can someone please advise on changing coolant for mk2 218sd?!

i had to de-ice for about half hour this morning which has prompted me to put anti-freeze in the coolant system!!! It says i have to drain and flush, then fill up, but i'm unsure how to do this!!

Drop into a garage and ask for a free antifreeze check, most will do this FOC while-u-wait.

i have no anti-freeze in the system, which is why i'm asking!!

Assuming that the engine has a broadly similar cooling sytem to the one on the Peuget/Citroen that the engine comes from do this:

Undo the bottom radiator hose clip at the radiator end and allow all the water to drain out. Refit the hose.

Remove the filler cap from the radiator and add the required amount of anti-freeze - I would put about 30% anti-freeze to 70% water. Just add the anti-freeze first (i.e. 2 litre of anti-freeze if you have a 7 litre system). Then top up with water from a jug/kettle/ watering can. Refit rad cap.

Undo the allen key headed bleed screw on the thermostat housing and start the engine. Run it until coolant comes out of the bleed screw - then tighten the screw up. Stop the car, remove rad cap and top up again. Rebleed once more and you should be done.

Personally I'd remove the coolant cap before removing the bottom hose to allow the coolant to flow out easier.
Also I'd premix the coolant rather than pouring in neat coolant/antifreze then topping up with water.
Most engines now need a 50% coolant/water mix.
All IMHO.
Cheers

lovely job thanks very much, just one thing

where would the thermastat be in this little lot....(i know, i know it could do with a clean)

http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=50365 (http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=50365)

follow the top, large, radiator hose from the rad, to the engine.. where it joins the engine (nex tto where you fill the oil IIRC), that's where the thermostat is.

if it isnt overheating, or overcooling, then leave the thermostat alone

i'm not gonna touch the thermostat, i just wanna find the bleed screw!!!

In the user guide (throwing out soon), it says never fill your coolant system up through the expansion tank!!! where am i supposed to do it then, coz there aint nowhere on the rad!!!!????