not correct, depending on your sewerage system - so long as the toilet goes to a treatment facility, it is perfectly okay to flush old coolant.

[@NickBEADG]

+Craig's DIY Car Jobs idk where you're from but where I live acts everywhere else in my country, that's highly illegal. It might lead to a plant, but on the way could do a lot of eco damage.

[@marcodevries4481]

Changing it because it’s green? Uhhh 9 of 10 times it’s supposed to be green.

[@jamesdatsi602]

I did no follow the dudes recommendation of buying just any fluid. No. Bought OEM motorcraft fluid. Smh.