2000 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 175

Car care WARNING • Proceed with caution if the radiator is boiling when you open the hood. Never remove the expansion-tank filler cap when the radiator is boiling. Loosen the cap carefully, and let the engine cool before removing the cap. • The cooling system is pressurized - hot coolant and vapor can escape when the filler cap is released. 175 5 Mix antifreeze and water in a suitable container. Use only Saab-approved coolant. 6 Add the coolant slowly to the expansion tank. This will take about two minutes, as the air needs time to escape. 7 Screw the expansion-tank cap on and run the engine to normal temperature. Top up with coolant until the level is just under the "KALT - COLD" mark on the tank. 8 Check the coolant again after a few days and top up as necessary. Radiator drain cock IB893 Changing the coolant (Usually carried out as part of the Saab original service by an authorized Saab dealer) 1 If the engine is hot, loosen the expansion-tank filler cap a little to release the pressure. Leave the cap in place. 2 Fit a suitable piece of hose onto the nipple of the drain cock. Let the hose discharge into a receptacle under the radiator and open the drain cock, which is located on the inside of the radiator facing the engine bay. 3 Remove the filler cap on the expansion tank. 4 In a couple of minutes the system will be empty. Close the drain cock. NOTE Always mix the antifreeze with the appropriate volume of water before adding it to the cooling system. If pure antifreeze is added, the engine could still freeze and be damaged. This is because the antifreeze will not mix properly with the coolant before the thermostat has opened to allow full circulation.