The major cooling system components consist of an aluminium radiator core with plastic end tanks, water circulation pump, thermostat and electrically driven cooling fan. In addition, a plastic expansion tank is used to ensure that the system is maintained at the correct volume of coolant.
The wax type thermostat is located in a housing bolted to the end of the cylinder head. The thermostat ensures rapid engine warm up by restricting coolant flow at lower operating temperatures, it also assists in maintaining engine operating temperatures between pre-determined limits.
The radiator is of an aluminium construction with plastic end tanks. Vehicles fitted with automatic transmission have a transmission fluid cooler built into the radiator left-hand side end tank.
WARNING:For reasons of safety, care should be taken to make sure that the ignition is switched off when working in the vicinity of the fan as an increase in coolant temperature may cause the fan to operate without warning.
The electric cooling fan is mounted within a shroud behind the radiator and is operated by a thermal switch in the water outlet of the thermostat housing. This actuates the fan when coolant temperatures reach a specific level.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze content should be checked through the expansion tank filler neck with a hydrometer. The specific gravity (sg) of correctly balanced coolant is 1.061 (sg) at 15°C, which indicates an antifreeze concentration of 40%. If the concentration falls below 40% there is insufficient low temperature protection and the corrosion resistance will be inadequate. In such cases, the concentration must be brought back to specification.
Changing coolant
New Motorcraft Super Plus 4 antifreeze, in the correct proportions, will protect the cooling system against frost damage for an indefinite period, but its corrosion inhibitors lose their effectiveness after prolonged use. Therefore the cooling system should be drained, by removing the drain plug, and back flushed. The system should then be refilled using new Motorcraft Super Plus 4 antifreeze to the correct proportions (40% antifreeze).
NOTE:For normal top-up purposes, it is recommended that a mixture of 50% antifreeze/50% water is used.
Antifreeze contains monoethylene glycol and other constituents which are toxic if taken internally and can be absorbed into the skin after prolonged contact.
