Coolant Drain for the '99 Windstar

[smata67]

I drained the coolant on this one yesterday. I recommend anyone doing this to use the drain cock instead of pulling the lower hose, it was a bit** to get that clamp back on, the frame obstructs and it is a tight squeeze unless you lift the vehicle, which I ended up having to do just to put the clamp back on. You will need a hose and the cock requires an Allen wrench.

This vehicle alledgedly has a 4 gallon capacity, but only 2 gallons came out. I was considering installing a Prestone backflush kit, but the required hose is the one in the rear right coming off the firewall and into the engine and looked tough to access, so I skipped that and went with a simple drain.

Let's say you backflushed, you are then left with 2 gallons of water in the engine? Then you would add 2 gallons of straight coolant? I like using distilled water, I guess backflushing is just not that practical with how this engine holds water. Anyone done it?

BTW, I used the new 5 year green stuff Prestone has now, compatible with all coolants, they claim. The stuff that came out was green and I didn't want to mix the gold stuff with it, knowing 2 gallons were remaining.

[wiswind]

The Prestone "all makes all models" is a silicate free coolant....Organic Acid Technology (OAT).....similar to Dexcool.

You can still buy "traditional green" silicate coolant from FORD (Motorcraft Green), Peak (original) and Zerex.

I put Zerex "G-05" coolant in my '96. This is a Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) which has a low level of silicate.
G-05 coolant can be bought from FORD (Motorcraft Gold) and Zerex (at Carquest).

FORD recomendation is to replace green (silicate) coolant with green coolant, and Gold (G-05) coolant with Gold coolant.

If the Gold coolant (long life) is mixed with the green coolant (not long life), the change interval will be the same as for the green coolant.
In other words, it will not hurt your engine, but you should treat it as not long life coolant. The same would hold true for any mixture of the Prestone long life coolant with non-long life coolant.
That said......I replace the coolant at least every 2 years.

[DRW1000]

Originally Posted by smata67

I drained the coolant on this one yesterday. I recommend anyone doing this to use the drain cock instead of pulling the lower hose, it was a bit** to get that clamp back on, the frame obstructs and it is a tight squeeze unless you lift the vehicle, which I ended up having to do just to put the clamp back on. You will need a hose and the cock requires an Allen wrench.

Do you remember what size allen wrench (hex head) bit you used? I remember where I changed my coolant I could not figure out what to use on the drain cock and so I went the lower hose route. I would prefer the drain cock.

[smata67]

I'll post back with the hex and tubing size needed sometime this weekend.

[daveck2]

I have a 2001 and found out today, after many days of asking the @#$ dealer, that the 01 and up use the new Dex Cool anti-freeze coolant. This is the Orange stuff, (which I originally had in the system but was unsure if it was correct). I went the Ford dealer and they could tell me anything except "Jus put wat eva da coloor you got already in da car, the same kind", what a bunch of losers. I explained to him there are reasons for the different colors/blends. anyway, the overflow bottle also has a sticker showing not to mix orange with green? Oh well, I got my Dex-Cool (No its not just for GM!) and a bottle of flush so I will attempt a flush this weekend. Now where can I find a few gallons of distilled water?

Have fun!

[12Ounce]

Unless there is a contamination issue, I never flush or change out anti-freeze. But I do add to keep up with leaks ... never allow the coolant to get "weak", keeping it around -40F protected.

Looking at the system during the current 218k engine rebuild, I don't see any reason to change from this practice. But it may not work for others ... it's just what I do.

If you run into really bad problems accessing the bottom of the radiator, take note that most models have a fairly easy to remove bottom radiator support. My '99 has two bolts on each end. But the radiator and ac condensor must be supported from above.

[12Ounce]

My '99 radiator has a 19mm hex valve. And the hose spout is just a bit over 10mm.

[wiswind]

I do a radiator drain and flush.
I try to avoid completely draining the radiator as I can end up with air into the engine part of the cooling system, which can cause overheating until the air "burps" its way out.
When that has happened with mine, I just shut it down, wait for it to cool down....and restart.

A couple of partial drain and fills over several days should be enough to freshen up the coolant.

I was of the understanding that FORD used "traditional" green coolant in our older windstars, and switched to G-05, which is Motorcraft "Gold" in the newer windstars.
At least that is what I have read in several places.

[Gobowiec]

Originally Posted by wiswind

I do a radiator drain and flush.
A couple of partial drain and fills over several days should be enough to freshen up the coolant.

I've done the draining through the bottom 19mm valve already 3 times. And always theres less than 1,5 Gal. of coolant that comes out. Having almost 3 Gal. heating system means I don't get even 1/2 of the coolant out! So even if I do the last filling with concentrated coolant only (which I heard is not adviced) I won't get the 50/50 dilution. How do you get the 50/50 dilution? After some driving should I drain about a 1qt of "50/50" and add a 1qt of concentrated coolant directly to the cooler through the cap?

[mundy5]

Gobowiec,

first off, this thread is over 3 yrs old (see OP's date of 7/06).

second, if only 1.5 gallons came out, then fill it up with only .75 gallons of coolant and fill the rest with water. then you have your 50/50 mix.