Engine Overheat Strategy

[imp]

2004 Explorer 4.0L. Today I learned that if the engine begins to overheat, the PCM at some still safe temperature begins firing every other cylinder thus using the "dead" ones to help cool with outside air. This gives a bit of time to get off the road, out of the way, etc. Might save a blown engine, cause I'm sure it will run really H.S. in this mode.

Has anyone had it happen to them? Don't know if it's used in all Gen 3, or with V-8.

Also, on engine coolant: FWIW, coolant meeting Ford Specifications is NOT ALLOWED in California or Oregon! Those require a different spec. coolant! WTH? imp

 

[pet575]

I don't know exactly what the V8 does but I went through several overheats this spring/summer until I could get it figured out. Sometimes I had to go a little bit of distance (more than a mile) to get myself to a safe and accessible place. No blown head gasket or engine resulted from it.

 

[Exproblems]

2004 Explorer 4.0L. Today I learned that if the engine begins to overheat, the PCM at some still safe temperature begins firing every other cylinder thus using the "dead" ones to help cool with outside air.

Also, on engine coolant: FWIW, coolant meeting Ford Specifications is NOT ALLOWED in California or Oregon! Those require a different spec. coolant! WTH? imp

Just something for people that have engine overheating problems to look into. A week or so ago, I was watching a TV show called "Wheeler Dealers" which airs on the "Velocity Channel", think on Wednesday nights they run a few episodes back to back. The show and hosts are from England, where they buy older vehicles, all types from around the world and fix them up to re-sell them for a profit. On the show I was watching, the host(Mike) mentioned that the vehicle they were fixing up was known for engine over heating problems, so to stop that from happening ever again, they were using a new type of engine coolant that did not use "water" in the mix. He said because it uses no water in the coolant, it won't over heat again. They didn't name the product and I don't know if it is only sold in Europe or elsewhere. I don't know anything else about the product other than what they said on the TV show.

 

[Laurieb]

On the show I was watching, the host(Mike) mentioned that the vehicle they were fixing up was known for engine over heating problems, so to stop that from happening ever again, they were using a new type of engine coolant that did not use "water" in the mix. He said because it uses no water in the coolant, it won't over heat again. They didn't name the product and I don't know if it is only sold in Europe or elsewhere. I don't know anything else about the product other than what they said on the TV show.

It was probably one of the "Evans Waterless Engine Coolant" products. They are stated to have a much higher boiling point than other coolants.

I am curious about the coolant that Ford recommends, but that isn't allowed in California or Oregon. What is it that is recommended?

 

[Exproblems]

It was probably one of the "Evans Waterless Engine Coolant" products. They are stated to have a much higher boiling point than other coolants.

I am curious about the coolant that Ford recommends, but that isn't allowed in California or Oregon. What is it that is recommended?

Thanks for the info on the name of the Evans product.

I found this regarding Ford recommended coolant for 2002-2005 Explorers in the link below. Post # 3 has helpful info on that, mentions what is required for Oregon but not California..

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217462

 

[wbdavid]

I don't know if my 99 sport has this for sure but when the t stat stuck closed I know there was a major loss of power. So I am thinking that must be it.

 

[Laurieb]

Thanks for the info on the name of the Evans product.

I found this regarding Ford recommended coolant for 2002-2005 Explorers in the link below. Post # 3 has helpful info on that, mentions what is required for Oregon but not California..

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217462

Thanks. Interesting read. Mine is a 2002, and came with the green coolant, which we've continued to use. I was just curious since I live in California. As far as engine temps, so far so good over the years. Never have had an overheat issue.

 

[imp]

It was probably one of the "Evans Waterless Engine Coolant" products. They are stated to have a much higher boiling point than other coolants.

I am curious about the coolant that Ford recommends, but that isn't allowed in California or Oregon. What is it that is recommended?

A different Ford Spec. is called out. They seem to differentiate among these various coolants by their COLOR. GM started the fiassco way back in the '90s somewhere when one their new plastic manifolds was being eaten by Prestone (or similar Ethylene Glycols). Thus was born a NEW coolant specified for GM, and all others accepted it. Of course, it costs more!

If you want the Ford Specs, let me know. imp

 

[Laurieb]

A different Ford Spec. is called out. They seem to differentiate among these various coolants by their COLOR. GM started the fiassco way back in the '90s somewhere when one their new plastic manifolds was being eaten by Prestone (or similar Ethylene Glycols). Thus was born a NEW coolant specified for GM, and all others accepted it. Of course, it costs more!

If you want the Ford Specs, let me know. imp

Thanks. No big deal, I was just curious. We do a lot of things a bit differently here if California LOL. I'm quite familiar with the GM Dex-Cool, as I've owned (and still own) GM vehicles as well as Fords. Sometimes I've kept the Dex-Cool, and other times I've gone with an ethylene glycol coolant following a thorough flush. No problems to date.