Some 2006-2009 Ford Explorers are experiencing radiator failure. This article will share some of the things you can do to prevent this failure from occurring and get back on the road if your radiator fails.

While it is not a difficult repair, replacing a radiator has a significant associated cost. Ford’s wholesale cost on a radiator for a 2006-2009 Explorer is as high as $ 470 for the part alone, and labor costs can make unit replacement much, much higher.

Therefore, it is prudent to take steps to prevent the unit from being replaced. Regular coolant washes are your best ally in keeping your Explorer radiator in tip-top shape. Personally, I do a complete flush of my coolant just before each winter. Not only does this keep all of my cooling lines and the inside of my radiator as clean as possible, it also gives me a good time to check my coolant to make sure it can withstand a severe freeze. Use a standard antifreeze tester that you can buy at any local auto parts store to periodically check the coolant to make sure it can withstand severe frost in your area. If you think the temperature will drop to 20 degrees below, make sure you have a rating of 20 degrees below that, drive 40 below! The alternative is a cracked radiator, or possibly even a cracked engine block.

One of the most common problems with 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Ford Explorer radiators is not with the radiators themselves. It is, rather, with the entree. The wiring to and from the starter is corroding. When this happens, of course, electricity is introduced into the frame of the vehicle. Electrolysis can cause coolant to flow through a radiator faster than it can flash.

Ford has a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) stating that every time you replace a radiator in one of these vehicles, you should check for electrolysis in the cooling system. According to Ford, You must not ground the heater core on a 2006-2009 Ford Explorer. Rather, you need to check the electrolysis. Check for electrolysis by disconnecting the battery cables, making sure they don’t touch each other or the car, placing the negative probe of the DC voltmeter on the engine ground and the positive probe on the coolant and checking if you get more than. 2 volts in the coolant. Ford says 4 on the TSB, but that’s too much for me!

If you are experiencing electrolysis in the early stages, use a voltmeter to check all ground connections. This is long and tedious, but if it is not done, you will have the same problem again. No company will accept a warranty on a radiator that has been subjected to electrolysis. After you have fixed the problems causing improper grounding, flush out all of the coolant.

If your radiator is hopeless (cracked tank, leaky core), you will need to buy a new one. You don’t need to buy an OEM Ford Explorer radiator as aftermarket radiators with better warranties can be found for much less money. Silla is a leading brand and has an excellent radiator available for this application. When you get it in, again, check the electrolysis!

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