Coolant Leak at 900km

Planetmail · Jul 1, 2021

Brand new ST in white, all options, just over 900km on odometer.
Took a friend for a short ride, a lot shorter than wanted because we both noticed white smoke behind it.
Came back & promptly parked, open the hood to find coolant sprayed on the passenger side on top of motor. Could see small amounts of coolant dripping down in front of front passenger tire.
No big leaks noticed underneath vehicle. Nothing leaking off top of motor with brief restart to investigate. No check engine light yet, no coolant warnings or engine temp increases.
But something let go.
New vehicle, not even 3 weeks old, 900 Km on it and now off to the dealer first thing in the morning to find out the problem and damage done. Of course, doing so in a borrowed vehicle.

Autoworker · Jul 2, 2021

Hope it's something minor. Quality control is generally good in the engine/assembly plants, but mistakes do happen. Let us know what you find out.

Planetmail · Jul 2, 2021

I found the problem this morning. Went to Ford first thing this morning, told them what happened. Said I could top up with coolant & drive to dealership as no warnings came on yesterday during failure. They gave me a jug of coolant to fill and bring it in.

Able to do this in a small town (Drumheller) and only 2-3 kms from the dealer.

Poured the coolant in, could hear it filling the radiator. One jug later, coolant level still below minimum in overflow. Added water to top off, took another 1/2 jug.

Then started and instantly saw the problem. Now with coolant in the radiator there was something to leak out.

Can see hose detached. Where & what hose attaches to.

Hose clamp from factory locked open and not tensioned in place. Factory defect!

I replaced oem clamp with standard screwdriver adjustable clamp and secured in place where it belongs.

Vehicle is at dealership to have coolant replaced, check all hose clamps they can to ensure they are properly installed and of course assess for any othe damage.

I’m hoping because we parked the vehicle before any low coolant warnings or check engine lights came on that the engine block had its retained coolant while running and we just emptied the radiator when the unsecured hose blew off.

Autoworker · Jul 2, 2021

Unbelievable. Chalk another one up to Chicago Assembly's Quality Control. If you were to have issues down the road, at least it's documented.

Planetmail · Jul 2, 2021

I will be sending Ford of Canada a letter with video & pictures displaying their failure.

Vehicle back from local dealer, when I left it there I reminded them that the cooling system now had lots of air in it from the leak and coolant/water I added to get it there.

They never purged the system. Left dealer with overflow reservoir full of coolant. Arrived home with empty reservoir. Air still burping out.

So I have another jug of coolant to top up reservoir as needed, while air continues to displace.

Planetmail · Jul 8, 2021

Spoke to a Ford Service manager today, asked why I didn’t even get a low coolant warning. He said there is no low coolant sensor on the vehicle.
There’s a coolant temperature sensor, which wouldn’t of tripped because it needs coolant to operate.
There is also a cylinder head temperature sensor.

Finally know the name of the part that had the coolant line failure, it was the engine oil cooler. Specifically the output line off the oil cooler which T’s into the center section of the upper radiator hose.

Raym80 · Jul 31, 2022

I just had the same thing happen to my 2022… has stranded me twice now… just empty’s all the coolant it’s back at the dealer for a second as I type.

Planetmail · Jul 31, 2022

Happens twice?? You had a hose come off because of an improperly set hose clamp twice now?

What hoses came off.

Dan2022ST · Aug 3, 2022

I just had this exact same thing happen in my new 2022 Ford Explorer ST with just over a 1000 miles on it. Massive coolant leak and had to have it towed to the dealer. I showed the mechanic pictures from this thread and he said that’s exactly what happened to mine. Clamp not on correctly.

Planetmail · Aug 3, 2022

Did they document it with pictures? Curious if it actually was the “same” thing being an improperly tensioned clamp and to what connection? Mine was to the oil cooler.

Dan2022ST · Aug 3, 2022

They didn’t take photos. He was explaining the clamp wasn’t on correctly and then I showed him the photos from the thread and he confirmed same hose and clamp. He even had me show a couple other employees the photos to explain what the problem was.

Planetmail · Aug 3, 2022

In that case it sounds like Ford has an assembly line issue imo. When I tried calling Ford Customer Service about it, they couldn’t of cared less. I wonder if Ford gives a damn about this issue. They would if it had been 2 warranty claims for blown engines due to coolant starvation.

Raym80 · Aug 7, 2022

So an update…. On the second time they fixed it, the dealer said the new part has been re-engineered, completely different part number! Failures were about 3 weeks apart.

Planetmail · Aug 7, 2022

Part re-engineered? What part was that?
Do you have the part number?

Raym80 · Aug 8, 2022

Planetmail said:

Ill request the paperwork from the dealer, this is what the service manager told me... I didn't get the paperwork because the car died in the vallet line, at a hotel with my two kids and wife! We were on vacation, and so, i needed to ship the car home after it was fixed, was never at the dealer. To add to the bogus nature of this, Ford didnt pay to ship the car back to me or the tow to the dealer, even after the second time this failed.

MrWilliams2 · Mar 26, 2023

Reviving and old thread here as my 23 dumped it’s coolant last night. Short, easy 8 minute drive home from a friend’s house. No warning lights and temp was reading normal. Noticed smoke (steam?) rolling out from under the hood when I parked in the driveway. Popped the hood and coolant was everywhere. It was too dark for me to really see much of anything, but the engine was COOKING. Checked the hoses this morning and can’t see any that have came loose, but not exactly sure where the hose referenced above is located. Engine is COVERED in coolant. Luckily, my house is less than 300 yards from the dealership. I’ll run it over today and leave the keys in the drop box and see what they say tomorrow. Do y’all think I should add some coolant or water before I drive it over? Almost hate to as I want them to see it like it sits.

Coming from an 07 Eddie Bower that never left me anywhere - 22 days into ownership and I’m stranded. Just over 500 miles on the clock. Gave the old Ex to my father currently two hours away. Wife is out of town for work. What a mess.

DaveG ST · Mar 26, 2023

Raym80 said:

Ford will always pay for the tow to the closest dealer from where you broke down if you are under warranty. Ford contacts the towing service they have a contract with and you should never see a bill, trust me I know from experience.

MrWilliams2 · Mar 27, 2023

Update. Vehicle was towed today. Exact same issue as OP with a faulty?? hose clamp going to the oil cooler. Replaced the hose clamp, checked the others, and washed the engine bay. You guys should probably take a peep at your hose clamps…

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