How do I change the coolant?

There is no radiator cap. The coolant system is refilled through the large white coolant container known as the Expansion Tank. Very few modern vehicles are still fitted with a radiator cap.
*Note* Only fill this to MAX level mark and NOT higher. The coolant tank level does change as you drive so space is needed for this to happen.
After you refill the system start the vehicle and let it idle up to working temperature, (about 10 minutes), to get the thermostat to open. let it continue to idle for another 2 minutes then turn off the engine. When the engine and coolant have gone COLD re-check you coolant level and top up if you need to.

Remove cap from radiator and fill this way, the meaning of the word reservoir remove oir from the end and you are left with the word reserve, the mass of the coolant is located in the radiator, the resovoir holds the coolant that is exsess when the engine is hot and the water has expanded,

Your Malibu is too new to change the coolant already The coolant is good for 5 years or 150.000 miles, which ever comes first. If oyu are going to replace the coolant, make sure it's the orange coolant and premixed 50/50 water/coolant before refilling the radiator.

To drain the coolant, just disconnect the lower radiator hose. most radiators now don't have a drain plug like the old days. The issue was that the drain plug was breaking since it's plastic or the O rings would break causing fluid to leak from the radiator.

once the radiator is drained, simple reattached the lower radiator hose and refill the system. The other way would be to run the engine till the thermostat opens up and the rest of the coolant in the engine block will make it's way out, but at most you should be fine on to replacing the coolant at the radiator only and then run the engine to ensure you have got all the air out of the system.

Just make sure you replace the radiator cap first before you shut the engine down. It you do shut the engine down first before you place the cap back on, the coolant will blow out.

Thank you for using fixy and be safe.

Should be a drain **** at the bottom of the radiator that unscrews out. It looks like a wing nut has been welded to a bolt on the end of it. Another way to do this is just pull off the bottom hose.

With engine cold, remove radiator cap. At bottom of radiator on left side (as you stand in fronof truck), there is a plastic drain plug that screws into the radiator. This plug does not look like a bottle cap, rather it looks like a large, raised tab. Turn counterclockwise to remove. Have a large pan under the truck at this location, or have the truck parked on the grass. Allow to drain completely. Dispose of the old antifreeze and do let children or pets drink it; it is deadly poison. If you want to do this right, replace the plug, refill the radiator with water only, replace the radiator cap, start engine and let run until opwerating temperature is reached (about 20 minutes), then turn engine off, let cool completely, and repeat the drain procedure. This will more thoroughly remove the old antifreeze from the system. Now refill the radiator with the proper mixture of new antifreeze and water, run engine to proper operating temperature. turn off engine and let cool completely. Add additional water and antifreeze into the coolant overflow bottle if necessary. After changing antifreeze, you may need to add more again after couple of days.

loosen pressure cap slowly at coolant tank to relieve pressure,when pressure is relieved remove cap,place a suitable container under drain valve at bottom of radiator open drain valve.when coolant has stopped draining,close valve.then remove thermostat,[this is a good time to replace t.stat since it must be removed to refill cooling system],disconnect heater core coolant supply hose at rear of intake manifold.add coolant thru t.stat opening until coolant comes out of coolant supply hose fitting,reinstall hose and tighten[not to tight] reinstall thermostat o ring and thermostat.add coolant to tank until the coolant level is between the COOLANT FILL LEVEL marks.select the maximum heater temperature and blower speed settings run engine until it reaches operating temp.add coolant until the coolant level is between the COOLANT FILL LEVEL marks.turn off engine allow it to cool, recheck coolant level,add as needed .ford requires this procedure to avoid engine damage due to trapped air.

see if you can remove top radiator hose at highest oint on motor  and fill, you can drain coolant at bottom of radiator with wing nut type drain fitting

you drain it from the radiator petcock on the bottom and you fill it from the overflow tank however I seem to remember those cars as having a radiator cap if i'm not mistaken it is on the passenger side if not in is the overflow tank

I Suspect that you have AIR in your COOLING SYSTEM Fallow Procedures BELOW to Insure there is NO AIR IN COOLING SYSTEM


Draining and Filling Cooling System

Draining Procedure

Important: Do NOT add any engine coolant supplement sealant pellets to the cooling system. Drain and refill the engine cooling system every 5 years or 240,000 km, (150,000 mi) , whichever occurs first.

