The instructions in my Haynes manual look pretty simple, however looking and actually being simple are two different things.

 

do I need to actually jack the car up or is it easy enough to do with the car on the ground? (No plastic cover on the bottom of the engine)

...Never done a coolant change on a Fabia before but usually, the main thing is to ensure you fill slowly and try not to get an air lock as it can be a pain. I used to have an old Saab and they had e bleed valve so filling, running and bleeding the engines coolant system was childs-play. I think it even had drain screw on the underside of the rad, too!

 

I was bemused to find this method of filling was a bit rare and not industry standard!

I just remove the bottom radiator hose and drain it that way. I think there is a drain valve but sometimes they start leaking if you disturb them. Up to you really. I removed my thermostat and flushed the coolant with a hose. 

 

When everything is done just fill it to max on the expansion tank and then let the engine reach normal temp and top up until it's correct.

Antifreeze is 40% mix. G12 spec.

13 hours ago, TMB said:

I just remove the bottom radiator hose and drain it that way. I think there is a drain valve but sometimes they start leaking if you disturb them. Up to you really. I removed my thermostat and flushed the coolant with a hose. 

 

When everything is done just fill it to max on the expansion tank and then let the engine reach normal temp and top up until it's correct.

Well, this is/was my SOP with the note that I flush the radiator as well as the block.

Easiest is to remove bottom hose radiator using adjustable pliers and empty radiator. Open expansion tank cap. Reattach hose.  Add distilled water. Take car for drive until warmed up. The thermostat will open and mix with coolant in engine. Return home. Allow to cool. Remove hose below radiator again, reattach. Refill with neat coolant g12? It's written on expansion tank. Might be g30 now.

Repeat drive and warm engine. Ps engine won't warm up on idle to 90C like a petrol will.

Check concentration of coolant ethylene glycol using disc floats. If you don't have then just add 50percent mix from start.

Carry coolant with you and check level of coolant after next short drive .

12 minutes ago, bmbmdmb said:

Ps engine won't warm up on idle to 90C like a petrol will.

 

 

Her car is a petrol engined 1.4 mpi.

1 hour ago, TMB said:

Her car is a petrol engined 1.4 mpi.

 

Just idle on driveway, no driving needed. Yep, missed that one. Skim reading...