Just Bought a 2016 EcoBoost … Should I Worry About Coolant Issues?

I didn’t know about the coolant intrusion issues before buying this 1.5 EcoBoost. Now that I’m at 120,000 miles, I’m considering putting coolant sealant in just in case there are some tiny cracks. I’d like to stop any problems before they start. Any advice on this? I can’t see myself keeping this car longer than a year, even if the coolant problems don’t happen, because I don’t want to take the risk.

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You should check your VIN on NHTSA’s site to see if the engine block has been replaced. If it hasn’t, you might want to call Ford about a replacement.

Kingsley said:
You should check your VIN on NHTSA’s site to see if the engine block has been replaced. If it hasn’t, you might want to call Ford about a replacement.

What exactly do I need to do on that website?

@Sky
recall check

Quincy said:
@Sky
recall check

Will that tell me if my car was recalled for the coolant issue or if the engine was replaced?

You didn’t pay that much, so just drive it until it dies. It could last months or many years.

Om said:
It might happen or it might not happen. You never really know how a car will behave in the future. You can either sell it if you don’t want to take that risk or drive it while keeping an eye on it.

I only paid 5.3k for it.

Om said:
It might happen or it might not happen. You never really know how a car will behave in the future. You can either sell it if you don’t want to take that risk or drive it while keeping an eye on it.

Should I put coolant sealant in now just in case there are tiny cracks? I’m thinking of it as preventive maintenance for the coolant issue.

@Sky
You should avoid sealants or stop leaks in anything you plan to drive for a long time before actually fixing it. They’re just temporary fixes.

@Sky

  1. Sealant is only a temporary fix, meant for limping home.

  2. Sealant only works if there’s an active leak when you add it. If you add it as a preventive, it could clog areas like your radiator. If a real leak happens later, it won’t help because there won’t be any sealant left in use.

@Aspen
I added the sealant and so far it seems fine.

I’ve got the same powertrain but mine has almost 140K miles. So far, no issues. Like others have said, just do your maintenance and drive it until it dies. It’s a really good car!

The sealant in a bottle is a scam and can cause more issues. You can’t do much until a problem arises, and the only solution then is to replace the engine. Those earlier models often fail around 150K miles.

I drive a 2013 with 177K miles, same motor, and I am the original owner. I had a coolant part break around 173K, but it was an easy fix—just a $50 part and my time. Other than that, it’s been good except for the recalls for door latches. As for the sealant, I wouldn’t suggest it, but since you already did it, there’s not much you can do now. Good luck, I hope you have a better experience than I did.