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Remove and clean the coolant recovery reservoir.

Caution: Refer to Radiator Cap Removal Caution in Service Precautions.

1. Remove the radiator cap when the engine is cool:

3.1. Slowly rotate the cap counterclockwise to the detention tab. Do not press down while rotating pressure cap. 3.2. Wait until any residual pressure, indicated by a hissing sound, is relieved. 3.3. After all hissing stops, press down on the radiator cap and rotate the cap counterclockwise in order to remove the cap.
Important: Recover and store used coolant in a used coolant holding tank and submit the used coolant for recycling on a regular basis. Do NOT pour used coolant down the drain. Ethylene glycol antifreeze is very toxic. Disposing of ethylene glycol into the sewer system or ground water is both illegal and ecologically unsound.

1. Place a drain pan under the radiator drain valve in order to collect all of the used coolant.
2. Open the radiator drain valve located at the bottom of the radiator tank. If only partial cooling system draining is required, drain enough coolant to perform the procedure.
3. Open the air bleed valve on the thermostat housing 2 full turns
   1. Open the air bleed valve above coolant pump 2 full turns.
   2. Place a drain pan under the engine block drains in order to collect the used coolant.Important: Allow the coolant to drain completely.
      
      
      1. Remove both of the engine block drains.
      • The front left engine block drain is located between the starter motor and the engine oil filter.
      • The rear right engine block drain is located near the crankshaft position sensor.
      Filling Procedure
      Reinstall the engine block drains
      
   3. Close the radiator drain valve,
      1. Install the coolant recovery reservoir. Notice: When adding coolant, it is important that you use GM Goodwrench DEX-COOL or HAVOLINE DEX-COOL coolant. If Coolant other than DEX-COOL or HAVOLINE DEX-COOL is added to the system the engine coolant will require change sooner; at 50,000 km (30,000 mi) or 24 months.
      2. Slowly add a 50/50 mixture of GM Goodwrench DEX-COOL or HAVOLINE DEX-COOL and clean, drinkable water to the radiator until the coolant level is at the base of the radiator fill neck.
      3. Wait for 2 minutes and reinspect the level of the coolant in the radiator. If necessary, add coolant to the radiator until the coolant level is at the base of the radiator fill neck.
      4. Install the radiator cap.Ensure that the radiator cap arrow points toward the radiator overflow tubeImportant: The air bleed valves are brass. Do NOT over-tighten the air bleed valves.
         
         
         1. Close the air bleed valve above the coolant pump.
            1. Close the air bleed valve on the thermostat housing.
            2. Fill the coolant reservoir with a 50/50 mixture of GM Goodwrench DEX-COOL or HAVOLINE DEX-COOL and clean, drinkable water. Caution: Refer to Radiator Cap Removal Caution in Service Precautions. Important: If the coolant temperature indicator turns ON, turn the engine OFF immediately and allow the engine to cool. Do NOT remove the radiator cap.
            3. Start the engine and allow the engine cooling fan to cycle on and off 3 times. If the low coolant indicator does not turn OFF and the coolant level is above the Full Cold mark on the coolant recovery reservoir, refer to Engine Coolant Temperature Gage Inaccurate or Inoperative.
            4. Turn off the ignition.
            5. Allow the engine to cool.
            6. Ensure that the engine coolant concentration is sufficient.

60/40 but 50/50 is fine, Locate the the drain it is at the bottom of the radiator, drain out the old coolant (remove the pressure cap) and refill the radiator slowly, fill the coolant bottle all the way to the top, run the engine at high idle for 10-15 minutes, do not overheat it, shut it down and let it cool, recheck the coolant bottle and fill to full line, that should do it.