Cooling System: Description and Operation

Walter C. Avrea, the owner of patents 3,601,181 and RE 27,965, has granted Ford Motor Company rights with respect to cooling systems covered by these patents.

The 4.6L cooling system components include the:
^ block heater
^ Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor
^ fan blade, fan motor and fan shroud assembly
^ radiator
^ pressure relief cap
^ radiator draincock
^ water pump
^ water thermostat
^ oil filter adapter
^ radiator overflow hose
^ upper radiator hose
^ lower radiator hose

The radiator overflow hose circulates the coolant.

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

The degas bottle/coolant expansion tank:
^ provides a location for service fill.
^ contains coolant expansion and system pressurization.
^ provides air separation during operation.
^ replenishes the engine coolant to the system.

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.

The 3.8L cooling system components include the:
^ block heater
^ Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor
^ fan blade, fan motor and fan shroud assembly
^ radiator
^ radiator cap
^ radiator draincock
^ water pump
^ water thermostat
^ oil filter adapter
^ radiator overflow hose
^ coolant expansion tank
^ upper radiator hose
^ lower radiator hose

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

The fan motor:
^ operates only when the ignition switch is in the RUN position.
^ Will not operate with the switch in the OFF position.

The engine coolant:
^ flows through the radiator tubes and is cooled by passing air over the cooling fins.
^ is then circulated from the radiator outlet tank through the water pump and into the cylinder block to complete the circuit.

A closed water thermostat returns the engine coolant to the water pump. An open water thermostat allows the engine coolant to flow to the radiator.

Use Premium Engine Coolant:
^ E2FZ-19549-AA engine coolant that meets Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A.

Use recycled coolant:
^ produced by Ford approved processes. Not all coolant recycling processes produce coolant which meets Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A, and use of such a coolant may harm engine and cooling system components.

Unsatisfactory coolant materials:
^ alcohol-type antifreeze does not provide adequate water pump lubrication
- has lower boiling point
- reduced antifreeze protection

^ alkaline brine solutions will cause serious engine cooling system damage

The water temperature sensor provides a signal to the temperature gauge.

The optional block heater:
^ electrical heating element is installed in the core plug opening.
- uses a standard 11OV electrical supply

^ keeps the engine coolant warm during cold weather.