Coolant Leak 2018 Max

[18MaxPlat]

Anyone else have coolant disappearing from their 2018 Expedition Max?

I got the vehicle on July 2nd. A photo that I took under the hood when I picked it up from the dealer shows coolant up to the reservoir max line (engine cold). At the end of October, after 4 months of operation and about 4300 miles, it had dropped to the minimum line (engine cold). It took 27 ounces of coolant to bring it back to the max line.

I haven't been able to find any evidence of an external leak. I'll be taking it to the dealer for a pressure test, but wanted to know if anyone else has had the same issue. I haven't found any other online complaints about this happening to the 2018 Expedition.

 

[Uturn]

Coolant reservoir max line is for a hot engine, if filled to max cold the engine will push the excess coolant out when hot. Try running at the minimum line when cold. If you then lose coolant you have an issue. On my 6.0 ford the coolant is now run 3/4 of an inch below minimum, per Fords revised spec, cold and does not lose coolant. Anything above that and the first time it runs hard the coolant will end up back at the 3/4 below minimum mark.

 

[5150 pops]

I had to add a third or so of 50/50 orange to mine, but I didn't think too much about it. I haven't been all to gingerly with the vehicle.

If you let it get low enough, and do your best to encourage warpdrive from a standstill, you will be greeted with an illumination from your gauges, and a hard cut to your propulsion - simultaneously.

Yes, I speak from experience.

EDIT, got mine last couple days of July, currently have a about 3100 miles, and the little incident happened about 3-4 weeks ago. Actually it happened the day before I cracked off a 13.55 ET at the 1/4 mile Dragstrip.
It's a v6, at it's core, a small one too and it's being asked to move 6000lbs plus cargo, fatasses, and possibly a trailer, all at the same time. Mild temps, only add to the stress if you're an a/c has to be on, all the time, too, like me

 

[Sgt Darkness]

I had to add a third or so of 50/50 orange to mine, but I didn't think too much about it. I haven't been all to gingerly with the vehicle.

If you let it get low enough, and do your best to encourage warpdrive from a standstill, you will be greeted with an illumination from your gauges, and a hard cut to your propulsion - simultaneously.

Yes, I speak from experience.

EDIT, got mine last couple days of July, currently have a about 3100 miles, and the little incident happened about 3-4 weeks ago. Actually it happened the day before I cracked off a 13.55 ET at the 1/4 mile Dragstrip.
It's a v6, at it's core, a small one too and it's being asked to move 6000lbs plus cargo, fatasses, and possibly a trailer, all at the same time. Mild temps, only add to the stress if you're an a/c has to be on, all the time, too, like me

So, your coolant is orange too......I've saw several pics where they have the orange.....weird, mine has the yellow. Tow package maybe? Just thought why is mine yellow and the others are orange??

 

[5150 pops]

So, your coolant is orange too......I've saw several pics where they have the orange.....weird, mine has the yellow. Tow package maybe? Just thought why is mine yellow and the others are orange??

Maybe you and I are both colorblind, and don't realize it?

I say that, because I thought it looked PINK, and I STILL think it looks pink after having added orange to it.

Seriously, I think the reservoir's own color/tint dilutes the appearance.

Fwiw, I thought they all took the same spec motorcraft coolant.

 

[Sgt Darkness]

As long as it does it’s job I really don’t care what color it is. Verified my color through five other folks and all said yellow. I know GM had some problems with their pink stuff causing gasket degrading and manifold leak problems. Haven’t heard of any problems with the yellow stuff so I’m glad for that.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

So, your coolant is orange too......I've saw several pics where they have the orange.....weird, mine has the yellow. Tow package maybe? Just thought why is mine yellow and the others are orange??

Beginning July 9, 2018, and after, Ford began using the “new” yellow Motorcraft engine coolant in the Expedition and other truck models.

 

[Sgt Darkness]

Beginning July 9, 2018, and after, Ford began using the “new” yellow Motorcraft engine coolant in the Expedition and other truck models.

Good deal C5 Coupe, appreciate it much.....

 

[JohnT]

Just to confuse things they also use Motorcraft "Gold" cooling fluid which apparently you shouldn't mix with "Yellow" Sigh, how the hell as a layman are you ever even going to know the tech screwed up and mixed coolants which trashes a headgasket a few years later. Good luck reverse engineering that f**k up



"2018 Expedition/Navigator, 2018-2019 F-Super Duty, 2019 E-Series and F-650/F-750 vehicles built on or after 9-Jul-2018 are filled with the new Motorcraft Yellow Antifreeze/Coolant. When servicing the cooling system(s) on these vehicles, use Motorcraft Yellow Antifreeze/Coolant VC-13-G (CVC-13-G for Canada). Do not mix different colors or types of coolant, including mixing Motorcraft Yellow with similarly colored Motorcraft Gold. Monitor OASIS for updates."

