Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Engine Cooling
The cooling system components include the following:
- Block heater
- Coolant pump
- Cooling fan blade
- Cooling fan clutch
- Cooling fan shroud
- Cooling fan stator - 6.0L diesel
- Cylinder head temperature (CHT) sensor - 4.6L, 5.4L and 6.8L
- Degas bottle
- Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor - 6.0L diesel
- Pressure relief cap
- Radiator
- Radiator draincock
- Thermostat
- Vistronic fan clutch - 6.0L diesel
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:
- Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant with Bittering Agent or equivalent (yellow color). 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); or equivalent. 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. Use of such coolants may harm the engine and cooling system components. Do not mix coolant types.
NO RELATED
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
Pair factory procedures with proven DIY tools so the instructions are easier to execute.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.