Engine Cooling: Notes
CAUTION:
The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant.
NOTE:
Stop-leak style pellets/products must not be used as an additive in this engine cooling system. The addition of stop-leak style pellets/products can clog or damage the cooling system, resulting in degraded cooling system performance and/or failure.
The cooling system components are the:
- radiator.
- bypass tube.
- pressure relief cap.
- degas bottle.
- radiator draincock.
- coolant pump.
- thermostat (2.3L and 3.5L cold side, 3.0L hot side).
- engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor.
- variable speed fan motor assembly.
- fan control module.
- engine block coolant weep hole (3.5L only)
The 3.5L engine is equipped with an engine block coolant weep hole. If the inner coolant pump shaft seal fails, coolant will be diverted out the weep hole in the LH side of the engine block. This prevents any coolant from entering the crankcase.
Engine coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, cooling efficiency and corrosion protection to the engine and cooling components. In order to obtain these protections, the engine coolant must be maintained at the correct concentration and fluid level in the degas bottle.
When adding engine coolant, use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water.
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford Specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Do not mix coolant types.
- Do not add/mix orange-colored Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D or green-colored Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A or equivalent. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.
- Do not add alcohol, methanol or brine, or any engine coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. These can cause engine damage from overheating or freezing.
- Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
- Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Follow your community's regulations and standards for recycling and disposing of automotive fluids.