V6 cooling system plastic

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heyjewel

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At the risk of physical or mental harm to myself and after searches of the forums, I still need to ask this:
Is there a list of the components in the V6 cooling system which need to be replaced on a preventive maintenance basis? Most or all because they are made partly with plastic. I have already purchased both the upper and lower radiator hoses and the water pump hose.
I am currently rebuilding my V6 and do not want any trouble from the cooling system.
Thanks.
 
I don't think there is, but it might help if you gave the generation or year of your LS.
 
joegr said:
I don't think there is, but it might help if you gave the generation or year of your LS.
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So if a list doesn't exist, could we try to create one and place it in the How To section for future reference?
 
joegr said:
That does seem like a good idea. I don't have a V6, so it would be mostly theory for me. This site should help: Official Ford Parts Site | Buy Motorcraft & OEM Ford Parts Online | FordParts.com You can use it to get exploded views of the parts, but it doesn't give complete part numbers. You can go here Ford Parts - Genuine OEM Ford Parts & Accessories Online and use the base part numbers to get the complete part numbers.
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Yeah I've been at those sites often and am there again. Thing is they don't identify whether there's any plastic content in the hose.

That's what I'm interested in - which hoses with plastic component must be replaced to avoid future cooling problems from plastics leaking.
 
I think that you are going to have to look at your car to be certain on that.
 
joegr said:
But he has the 3.0 (V6), a very different engine and cooling system.
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I thought the plastic parts on the 3.9 would be also plastic on the 3.0 I knew the part #'s wouldn't be right but thought it might at least give him some kind of reference
 
AmsterDutch said:
I thought the plastic parts on the 3.9 would be also plastic on the 3.0 I knew the part #'s wouldn't be right but thought it might at least give him some kind of reference
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No, they are actually completely different engine designs by different teams. They do use the same degas bottle, but not much past that.
 
joegr said:
Well, the thread title does hint at it... Anyway no harm.
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I would be lying if I was to say I'm going to research the 3.0 V6 engine's coolant system I haven't even scratched the surface on the 3.9 ... very complex system
 
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joegr said:
No, they are actually completely different engine designs by different teams. They do use the same degas bottle, but not much past that.
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I was going to replace my Radiator, but after watching the procedure on YouTube I'm having second thoughts. It took the guy over 4 hours and he claimed he was a professional mechanical. I think it might be over my head.
 
AmsterDutch said:
I was going to replace my Radiator, but after watching the procedure on YouTube I'm having second thoughts. It took the guy over 4 hours and he claimed he was a professional mechanical. I think it might be over my head.
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Did he remove it from the bottom like you are supposed to do? Then Gen II is not easy, but not a four hour job either. I suspect that the gen I hydraulic fan does complicate it a bit though.
 
joegr said:
Did he remove it from the bottom like you are supposed to do? Then Gen II is not easy, but not a four hour job either. I suspect that the gen I hydraulic fan does complicate it a bit though.
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The video shows a 2001 3.0 Radiator replacement. I'm not sure, he cut the video out when pulling the Radiator out and placing the new Radiator in the car. The guy never explained that you're supposed to take the Radiator out from the bottom. Actually he had a lot of time lapses in this video now that I think of it. He starts by saying in the beginning of the video how a backyard mechanic shouldn't attempt this job. I guess until a person does it with someone who knows what they're doing it very well could be a difficult job. Or who knows maybe I could handle it.
 
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Heyjewel, Ford had a kit for the V6 Gen 1 radiator hoses, etc, including the funky air burp port / throttle body hose manifold, all radiator hoses, and a new complete thermostat housing including thermostat, not sure if still available, but used to cost 210 or so USD. So the hydraulic fan solenoid used to cost under $120, and is now $210 dealer cost, $240 or so list price, so if that hose assembly is still available, I would expect $300 for the kit. At that price, you could buy all new hoses for the front end of the engine on Rockauto for much less, and the URO brand upper radiator hose comes with the bleed port and throttle body hose manifold, looks like OEM plastic but the hose is all rubber after that, where OEM hose to radiator has a plastic bushing in that area on the way to the radiator in the upper hose. I would go with the Rockauto setup if you have no issues with your thermostat housing and bolts. I have had that hose for almost 2 years now, waiting to be used, and I think that I paid around $40 for it. Everything else is probably available off the shelf at parts stores now. The one straight hose that the manifold for bleeding attaches to and goes straight through the middle to the rear from that area is around 4 inch by 1 inch hose (may be larger in diameter) is a $25-30 part from ford and is just straight hose, nothing special, and should be obtainable off the aftermarket in cut length form.
 
milehighmikey said:
Heyjewel, Ford had a kit for the V6 Gen 1 radiator hoses, etc, including the funky air burp port / throttle body hose manifold, all radiator hoses, and a new complete thermostat housing including thermostat, not sure if still available, but used to cost 210 or so USD. So the hydraulic fan solenoid used to cost under $120, and is now $210 dealer cost, $240 or so list price, so if that hose assembly is still available, I would expect $300 for the kit. At that price, you could buy all new hoses for the front end of the engine on Rockauto for much less, and the URO brand upper radiator hose comes with the bleed port and throttle body hose manifold, looks like OEM plastic but the hose is all rubber after that, where OEM hose to radiator has a plastic bushing in that area on the way to the radiator in the upper hose. I would go with the Rockauto setup if you have no issues with your thermostat housing and bolts. I have had that hose for almost 2 years now, waiting to be used, and I think that I paid around $40 for it. Everything else is probably available off the shelf at parts stores now. The one straight hose that the manifold for bleeding attaches to and goes straight through the middle to the rear from that area is around 4 inch by 1 inch hose (may be larger in diameter) is a $25-30 part from ford and is just straight hose, nothing special, and should be obtainable off the aftermarket in cut length form.
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Mikey - I've already purchased 4 replacement hoses, 2 of which had plastic. They were the upper and lower radiator hoses. The upper one has the burp thing and a tiny plastic nipple that extends out about an inch and a half. Gotta be careful not to break that. Are you saying above that there's a new hose from URO that fits differently?
Once I get a little further along on my engine rebuild project I'll take stock of the plastic hoses and post on the how to section which ones to buy.
 
The URO is an economical upper radiator hose that does the same thing as the OEM for $45 or so, it doesn't do anything differently. It is all rubber to the bleed and throttle body ports plastic assembly, where the OEM has added plastic further away from that area, for whatever reason. In other words, the URO hose is a great way to keep more money in your wallet if you break the delicate bleed port or throttle body ports from the expensive OEM hose.
 
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