Many people who own or work on Ford 3.8L engines are quick to assume a blown head gasket when experiencing cooling problems. But wait! Assuming the T-Stat, fan, radiator and water pump are free of problems, don't be so quick to blame the head gasket. Ford designed our engines with a proper way to refill the cooling system. However, people seem to ignore, or are unaware of, the correct method, thus leading to problems such as: hot and cold heat, a fluctuating temperature guage, and other wierd cooling problems. The correct procedure described below will insure that there will be no air trapped in the system and allow the coolant in your system to flow freely and correctly and probably will save you alot of time and money. Thus allowing your car to run nice and cool.
This procedure should be followed every time you drain and refill the sytem. It is preventative maintenance that will help keep your head gaskets and cooling system functioning properly.
- First the best time to do this is after the car has been sitting overnight (in the morning) so you can get all the coolant out.
- You must drain all the coolant from the system. Just open the drain cock and let it all flow out. If you notice there is still some in the reservoir tank, then remove the little rubber hose that connects to the radiator and let the coolant from the reservoir drain. Also, it may help to remove the lower radiator hose and drain any fluid that still may be sitting in there.
- After it's all drained, open the vent plug (the bolt that almost sits over the T-Stat. It says 'Vent Plug' on it.)
- Remove the reservoir cap.
- Remove the radiator pressure cap.
- With the engine off and cool, add a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water to the radiator until it is full.
- Next, while the engine is still off and cool, add a 50/50 mixture to the reservoir until the coolant reaches the 'Full Hot Level.'
- Close the vent plug. Make sure it is tightened appropriately. Note: Closing the vent plug is very important, otherwise you will have coolant everywhere after starting the car. Also, reinstall the reservoir cap. Then reinstall the radiator pressure cap to the fully installed position, and then turn it back to the first stop.
- Start and idle the engine until the upper radiator hose is warm. This indicates that the t-stat is open and coolant is flowing through the entire system.
- Immediately shut off the engine, and carefully and cautiously, using a thick cloth, remove the radiator presure cap and add a 50/50 mixture until the radiator is full. Then reinstall radiator cap fully and securely.
- Remove the reservoir cap and add a 50/50 mixture into the reservoir until it reaches the "Full Hot Level". Then reinstall the reservoir cap.
Steps 10 and 11 are basically done to top off the levels of coolant to the radiator and reservoir. Like all the other steps, they are very important.
Recheck the engine coolant after one or two occasions of using the vehicle.
The key is removing the vent plug, the reservoir cap, and the radiator cap, then filling the system. This ensures there is no air in the system.
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