Cooling System: Description and Operation
Engine Cooling
2.0 and 2.3L Engines
2.0L and 2.3L Engines (if equipped)
The thermostat allows rapid engine warm-up by restricting engine coolant flow at lower operating temperatures. It also assists in maintaining engine operating temperatures between predetermined limits.
WARNING: Disconnect the battery when working in the vicinity of the engine cooling fan. The fan is controlled by the engine management system and an increase in coolant temperature can cause the fan to operate, even with the ignition in the OFF position. Failure to follow this instruction can result in personal injury.
The cooling fan(s) is mounted within a shroud behind the radiator.
Engine Coolant
CAUTION: All vehicle cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant VC-7-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Always fill the cooling system with the same type of coolant that is present in the system. Do not mix coolant types.
NOTE: The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets VC-6 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M99B37-B6 (except as noted in ES-F65E-19A511-AA) darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
The cooling system components include the:
- radiator
- pressure relief cap
- degas bottle
- radiator draincock
- coolant pump
- thermostat housing
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:
- NOTE: The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets VC-6 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M99B37-B6 (except as noted in ES-F65E-19A511-AA) darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from yellow to golden tan.
Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Coolant VC-7-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (yellow color). Do not mix coolant types.
- Do not add/mix orange-colored Motorcraft Speciality Orange Engine Coolant VC-2 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D or green colored Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant VC-4-A (in Oregon VC-5, in Canada CXC-10) meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A or equivalent. 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.
- Do not mix with recycled coolant unless it meets the requirements of Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1. Not all coolant recycling processes meet this Ford specification. Use of such a coolant may harm the engine and cooling system components. Do not mix coolant types.
Fail Safe Cooling
The vehicle has a strategy built into the powertrain control module (PCM) that will control the engine if it starts to overheat.
Stage 1 of the strategy will commence if the engine starts to overheat. The cylinder head temperature (CHT) sensor transmits a signal to the PCM, which then moves the temperature gauge pointer into the red zone.
If the engine is not switched off and the temperature continues to rise, the Powertrain Check Lamp is illuminated. This indicates to the driver that the engine is approaching critical limits and should be stopped. At this point DTC P1285 is set in the PCM which can be retrieved using a scan tool.
Stage 2 of the strategy will commence if the lamp and temperature gauge are ignored by the driver. The PCM will start to control the engine by cutting out two cylinders and restricting the RPM to below 3,000 RPM. Simultaneously the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) will be illuminated. This indicates that long term engine damage can occur and vehicle emissions will be affected. At this point DTC P1299 is set in the PCM which can be retrieved using a scan tool.
Air is then drawn into the deactivated cylinders. This helps to control the temperature of the engine internal components. The deactivated cylinders are alternated to allow even cooling of all the cylinders.
NOTE: If the driver is using a high percentage of throttle travel (for example, an overtaking maneuver) when the PCM starts engine deactivation (Stage 2), the deactivation will be delayed for 10 seconds.
NOTE: After 2-cylinder operation has begun, the engine will not revert to 4-cylinder operation, even if the temperature should fall, until the ignition is switched off and then on again.
NOTE: The malfunction indicator lamp can only be extinguished by using a diagnostic tool after the fault has been rectified and the DTC cleared.
Stage 3 of the strategy will commence if the engine temperature still continues to rise. This will result in the engine being totally disabled before major engine damage or seizure occurs. The Powertrain Check Lamp will begin to flash, indicating to the driver that the engine will be switched off after 30 seconds. This allows the driver time to choose a suitable parking place.