Cooling System: Description and Operation

Engine Cooling

CAUTION: Always fill the cooling system with the same type of coolant that is present in the system. Do not mix coolant types.

The cooling system components are the:
^ Block heater
^ Fan blade
^ Fan clutch
^ Fan shroud
^ Radiator
^ Degas bottle
^ Pressure relief cap
^ Radiator draincock
^ Coolant pump
^ Coolant thermostat
^ Oil filter adapter
^ Upper radiator hose
^ Lower radiator hose
^ Degas bottle supply hose
^ Fan stator - 6.0L
^ Engine appearance cover - 6.0L

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:

^ CAUTION: With the engine cold, fill vehicles with a yellow fill level decal to within the yellow cold fill range shown on the decal. If the decal is missing, fill the degas bottle only to the molded line. The correct fill level on these vehicles is between the molded line and 15 mm (0.59 inch) below the line. These fill levels will allow for coolant expansion. Overfilling the degas bottle may result in damage to the pressure cap, which can cause the engine to overheat.

Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant with Bittering Agent (US only) VC-7-B (US); CVC-7-A (Canada); or equivalent (yellow color) meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1. Do not mix coolant types.
^ Do not add/mix orange-colored Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant with Bittering Agent (US) Motorcraft Extended Life Engine Coolant (Canada) VC-3 (US); CXC-209 (Canada); or equivalent, meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.
^ Do not add alcohol, methanol, brine or any engine coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. These can cause engine damage from overheating or freezing.
^ Do not mix with recycled coolant unless it meets with the requirements of Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1. Not all coolant recycling processes meet these Ford specifications. Use of such coolants may harm the engine and cooling system components. Do not mix coolant types.

Coolant Flow Diagram, 5.4L 3V:

Coolant Flow Diagram, 6.8L 3V: