[JFC]

3 weeks ago (6/3/05) I drove away with a new 2005 ZX5 SES. At 1023 miles,the car overheats on a major Interstate and I'm towed into a nearby Ford dealer. The next day, looking at the car, they discover that it has practically NO coolant. The technician tells me that he had to add 1-1/2 gal. of coolant!! The Service Manager surmises that the Dealer did not perform the Pre-Destination Inspection (PDI) before giving me the car. I ask for and they perform a complete PDI.

In discussions with the Service Manager, I tell him that I've been getting poor gas mileage from the start: 22.3 MPG; 25.4; 28.7; and 17.5 (just before the overheating). He he says this could be related to improper cooling, running hot, etc. The car is rated for 26 MPG-City and 32 MPG-Highway. I get 25.9 MPG (after the overheating).

I read in the car Manual today that the coolant system capacity is 6 quarts or 1-1/2 gals. I would welcome all constructive opinions on whether the engine could have or may have sustained damage from driving it 1000 miles with very little coolant - AND how one could technically determine this.

Thanks, JFC