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Not knowing what percentage of antifreeze you already have in the system, if it was me I would put straight antifreeze in it for now. That way you are not possibly creating another problem. The boiling point of coolant depends on the mix percentage and the pressure cap to be working properly.
Mercedes service bulletins in 1982 stated that the coolant in their new cars would function properly up to 256 degrees. I never want to see my car come near that temperature and you have been very close. Your problem could be as simple as not enough anitfreeze in the mix.
Without knowing which is the case, I would err on the side of straight coolant (add no water). If you use water then you could lower the boiling point where it could boil, just because the mix was not a high enough percentage of antifreeze.
I think you came very close to loosing that engine and the jury is still out so to speak.
Spend a few bucks on pure antifreeze.
I used to save used anitfreeze at my shop so we could pour it in cars that had problems like yours, so we could properly diagnose the problem. I also had good relations with a superb radiator shop, who could diagnose and repair problems properly.
The crucial question right now is do you have a leak ? I have not added a drop of coolant to my Fiesta in almost two years. Where did your coolant go and what has to be
done to make it stop loosing or boiling out coolant? Just get it full cold, both rad and bottle. Then see if that level holds. If it does then drain and refill with 50-50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze or buy some premixed 50-50.
This has been going on a while most likely, and it has just reached the critical point.
Be patient with me and we can walk you through it like you had been working on cars for 30 years.
The level in the bottle will rise as the coolant heats up and expands. Take amagic marker and mark the level cold on the bottle. Check,check,check the radiator and bottle for at least a week, every day. It may take a while to get all the air out of the engine, but when you do the bottle level will rise when ho and drop as it cools off.
regards
Mech
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