Coolant Test

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty, and 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

For information on Ford Color Coded Illustrations refer to OEM COLOR CODING .

Inspection

NOTE: Use only Motorcraft ® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant Revitalizer VC-12 as an additive to Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Do not mix with or add any other coolant additive. Use of any additive other than Motorcraft ® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant Revitalizer VC-12 degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant and may damage the engine or cooling system components.

NOTE: If the cooling system has been drained due to a repair, fill a clear, clean approximately 1 L or 1 qt container with coolant from the drain pan. If the coolant has not been drained from the cooling system, open the radiator draincock to fill a clear, clean approximately 1 L or 1 qt container with coolant.

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.

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
1. Inspect the coolant color:
  - Discoloration may indicate that incorrect coolant may have been added to the system. Use of incorrect (green or yellow in color) coolant degrades the corrosion protection of Motorcraft ® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Addition of Motorcraft ® Specialty Green Engine Coolant may cause the color to appear to be 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 Gold Antifreeze/Coolant is determined by the presence of nitrite. If contamination with Motorcraft ® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant is suspected, test the coolant with the 3-Way HD Antifreeze Coolant Test Kit. 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. Refer to: Cooling System Flushing - Without Fuel Contamination .
  - A darker orange 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. Refer to: Cooling System Flushing - Without Fuel Contamination .
  - 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 Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. Refer to: Cooling System Flushing - Without Fuel Contamination .
  - An iridescent sheen on top of the coolant could indicate a trace of fuel is entering the system. Install a new fuel cooler. For additional information, refer to Fuel Cooler . Flush the cooling system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft ® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. Refer to: Cooling System Flushing - With Fuel Contamination .
  - A reddish or milky pink color could indicate that transmission fluid is entering the cooling system. Install a new transmission fluid cooler. For additional information, refer to Automatic Transmission Cooling System . Flush the cooling system and refill with the correct mixture of distilled water and Motorcraft ® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. Refer to: Cooling System Flushing - With Fuel Contamination .
For the shaded area, drain the quantity listed and fill the cooling system with undiluted Motorcraft ® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. For the unshaded area, drain the quantity listed and fill the cooling system with distilled water.

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
For the shaded area, drain the quantity listed and fill the cooling system with undiluted Motorcraft ® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant. For the unshaded area, drain the quantity listed and fill the cooling system with distilled water.

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR COMPANY
1. Carry out one of the following:
2. If the coolant has been drained from the system due to a repair, add 16 fl oz Motorcraft ® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant Revitalizer VC-12 to the coolant in the drain pan. Stir thoroughly and make sure the coolant is free of any visual debris before returning to the cooling system. Fill and bleed the cooling system using the drained coolant. Refer to: Cooling System Draining, Vacuum Filling and Bleeding .
3. If only enough coolant has been drained from the system to carry out the coolant test, add 16 fl oz Motorcraft ® Specialty Orange Engine Coolant Revitalizer VC-12 to the degas bottle. Fill the degas bottle to the cold fill range with the correct mixture of Motorcraft ® Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant and distilled water.