Cooling System: Description and Operation

Engine Cooling

CAUTION: Some vehicle cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant VC-4-A (in Oregon VC-5, in Canada CXC-10) or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A (green color). Others are filled with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant VC-7-A (in Oregon VC-7-B) or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Always fill the cooling system with the same coolant that is present in the system. Do not mix coolant types.

NOTE: The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets, VC-6, darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.

The cooling system components are:
^ block heater
^ engine coolant temperature ECT sensor (5.4L only).
^ fan blade
^ fan clutch
^ fan shroud radiator
^ radiator cap
^ degas bottle
^ radiator draincock
^ water temperature indicator sender unit
^ water thermostat
^ upper radiator hose
^ lower radiator hose

The water pump circulates the coolant.

The water thermostat:
^ controls coolant temperature.
^ allows quicker engine warm-up.

The degas bottle:
^ holds surplus coolant when hot.
^ deaerates the system reducing engine hot spots.
^ is the location for service fill.
^ allows coolant expansion and system pressurization.
^ provides a location for air separation during operation.
^ replenishes coolant to the system.

The fan blade draws air through the radiator to help cool the system coolant.

The fan clutch is either a thermostatically-controlled or a electronically-controlled clutch that controls the fan drive.

The radiator allows excess heat to be transferred to the air.
^ The radiator cannot be serviced. Install a new radiator.

The engine coolant flows:
^ from the lower radiator hose to the water pump.
^ from the water pump to the engine block and the cylinder heads.
- Thermostat closed, the coolant returns to the water pump.
- Thermostat open, the coolant flows back to the radiator.
^ to the radiator for heat rejection then back to the lower radiator hose.

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 clean, drinkable water.

To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
^ Add Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant VC-4-A (in Oregon VC-5, in Canada CXC-10) or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A (green color) or Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Explant VC-7-A (in Oregon VC-7-B) or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow collar). Always fill the cooling system with the same coolant that is present in the system. Do not mix coolant types.
- The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets, VC-6, darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
^ Do not add/mix orange colored Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant VC-2 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D. Mixing coolants can degrade the coolants 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.
^ Do not mix with recycled coolant unless it meets the requirements of Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A or WSS- M97B51-A1. Not all coolant recycling processes meet these Ford specifications. Use of such coolants can harm the engine and cooling system components.

The block heater:
^ is an optional electrical heating element installed in core plug opening.
^ uses a standard 110 V electrical supply.
^ keeps the engine coolant warm during cold weather.