Cooling System: Description and Operation

Engine Cooling

NOTICE: Early build vehicle (built before July 6, 2009) cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft(R) Premium Gold Engine Coolant. Late build vehicle (built on or after July 6, 2009) cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant. Mixing coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of the coolant. Do not mix coolant types. Failure to follow these instructions may result in engine or cooling system damage.

NOTICE: Genuine Mazda(R) Extended Life Coolant and Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant are very sensitive to light. Do NOT allow these products to be exposed to ANY LIGHT for more than a day or two. Extended light exposure causes these products to degrade.

The cooling system components are the:

- block heater (if equipped).
- radiator.
- bypass tube.
- pressure relief cap.
- degas bottle.
- radiator draincock.
- coolant pump.
- thermostat housing.
- auxiliary coolant flow pump, refer to Heating and Air Conditioning for removal and installation and Heating and Air Conditioning for diagnostics.

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 stop leak pellets darkens the engine coolant.

add the correct coolant type to the engine cooling system. Early build vehicle (built before July 6, 2009) cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft(R) Premium Gold Engine Coolant. Late build vehicle (built on or after July 6, 2009) cooling systems are filled with Motorcraft(R) Specialty Green Engine Coolant. Mixing different coolant types degrades the corrosion protection of the original coolant. Do not mix any type of coolants.

- 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.
- Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant in vehicles.


Coolant Flow Diagram

NOTE: Black arrows indicate hot, white arrows indicate cold.