Recently, non-toxic grades of antifreeze have been developed, but they also require care in handling.
1. Regularly, in accordance with the schedule of routine maintenance of the car (see Section Mitsubishi Galant/Mirage/Diamante Routine Maintenance Schedule), the cooling system must be emptied, flushed and filled with a fresh mixture of antifreeze and water. This kind of maintenance helps to prevent the development of corrosion inside the cooling path and significantly increases the efficiency of the system.
2. During maintenance, the condition of all system hoses and the radiator filler cap must also be checked without fail (see Section Checking the Condition of the Cooling System Components). Defective components must be replaced. Remember the precautions to be taken when servicing the cooling system (see warning at the beginning of Section). Remember that used coolant must be disposed of and must never be drained into the sewer.
Emptying
1. Engage the parking brake and support the wheels with wheel chocks, if necessary, jack up the vehicle and place it on props. The direct execution of maintenance procedures should be started only after the engine has completely cooled down, i.e., several hours after the end of the trip.
2. Remove the cap from the expansion tank/radiator.
To avoid burns, never remove the cap from the radiator / expansion tank without waiting for the engine to cool completely!
3. If the vehicle is equipped accordingly, remove the crankcase protection elements.
4. Place a drain container under the radiator drain valve, open the valve and drain the coolant into the prepared container.
To reduce the risk of accidental damage to the valve made of plastic, pre-moisten it with penetrating oil.
5. After waiting for the radiator to empty, close the valve and remove the drain container from under the car. Install the crankcase protection if necessary.
6. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
Flushing
1. Completely emptying the cooling system (see above), fill it with a special flushing liquid (as a last resort, soft water is fine).
2. Start the engine and wait until the upper radiator hose is hot to the touch.
3. Stop the engine, wait for it to cool completely and empty the system again.
4. Repeat the described procedure until the liquid drained from the radiator is completely free from the content of scale particles and becomes absolutely transparent.
5. Rinse the expansion tank separately.
6. After tightening the drain valve and, if necessary, restoring the original connection of all hoses, fill the system with fresh coolant of the required composition, then remove air plugs from the cooling path (see below).
Refueling
1. Slowly pour a fresh 50 x 50 mixture of antifreeze and water into the radiator. Continue filling until the liquid level rises to the lower cut of the filler neck. Add coolant to the expansion tank, bringing its level to the bottom mark (FULL COLD) on the tank wall. Wait five minutes and recheck the coolant level in the radiator, adjust if necessary.
2. Without installing the cap on the radiator, start the engine and warm it up until the thermostat valve opens (the liquid should begin to circulate through the radiator, while the upper hose of the latter will warm up).
3. Stop the engine and let it cool down. Add a little more fluid to the radiator, bringing its level to the lower cut of the filler neck.
4. By squeezing the upper hose of the radiator, release air from it, if necessary, add a little more coolant. Reinstall the radiator cap.
5. Move the interior heating control knob to maximum heating, turn on the heater fan at maximum speed.
6. Start the engine, warm it up to normal operating temperature and check the system for signs of leaks.
7. Overheating of the unit indicates the presence of air pockets in the cooling path. Stop the engine and let it cool down - the air should leave the tract automatically. Repeating the procedure, achieve the required temperature regime of the running engine.
8. Once again check up level of a cooling liquid in a broad tank, in case of need make corresponding correction.