 

[JohnT]

For the terminally bored

https://www.motor.com/magazine-summ...-not-easy-being-green-or-yellow-or-orange-or/

 

[TexExpy]

Coolant reservoir max line is for a hot engine, if filled to max cold the engine will push the excess coolant out when hot. Try running at the minimum line when cold. If you then lose coolant you have an issue. On my 6.0 ford the coolant is now run 3/4 of an inch below minimum, per Fords revised spec, cold and does not lose coolant. Anything above that and the first time it runs hard the coolant will end up back at the 3/4 below minimum mark.

Does the excess coolant above the 3/4 inch below min level get pushed out somewhere? Do you happen to know where?

 

[Cbrnole]

Anyone else have coolant disappearing from their 2018 Expedition Max?

I got the vehicle on July 2nd. A photo that I took under the hood when I picked it up from the dealer shows coolant up to the reservoir max line (engine cold). At the end of October, after 4 months of operation and about 4300 miles, it had dropped to the minimum line (engine cold). It took 27 ounces of coolant to bring it back to the max line.

I haven't been able to find any evidence of an external leak. I'll be taking it to the dealer for a pressure test, but wanted to know if anyone else has had the same issue. I haven't found any other online complaints about this happening to the 2018 Expedition.

Mine is dissapearing too!

2018 xlt.

No obvious signs of a leak.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Mine is dissapearing too!

2018 xlt.

No obvious signs of a leak.

Common leak spot is the water pump, when the engine is running and at operating temperature.

You can check the pump from below (may need a lift or ramps) with the engine off, and look for witness marks such as dried steak-lines.

 

[Soliyou]

When I took delivery of my 2018 expy, the coolant level was at the min mark. I brought it up between min and max. The same thing happened again last week at 35k miles. I am keeping an eye now!

 

[BMW2FORD]

I’m not sure we’re your located but if the coolant was on full line engine cold but it was summer and now it’s cooler out, the level will normally be lower from contraction when you recheck it with a cold engine. There is an overflow for the reservoir tank straight behind the coolant fill cap. Take the cap off and you’ll see a hole in the cap neck straight back at 12 noon. That hole runs down internally in the back of the reservoir tank about 2 inches and empties out the bottom back of the reservoir tank and drips straight down. If overfilled or too much pressure, this is where the cap lets it out. Unfortunately it drips right onto the main thick lower reservoir hose and can travel on that hose to others and even to the drive belts. If you see drips underneath or under the hood, ask the dealer or a shop if they can pressure test the cooling system. That for sure will show any leaks or a pressure loss to indicate if there is a problem or if this is just from the weather changing.

 

[Cbrnole]

Mine is dissapearing too!

2018 xlt.

No obvious signs of a leak.

Update, leaking from the waterpump! 42k miles, dropping it off at the dealership for replacement under premium care warranty.

 

[Gumby]

I have had many issues with coolant in my 2018 plati. Waterpump was done as well as the coolant lines to the transmission a few times. I never saw coolant spilt on the ground and was told the system had to be pressurized for that leak to appear. So when I was parked I saw nothing.

Now don't get me started on the rear main seal that was done and more recently the front engine cover was leaking and had to be redone. FFS.

 

[expecrap]

Hopping onto this thread hoping someone might help me figure out where my 2018 Expedition Platinum is leaking coolant from. The weirdest part of it all: extremely intermittent. The reservoir will hold coolant for weeks, and then all of a sudden, I'll come back from a normal drive to town and there's a huge puddle from rear area of engine. To note: the drive is very normal - not hard, no heavy turbo engagement, etc.

I took a few pictures of where there's two dripping points I spotted to hopefully help anyone who knows these engines religiously; help me point the shop in the right direction. I Had two shops do a pressure test and they couldn't get it to leak. I can't predict when it will leak (no aparent connection to outside temp, drive style, etc.) Appreciate any ideas/thoughts/help.

 

[S1N2W1N]

My wife’s 2019 has recently started with the leak. Water pump is definitely getting replaced. But by the looks of it, there is a heater hose that sits on the passenger side of the engine that connects into the Y-pipe. I can see where it has stained the end of the pipe with that light green coolant color. My question is, I also noticed that the big plastic tube that ends at the air filter somehow has a crack where the plastic forms into another tube (y-intersection) would that be related to the coolant leak as well?

 

[st381183]

Hopping onto this thread hoping someone might help me figure out where my 2018 Expedition Platinum is leaking coolant from. The weirdest part of it all: extremely intermittent. The reservoir will hold coolant for weeks, and then all of a sudden, I'll come back from a normal drive to town and there's a huge puddle from rear area of engine. To note: the drive is very normal - not hard, no heavy turbo engagement, etc.

I took a few pictures of where there's two dripping points I spotted to hopefully help anyone who knows these engines religiously; help me point the shop in the right direction. I Had two shops do a pressure test and they couldn't get it to leak. I can't predict when it will leak (no aparent connection to outside temp, drive style, etc.) Appreciate any ideas/thoughts/help.

View attachment 78309View attachment 78308View attachment 78307View attachment 78307

Hey expecrap,

Did you ever figure out what was leaking. I too have an intermittent puddle that shows up at the front of the vehicle.