Fearing that truck buyers wouldn’t take to the enhanced aero styling of the 1997 F-150 — the first major redesign since 1979 — Ford continued to manufacture and sell the 1996 model for a few months alongside the 1997 model. The strategy must have worked. In 2013, the F-series pick-up had been the number-one selling vehicle 32 years in a row. Purging the cooling system in your F-150 removes air bubbles from the coolant — a necessary operation when refilling the system.
Things You’ll Need
- Shop rag
- Clean water
- Ford premium cooling system fluid, E2FZ-19549-AA or -B or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A
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Park the truck on a solid surface such as concrete or asphalt. Open the hood and allow the engine to cool completely.
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Using a clean shop rag to protect yourself from injury, turn the radiator coolant reservoir pressure cap one full turn counterclockwise to release any residual pressure, then fully remove the cap from the radiator.
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Add a 50-percent blend of water and Ford premium cooling system fluid, until the coolant level in the reservoir reaches the fill level marks. Install the pressure cap.
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Turn the temperature blend selector on the heating control panel to the full warm position. Start the engine and allow it to warm up to full operating temperature. Turn the engine off.
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Allow the engine to cool and observe the coolant level in the reservoir. Add coolant as necessary.
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Repeat steps 2 through 5 until the coolant level stabilizes in the reservoir between the fill level marks.
Tips & Warnings
- Check your new coolant to see if it is pre-mixed before diluting it with water. Some coolant manufacturers offer 50-percent pre-mixed coolant, and this should be clearly indicated on the container.
- Properly dispose of coolant according to local regulations. Never pour coolant down a storm drain, into the sewage system, or onto the ground. Do not leave coolant lying around in open containers, particularly if it is ethylene glycol-based.
- Wipe up any spills with shop rags if any coolant escapes during the bleeding procedure.
- Never remove the pressure cap on a hot system. The steam and heated coolant discharge can cause significant bodily injury.
- Cover the cap with a rag to act as a damper in case of accidental discharge due to residual pressure. This will redirect the worst of it away from your hand and face.