I have an '04 Ranger that I purchased new with the 2.3L Duratec engine. It has a whopping 8500 miles on it now. At about 5k miles I noticed that the coolant reservoir was at the MIN mark so I bought some Ford Gold, mixed it 50/50 with distilled water and added about 1 quart, ( as I remember ), to the tank. That brought it to exactly the mid point between MIN-MAX while cold. I just checked it, while it's cold and sitting in the same level position in the garage, and it's down to maybe 25% of the MIN to MAX range. It doesn't show any visible indication of coolant in the oil but I may get an oil analysis before the warranty runs out in June.

Anyone else lose any coolant with this engine?

 

I have noticed a periodic variation in the level of the coolant reservoir on my 03 2.3. It has never taken much to bring it back to the proper level and have never noticed any leakage on the ground. At present it seems to be staying at the proper level. Would be interested to see what your oil analysis shows when you get it back. My warranty runs out in October.

 

I don't see any evidence of an external leak so I would be ticked to have the warranty run out with 10k on the clock and then find out it has a hairline crack somewhere.

 

I would get it to the dealer for a leak check.

I have that engine in my wifes 2005 Escape, I drained all that would come out at 25,000 miles and removed the coolent resovoir. The resovoir had crud in the bottom already at 25k, I bought a gallon of the Ford Gold coolent and a gallon of distilled water and refilled the system. I plan on doing this proceedure every two years or 25K miles, I just don't believe in the 100K coolent changes.

 

Well I checked my records and actually I only added 16oz at 5500 miles. It now has 8700 miles and is down by maybe 7oz. I have the feeling the dealer will just tell me that's normal and just blow me off. I will still take it in before the warranty is up though. I have been changing the coolant on my 2000 CR-V every Spring but haven't noticed any contaminants in the drained fluid. My daughter has a 2000 Cougar with the orange long life coolant. It has over 80k on it and still looks perfectly clean in the tank.

I take it you never had to add any coolant in 25k miles on your Escape?

 

I have a 06 2.3 and when it got cold here it dropped below the min mark. Up till then it was at the mark in between the min and max. I thought it had something to do with the colder weather although our Escape didn't show any different. I plan on watching it till the spring and then taking it to the stealership. I've noticed alot of pecuilar things with this engine.

 

No I have not had to add any coolent, even after the change I topped it off a few days and few hundred miles and it has stayed full since. I 30K on it now.