Symptom Chart: Engine Cooling

Diagnostics in this manual assume a certain skill level and knowledge of Ford-specific diagnostic practices. SERVICE INFORMATION for information regarding Ford-specific diagnostic practices.

Inspection and Verification

WARNING: Always allow the engine to cool before opening the cooling system. Do not unscrew the coolant pressure relief cap when the engine is operating or the cooling system is hot. The cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid can come out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: The 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: The engine 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: 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: Vehicles have the pressure relief cap on the degas bottle and no radiator cap.

Verify the customer concern.
Visually check the engine coolant level at the degas bottle when the system is cold.
Make sure the pressure relief cap is installed correctly.
Record any cooling system DTCs retrieved. Refer to Engine Cooling .
If the system coolant is filled correctly and no DTCs associated with fail-safe cooling are retrieved, verify the customer concern by operating the engine to duplicate the condition.
Visually inspect for obvious signs of any mechanical or electrical damage.

Visual Inspection Chart

Mechanical	Electrical
Leaks or weeps at: Hoses Tubes Clamp joints Gaskets O-rings Thermostat coolant connection Radiator Pressure relief cap Coolant pump Oil cooler (may leak internally or externally) Heater core (wet floor or coolant odor in vehicle) Degas bottle Cylinder block core plugs Cylinder head core plugs Block heater (if equipped) Turbocharger - 2.0L GTDI or 3.5L GTDI Cracked or damaged: Hoses Tubes Hose clamps Thermostat coolant connection Radiator Pressure relief cap Cooling fan Coolant pump Oil cooler Degas bottle Cylinder block core plugs Cylinder head core plugs Block heater (if equipped) Turbocharger - 2.0L GTDI or 3.5L GTDI Restricted airflow through the A/C condenser/radiator Excessive white or light gray exhaust smoke (may have burnt coolant odor) Coolant in engine oil Engine oil in coolant	Inoperative or damaged: Electric cooling fan Wiring, connectors, relays or modules CHT sensor VSS

Mechanical

Electrical

Leaks or weeps at:
Hoses
Tubes
Clamp joints
Gaskets
O-rings
Thermostat coolant connection
Radiator
Pressure relief cap
Coolant pump
Oil cooler (may leak internally or externally)
Heater core (wet floor or coolant odor in vehicle)
Degas bottle
Cylinder block core plugs
Cylinder head core plugs
Block heater (if equipped)
Turbocharger - 2.0L GTDI or 3.5L GTDI
Cracked or damaged:
Hoses
Tubes
Hose clamps
Thermostat coolant connection
Radiator
Pressure relief cap
Cooling fan
Coolant pump
Oil cooler
Degas bottle
Cylinder block core plugs
Cylinder head core plugs
Block heater (if equipped)
Turbocharger - 2.0L GTDI or 3.5L GTDI
Restricted airflow through the A/C condenser/radiator
Excessive white or light gray exhaust smoke (may have burnt coolant odor)
Coolant in engine oil
Engine oil in coolant

Inoperative or damaged:
Electric cooling fan
Wiring, connectors, relays or modules
CHT sensor
VSS

If the inspection reveals an obvious concern that can be readily identified, repair it as necessary. Test the system for normal operation.
Inspect the coolant condition.
- Inspect the coolant color.
- If Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant has a clear or pale color, this indicates higher water content than required. Test the engine coolant freezing point range with 300-ROB75240. Maintain the coolant concentration within 48% to 50%, which equates to a freeze point between -34°C and -37°C (-30°F and -34°F). If the vehicle is driven in cold climates less than -36.7°C (-34°F), it may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration to get adequate freeze protection. Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) engine coolant to distilled water.
- Discoloration of Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant may indicate that incorrect coolant may have been added to the system. Use of incorrect (green or yellow) coolant degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Addition of Motorcraft® Specialty Green Engine Coolant may cause the color to appear a murky green-brown color. The addition of Motorcraft® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant, however, may not change the color or appearance of the orange colored coolant. Detection of contamination with Motorcraft® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant is determined by the presence of nitrite. If contamination with Motorcraft® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant is suspected, test the coolant with 328-2050-62291. Follow the nitrite testing directions in the kit to determine if nitrite is present in the system. If nitrite is present, flush the system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated. Refer to Cooling System Flushing .
- A darker color with the presence of debris could indicate a commercially available stop-leak may have been used and could result in loss of coolant flow to critical parts of the engine. If sediment is present in the coolant sample, flush the system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated. Refer to Cooling System Flushing .
- A light or reddish brown color indicates that rust may be present in the cooling system. Flush the system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated. Refer to Cooling System Flushing .
- An iridescent sheen on top of the coolant could indicate a trace of oil is entering the system. For engine diagnosis, refer to ENGINE SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION , Symptom Chart: Engine Performance. Flush the system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated. Refer to Cooling System Flushing .
- A milky brown color may indicate that engine oil is entering the cooling system. Pressure test the cooling system. Refer to Engine Cooling . If engine oil is suspected, the cause of the leak may be internal to the engine. For engine diagnosis, refer to ENGINE SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION , Symptom Chart: Engine Performance. Flush the system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated. Refer to Cooling System Flushing .
- If the engine coolant appearance is acceptable, test the engine coolant freezing point range with 300-ROB75240. Maintain the coolant concentration within 48% to 50%, which equates to a freeze point between -34°C and -37°C (-30°F and -34°F). If the vehicle is driven in cold climates less than -36.7°C (-34°F), it may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration to get adequate freeze protection. Recommended coolant concentration is 48% to 50% (freeze protection -34°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) engine coolant to distilled water.
- Maximum coolant concentration is 60/40 for cold weather areas.
- Minimum coolant concentration is 40/60 for warm weather areas.
- Adjust coolant range and level if necessary:
- If coolant is low, add Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze-Coolant Prediluted.
- If the engine coolant tests too weak, remove some of the engine coolant and add Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze-Coolant Concentrated until the readings are within acceptable levels.
- If the engine coolant tests strong, remove some of the engine coolant and add distilled water until the readings are within acceptable levels.
If an obvious cause for an observed or reported concern is found, correct the cause and test the system for normal operation before proceeding to the Symptom Chart below.

Symptom Chart: Engine Cooling

Condition	Possible Sources	Actions
Loss of coolant	Refer to the Pinpoint Test.	Go to PINPOINT TEST A .
The engine overheats	Refer to the Pinpoint test.	Go to PINPOINT TEST B .
The engine does not reach normal operating temperature	Refer to the Pinpoint Test.	Go to PINPOINT TEST C .
The block heater does not operate correctly	Block heater power cable Block heater	CHECK continuity in all 3 power cable circuits. If any circuit measures more than 5 ohms, INSTALL a new power cable. CHECK the resistance of the block heater. If the resistance does not measure between 12.5 and 17 ohms, INSTALL a new block heater.
The electric cooling fan is inoperative in one or more speeds or does not operate correctly	Wiring Relays Fuses Fan control module Cooling fan motor Cooling fan resistor	REFER to the ENGINE CONTROLS - POWERTRAIN DTC CHARTS & DESCRIPTIONS (EXCEPT DIESEL & HYBRID) .
The electric cooling fan stays on all the time	Wiring Relays	REFER to the ENGINE CONTROLS - POWERTRAIN DTC CHARTS & DESCRIPTIONS (EXCEPT DIESEL & HYBRID) .
Noisy electric cooling fan operation	Foreign material contamination Fan motor Fan blade detached from fan motor	REMOVE the foreign material from the cooling fan and shroud. TEST the system for normal operation. If still noisy, INSTALL a new cooling fan assembly. INSTALL a new cooling fan assembly.