Engine Cooling: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The cooling system is filled with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of the coolant. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

NOTE: Always fill the cooling system with the manufacturer's specified coolant. If a non-specified coolant has been used the cooling system must be chemically flushed. Refer to COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHING . Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

NOTE: During normal vehicle operation, Motorcraft Orange Antifreeze/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.

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:

block heater (if equipped)
radiator
bypass tube
turbocharger (if equipped)
turbocharger coolant tubes (if equipped)
pressure relief cap
degas bottle
radiator draincock
coolant pump
thermostat housing
transmission fluid cooler - warmer
transmission fluid cooler coolant control valve
transmission fluid warmer coolant control valve
heater shut-off valve (1.6L GTDI engine)
engine coolant bypass valve (1.6L GTDI engine)

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 or topping off the engine coolant:

measure the coolant concentration in the vehicle using Coolant/Battery Refractometer 300-ROB75240 or equivalent
determine the concentration desired based on the vehicle duty cycle of extreme hot or cold operating conditions
add/top off or adjust the coolant as follows:
- a. for concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (equates to a freeze point between -34°C (-30°F) and -37°C (-34°F)), use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range (freeze protection down to -37°C (-34°F)).
- b. for all other concentrations, use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and/or distilled water to get to the desired concentration. Refer to COOLING SYSTEM DRAINING, FILLING AND BLEEDING .

To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:

Add Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent. Do not mix coolant types.
Do not add or mix with any other type of coolant. Mixing coolants degrades 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.
Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant in vehicles equipped with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.