Ford Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

To remove rust, sludge and other foreign material from the cooling system, use cooling system flush that is safe for use with aluminum radiators, For additional information, refer to Specifications. This cleaning restores cooling system efficiency and helps prevent overheating. A pulsating or reversed direction of flushing water will loosen sediment more quickly than a steady flow in the normal coolant flow direction. In severe cases where cleaning solvents will not clean the cooling system efficiently, it will be necessary to use the pressure flushing method using cooling system flusher. Dispose of old coolant and flushing water contaminated with antifreeze and cleaning chemicals in accordance with local, state or federal laws.

Remove the radiator. For additional information, refer to Radiator — 2.3L or Radiator — 3.0L in this section.

Backflush the radiator with the radiator in an upside-down position with a high-pressure hose in the lower hose location and backflush.

Remove the thermostat. For additional information, refer to Thermostat Housing — 2.3L or Thermostat — 3.0L (4V) in this section.

Backflush the engine. Position the high-pressure water hose into the engine through the engine return and backflush the engine.