How much coolant does a 2008 ranger take?

[Infamouscanadian]

I’m looking to change my upper rad hose, and I need to drain then fill the rad. How much fluid should I get? Thanks

 

[adsm08]

Well ideally you would catch said coolant and reuse it, or at least not let it into the water table. To just do the upper hose you only need to drain a little bit.

If you want to change it you are looking at about 2 gallons.

 

[Infamouscanadian]

Oh ok, how much would you say I should drain?

 

[Curious Hound]

I know this isn’t ecologically correct. But for upper hose, I just take it off. Coolant will automatically drain to the necessary level. Install new hose and refill system.

 

[Infamouscanadian]

I know this isn’t ecologically correct. But for upper hose, I just take it off. Coolant will automatically drain to the necessary level. Install new hose and refill system.

How do you know how much coolant to put back in?

 

[Dirtman]

Until it's full?

 

[Curious Hound]

What he ^^^ said. Fill the radiator. With radiator cap off, start the engine. In about 8-10 minutes, the thermostat will open. At that point that pump will fill your new hose and you will see the level in the radiator drop. Add until the radiator is full and install the cap.

When finished, hose down the entire area where you spilled coolant. This will dilute and wash away the coolant so animals won’t drink it and get sick. The coolant is biodegradable and will be harmless to the environment in less than two weeks. Problem solved.

 

[Infamouscanadian]

Ok thanks guys, so I don’t have to empty out all the coolant when I’m replacing the hose? How do I know how much to empty out? Sorry for the noob questions, I’ve never worked on my own vehicle before

 

[Curious Hound]

524.386 ml. Exactly

 

[Infamouscanadian]

Thank you

 

[adsm08]

Oh ok, how much would you say I should drain?

Using the draincock on the bottom of the radiator drain it until you can't see the coolant from the fill port on the radiator (the hole that the cap closes), into a clean drain pan.

How do you know how much coolant to put back in?

Put in what you took out. This more than anything is the reason to catch it as you take it out. As was said earlier, coolant these days IS biodegradable.

 

[Ranger850]

@adsm08 how will he know when enough has been drained, to put back in, if he is at the bottom of the radiator

 

[adsm08]

@adsm08 how will he know when enough has been drained, to put back in, if he is at the bottom of the radiator

This is one of those times that close enough is usually close enough.

 

[Mike Tonon]

I found that my 07 4.0 takes just over 2 gallons. So either reuse some of the old coolant or plan on buying more than one gallon. And only use distilled water, not tap water.