2003 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 179

Car care 179 Coolant 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. • The cooling system is pressurized - hot coolant and vapor can escape when the filler cap is released. These can cause injury to your eyes and burns. Loosen the cap carefully, and let the engine cool before removing the cap. • Exercise care when adding coolant. Coolant on hot surfaces constitutes a fire risk. If the coolant level drops too low, the following message appears on the SID: Coolant level low. Refill. The expansion tank is transparent to facilitate checking the coolant level. When the engine is cold, the coolant must not lie above the KALT/COLD mark on the expansion tank (boundary between the upper and lower sections of the tank, see illustration). Top up with a mixture of equal parts of Saab-approved antifreeze and clean water. If the expansion tank is empty when coolant is added, run the engine to normal temperature and top up again, as necessary. Coolant expansion tank The properties of the coolant are retained for the entire service life of the car. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the coolant. The coolant contains 50 % antifreeze and anti-corrosion fluid. This ratio gives the best cooling effect. Lower concentrations should be avoided, in view of the corrosion risk. Other makes of antifreeze can damage the engine and cooling system.