2016 Ford Explorer Coolant Flush Guide

The 2016 Ford Explorer with the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 runs hot — those turbos add heat, and the cooling system works hard every drive. Ford specifies a coolant change at 100,000 miles or 10 years for the initial fill, then every 50,000 miles. If you're approaching those marks, here's how to do it right.

The Right Coolant — Motorcraft Gold VC-7-A

The 2016 Explorer 3.5L EcoBoost requires Motorcraft Gold Coolant VC-7-A (yellow-gold). This is a specific OAT (Organic Acid Technology) formula meeting Ford spec WSS-M97B57-A2. Do NOT use standard green coolant, Dex-Cool (orange), or generic "universal" yellow coolant — different corrosion inhibitor chemistry causes deposits and seal degradation in the EcoBoost cooling system.

Part numbers:

• Concentrate: VC-7-B (1-gallon) — mix 50/50 with distilled water
• Premixed 50/50: VC-7-ADILUF

System capacity: approximately 13.0–13.5 quarts total

What You'll Need

• Motorcraft VC-7-A — enough for 6–8 quarts (drain/fill) or 13+ quarts (full flush)
• Distilled water (if using concentrate), large drain pan (15+ qt)
• 10mm socket (drain petcock/plug), funnel, gloves

Drain and Fill vs. Machine Flush

Drain and fill: Drain radiator, refill with new coolant. Exchanges ~50–60%. Safe for all mileage vehicles. DIY-friendly.

Machine flush: Exchanges 95%+ of coolant. Requires shop equipment.

My recommendation: For a 2016 Explorer with relatively clean coolant, drain-and-fill is adequate. For dark, rusty coolant, do drain + distilled water rinse + refill.

Step-by-Step

1. Engine fully cold — minimum 4 hours. EcoBoost system runs at 15–20 PSI. Never open hot.
2. Raise front of Explorer on jack stands.
3. Open coolant reservoir cap (cold only) — breaks vacuum for faster drainage.
4. Open radiator drain — bottom driver's-side corner, plastic petcock or 10mm plug.
5. Let drain completely — 8–10 minutes.
6. Optional flush — close drain, fill with distilled water, run to operating temp, cool, drain again. Repeat 1–2x.
7. Close drain — petcock snug (plastic — do not overtighten).
8. Prepare 50/50 coolant mix — mix concentrate with distilled water in gallon jug.
9. Fill to MAX COLD line on reservoir.
10. Bleed air — critical step — Leave reservoir cap off, start engine, run to full operating temp. Set heater to MAX heat. Keep level at MAX as air works out. Continue until no bubbles and level stabilizes (15–20 minutes). Install cap.
11. Check for leaks after first drive.

Troubleshooting

Overheating after flush: Air lock. Follow bleeding procedure — heater full hot, engine at full temp, add coolant as level drops until bubbles stop.

Mixed wrong coolant by accident: Drain immediately, double-flush with distilled water, refill with correct Motorcraft VC-7-A.

Final Thoughts

Motorcraft VC-7-A, bleed the air thoroughly, and your EcoBoost cooling system will run correctly for the next 50,000 miles. For more Explorer guides, browse all articles at /blog or access everything with an OwnerDrop Starter plan at $29.99/mo.