2003 Baja, changing coolant question(s)

[jseabolt]

I need to change the coolant in my Baja. I have a few questions:

 

1) As with all my car's I've added a coolant tee to backwash the cooling system. If I remember correctly the tee goes in the heater hose coming off the water pump but I can't figure out which heater hose this is on my Baja because both hoses sort of lead toward the same area in the engine. Let's just say one hose connects to firewall on the driver's side and the other one connects to the passenger side of the firewall. Which hose should I place the coolant tee in?

 

2) Some cars require bleeding. Is there any special procedure on this engine? Any bleeder screws I need to open up when filling the system?

 

3) Last and this maybe a dumb question but have not had a chance to look but is there a drain port on the bottom of the radiator or do I need to disconnect the lower radiator hose?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[ocei77]

1) Put tee on driver side hose, it is the in side.

 

2) There is a special procedure for bleeding the system] of air. Try a search for Burping, should find a few.

Not sure if your radiator has a bleeder screw. If it does, would be on passenger side top.

 

3) There is a drain petcock on the lower passenger side. I find it easier to undo the lower hose. 

 

When  filling, start with fluid into the upper radiator hose. Then radiator. The EJ engines Tstat is on the bottom of the block so very little goes through until it opens. By then you have a large air pocket which will take a lot of time to be rid of.

Use oem or Stant's Xactstat for T stat.

 

O.

[idosubaru]

Yes - gotta get all the air out, they easily overheat when refilling, sometimes surprisingly even after taking your time and doing it right.

 

Subaru requires that engine to get Subaru Coolant Conditioner to mitigate headgasket issues.  Like $2.50 from the dealer.