Coolant low and changing color

[Samson16]

12.6k miles and looks like:

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[Samson16]

Some discoloration but full.

 

[UGADawg96]

Some discoloration but full.

Mine was like that last year or so. Come back at 25k miles and would bet it looks like mine does now.

Here is a quick comp picture showing the two colors.

 

[amschind]

Look at your oil. Just do an oil change yourself and make sure that's not where the water is going.

 

[UGADawg96]

Noticed this while changing the oil today @25k miles. I'll probably just monitor it for a little while. It is like the color of dark piss. The other tank is Gatorade nuclear yellow.

Added a little less than 1 quart this afternoon. Will keep an eye on it.

 

[ThyDayWalker]

Any update on this? I'm on the same boat wondering what the heck..
Topping it off and keeping an eye so far...

 

[HammaMan]

Any update on this? I'm on the same boat wondering what the heck..
Topping it off and keeping an eye so far...

My theory on the rapid color change is due to the exhaust heat exchanger that cooks the coolant. If you have have noticeable coolant loss and you're not seeing it drip anywhere, it could be a leak on the inside of the heat exchanger (don't recall any reports on this, typically it's a fitting outside of it that leaks). After cold starting, about 30 seconds or so you'll hear the exchanger 'turn-on' and the exhaust note quiet down as it gets diverted into the water passages. Sniff the exhaust and see if you're detecting any coolant smell. Sniff around the engine as well to see if it could be leaking elsewhere before starting. It could also help while running to turn on the AC and get the fan to start blowing and stir up the air.

 

[Deleted member 22921]

On the topic of coolant “discoloration” — especially after a certain extended period of time and mileage, like two years and 20,000 miles, for example — I think (uhhh, I suspect) that the change in color is simply caused by some kind of a chemical reaction that naturally occurs from the coolant repeatedly passing through the steel and/or aluminum cooling passages of a hot engine block, and then through the radiator, etc.

Some evaporation might also play a part in changing the coolant’s color during this time, too.

So … to me, if the engine passes a pressure leak test, a bit of change in the color of the coolant (from its original color when it was new) is normal.

Then one can replace the coolant at the mileage interval specified in the owner’s manual.

 

[HammaMan]

Mine started to noticeably change colors at 18mo and less than 6k miles. Not losing any fluid though. My HV loop is virgin looking, just as it is in my mach-e w/ 20k miles / 2.5 years.

 

[pjstud1v]

I just had to add about a quart of coolant to my truck at 35k miles. Noticed it was low when I installed my AFE intake. Color is normal still.

 

[tbeneteau]

Noticed the same discoloration on the Hi-Temp side and slightly low levels on both (almost to min). I topped them both off with Motorcraft Yellow then drove from Michigan to south Florida and back. No change in level. I am writing off the color change to the extreme heat that side experiences and just top it off when it needs it.

 

[Severdog]

I have the same discoloration and slight loss on the hi-temp side at 26k. No discernable leak.

 

[Ford4Ever]

My truck has just over 26,000 miles and my coolant has changed color but the level hasn't dropped since the day I bought it. I think it's more a characteristic of turbo-driven Ford vehicles, I've seen it on both 2.3 Mustangs and other 3.5 EcoBoost.

 

[UGADawg96]

Ford mobile techs came out yesterday for the recent pops ups for powertrain malfunction and service charging system. I mentioned the tanks and how the large one occasionally drops below full and they said the large orange'ish tank is on all motors and it is common to darken from yellow and need occasional top offs, they said the small neon yellow tank is PB only. They said they see no leaks underneath nor around the heat exchanger. They also looked at and smelled the oil and said it would be obvious if there was any coolant mixed in. I dunno. Just glad I have the 8/100 ESP.

 

[Static]

Just a data point, my 2.7 coolant is at low mark and darker in color, currently have around 24k miles on it and no signs of leaks and oil changes are normal. I can't recall what the level was originally so I don't know if it's always been near low or some has been lost, I think the change in color is what really alarmed me, but it sounds like that is pretty common.

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