Cooling System: Description and Operation
Engine Cooling
NOTICE: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant or Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Always fill the cooling system with the manufacturer's specified coolant. Chemically flush the cooling system if a non-specified coolant has been used. Refer to Cooling System Flushing . Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.
NOTICE: Use Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant or Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Use the same type of coolant that was originally used to fill the cooling system. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the coolant corrosion protection and may damage the engine or cooling system.
NOTICE: Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant is very sensitive to light. Do NOT allow this product to be exposed to ANY LIGHT for more than a day or two. Extended light exposure causes this product to degrade.
NOTICE: 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.
NOTE: During normal vehicle operation, Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant may change color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the engine coolant is clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the engine coolant has degraded nor does it require the engine coolant to be drained, the system to be flushed, or the engine coolant to be replaced.
The cooling system components are the:
- block heater (if equipped).
- radiator.
- bypass tube.
- turbocharger coolant tubes.
- pressure relief cap.
- degas bottle.
- radiator draincock.
- coolant pump.
- Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) indicator unit.
- thermostat (cold side).
- variable speed fan motor assembly.
- fan control module.
- engine block coolant weep hole.
The coolant pump is located under the engine front cover mounted to the block. A weep hole is provided on the front left side of the engine behind the generator. It is adjacent to a 13.5 mm (0.531 in) cup plug. The plug and the weep hole create a reservoir for normal coolant seepage and evaporation. Every coolant pump will have some leakage past the dynamic mechanical seal. Dampness and crusting around the weep hole is acceptable and an expected result of normal engine operation. Coolant spray or leakage amounts great enough to puddle should be addressed.
Engine coolant provides freeze protection, boil protection, cooling efficiency and corrosion protection to the engine and cooling components. In order to obtain these protections, maintain the engine coolant 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. A coolant concentration of 50% will provide freeze point protection down to -37°C (-34°F).
To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
- add Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant or Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant. Always use the same type of coolant that was originally used to fill the cooling system.
- do not add or mix different coolant types. Mixing coolants degrades 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(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant or Motorcraft(R) Specialty Orange Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
Coolant Flow Diagram - 3.7L
NOTE: Black arrows indicate hot, white arrows indicate cold.
Coolant Flow Diagram - 3.5L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI)
NOTE: Black arrows indicate hot, white arrows indicate cold.
