Question: Changed Coolant but Only Took a Gallon to Fill Up

Charlton · 08-24-2012, 11:05 PM

I drained my radiator on a 153000 Forester I bought today. I replaced with a 50/50 Subaru coolant distiller water mix. I also added the coolant conditioner.

After draining my radiator for an hour to where nothing was coming out I filled it back up. It topped out at 1.25 gallons. I thought the capacity was 2 gallons. Did all the coolant not come out?

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J.Gibbs · 08-24-2012, 11:23 PM

You didn't get all the old coolant out. And you have to burp the system when draining and filling to get rid of all the air bubbles. Do that and you should be good

Charlton · 08-25-2012, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.Gibbs

You didn't get all the old coolant out. And you have to burp the system when draining and filling to get rid of all the air bubbles. Do that and you should be good

I did burp the system by running it with radiator cap off and the heat on full blast.

AWDmonk · 08-25-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlton

I did burp the system by running it with radiator cap off and the heat on full blast.

And probably sucked just as much air in as you let out. Should be done with the cap on.

Charlton · 08-25-2012, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWDmonk

And probably sucked just as much air in as you let out. Should be done with the cap on.

So the radiator is an air intake as well? This is different from what I've been told by others.

tibug · 08-26-2012, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWDmonk

And probably sucked just as much air in as you let out. Should be done with the cap on.

I do it cap off and have never had a problem. I like to see the bubbles rise and that way I can add coolant while it drops.

Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong...but you will never get all of the coolant out by draining it just out of the rad drain **** (it thinks I said slang for penis). Maybe you could have gotten a bit more out, but there always will be some left. I think capacity is like 7.5 quarts.

Edit: Pretty sure I've only gotten 1.25 to maybe 1.5 gallons out when I do it.

geronimo81 · 08-27-2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlton

I drained my radiator on a 153000 Forester I bought today. I replaced with a 50/50 Subaru coolant distiller water mix. I also added the coolant conditioner.

After draining my radiator for an hour to where nothing was coming out I filled it back up. It topped out at 1.25 gallons. I thought the capacity was 2 gallons. Did all the coolant not come out?

You have to pull the thermostat out and drain the motor as well. When filling up you should dump about 1 gallon into the motor via the upper radiator hose, then fill up the radiator. Start the car and add coolant as it runs.

kantthinkofasn77 · 09-06-2012, 07:41 PM

if you really wanna get it all out you can disconnect your spark plugs and just turn the motor over which will pump out all the old coolant. Then fill it up with just distilled water until you get all the air bubbles out and you have it at maximum capacity. Let the engine get to operating temp and cycle the fan maybe two times or so. Drain all of that out and then add the coolant from subaru and conditioner if you have it.

08-24-2012, 11:05 PM	#1
Charlton Scooby Newbie Member#: 43038 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Franklin, Tennessee U.S. Vehicle: 2002 Forester S Black	Question: Changed Coolant but Only Took a Gallon to Fill Up I drained my radiator on a 153000 Forester I bought today. I replaced with a 50/50 Subaru coolant distiller water mix. I also added the coolant conditioner. After draining my radiator for an hour to where nothing was coming out I filled it back up. It topped out at 1.25 gallons. I thought the capacity was 2 gallons. Did all the coolant not come out? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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08-24-2012, 11:23 PM	#2
J.Gibbs Scooby Specialist Member#: 312107 Join Date: Mar 2012 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Sterling Vehicle: 1998 LowFoz Glacier White	You didn't get all the old coolant out. And you have to burp the system when draining and filling to get rid of all the air bubbles. Do that and you should be good

09-06-2012, 07:41 PM	#8
kantthinkofasn77 Scooby Newbie Member#: 220808 Join Date: Aug 2009 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: SoCal Vehicle: 2005 WRX Wagon Silver	if you really wanna get it all out you can disconnect your spark plugs and just turn the motor over which will pump out all the old coolant. Then fill it up with just distilled water until you get all the air bubbles out and you have it at maximum capacity. Let the engine get to operating temp and cycle the fan maybe two times or so. Drain all of that out and then add the coolant from subaru and conditioner if you have it.