Engine Cooling: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2015 Lincoln MKT. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/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.

NOTE: Use Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Mixing coolant types degrades the coolant corrosion protection and may damage the engine or cooling system.

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.

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.

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 (cold side).
variable speed fan motor assembly.
oil cooler (if equipped).
engine block coolant weep hole.

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY

For 3.7L Ti-VCT and 3.5L GTDI engines, 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, 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. Address any coolant spray or leakage amounts large enough to puddle.

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 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:
- 1.
  
  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.
- 2.
  
  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 .

When refilling the engine coolant after a flush procedure, use a mixture of Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated and distilled water to get to the desired concentration.

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

add Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant.
do not add/mix different coolant types. 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 ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.