cooling

Cooling Fan Assembly

for 2017 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote · RWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

1.3 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

This procedure covers removal and replacement of the engine cooling fan assembly on the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 5.0L Coyote V8 engine.

Warnings

⚠️Allow engine to cool completely before beginning work. Hot coolant can cause severe burns.

⚠Cooling fan can engage even with engine off if coolant temperature is high. Ensure engine is cold before working near fan blades.

⚠Coolant is toxic to animals and humans. Dispose of used coolant according to local regulations.

Tools required

10mm socket and ratchetEssential

13mm socket and ratchetEssential

Extension setEssential

Torque wrenchEssential

Flathead screwdriver

Coolant drain panEssential

Shop towels

Funnel

Parts

Cooling fan assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
Radiator upper hose clamp × 1 — Replace if damaged

Fluids

Motorcraft Orange Coolant — 2 qt

Preparation

Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
Allow engine to cool completely for at least 2 hours
Disconnect negative battery cable to prevent fan from engaging during service
Place coolant drain pan under radiator

Procedure

1
Drain partial coolant
Locate the drain petcock on the lower driver side of the radiator. Open the petcock and drain approximately 2 quarts of coolant into the drain pan. This prevents coolant spillage when removing the upper radiator hose. Close the petcock hand tight after draining.
Torque spec
Drain Petcock8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
2
Remove air intake components
Remove the engine air filter housing cover and air intake tube to gain access to the cooling fan assembly. Disconnect the mass airflow sensor electrical connector. Loosen hose clamps and remove the intake tube between the air filter housing and throttle body.
3
Disconnect fan electrical connector
Locate the cooling fan electrical connector on the driver side of the fan shroud. Press the locking tab and disconnect the electrical connector from the fan motor. Route the wiring harness clear of the fan assembly.
4
Loosen upper radiator hose
Locate the upper radiator hose connection at the radiator. Use a flathead screwdriver or pliers to loosen the hose clamp. Slide the clamp away from the radiator neck but do not remove the hose yet.
⚠Residual coolant will drain from hose when disconnected. Keep drain pan positioned to catch spillage.
Torque spec
Hose Clamps3 Nm (2 lb-ft)
5
Remove fan shroud mounting bolts
Remove the four fan shroud mounting bolts securing the fan assembly to the radiator. Two bolts are located at the top of the shroud and two at the bottom. Use a 10mm socket with extension to access all mounting points. Support the fan assembly with one hand while removing the final bolts.
Torque spec
Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
6
Disconnect upper radiator hose
Twist and pull the upper radiator hose off the radiator neck. Allow any remaining coolant to drain into the pan. Move the hose out of the way to provide clearance for fan assembly removal.
7
Remove cooling fan assembly
Carefully lift the cooling fan assembly straight up and out of the engine bay. Tilt the assembly as needed to clear the radiator, but avoid contact with radiator fins or hoses. The fan shroud and fan motor assembly come out as a single unit.
8
Install new cooling fan assembly
Lower the new cooling fan assembly into position, guiding it over the radiator and into the mounting locations. Ensure the fan shroud tabs align with the radiator mounting points. The assembly should sit flush against the radiator mounting surface.
9
Install fan shroud bolts
Install the four fan shroud mounting bolts by hand first, ensuring proper thread engagement. Tighten the bolts in a criss-cross pattern to ensure even pressure. Torque all four bolts to specification using a torque wrench.
Torque spec
Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
10
Reconnect upper radiator hose
Push the upper radiator hose fully onto the radiator neck until it seats against the bead. Position the hose clamp over the connection point and tighten to specification. Ensure the hose is properly seated before tightening the clamp.
Torque spec
Hose Clamps3 Nm (2 lb-ft)
11
Reconnect electrical connector
Connect the cooling fan electrical connector to the fan motor. Ensure the connector locks securely with an audible click. Tug gently on the connector to verify it is fully seated. Secure any wiring harness clips to the fan shroud.
12
Reinstall air intake components
Reinstall the air intake tube between the air filter housing and throttle body. Tighten all hose clamps securely. Reconnect the mass airflow sensor electrical connector. Replace the air filter housing cover.
13
Refill coolant system
Refill the cooling system with Motorcraft Orange Coolant through the radiator cap opening or coolant reservoir. Add approximately 2 quarts to replace the drained coolant. Fill the coolant reservoir to the FULL COLD mark.
14
Bleed cooling system
Reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature with the heater on maximum. Monitor coolant level and add as needed while air bleeds from the system. Check for leaks around the upper radiator hose connection.

Reassembly

Ensure all electrical connectors are fully seated and locked
Verify all hose clamps are tightened to specification
Check that fan blades rotate freely without obstruction
Confirm coolant level is at proper fill mark after bleeding

Verification

Start engine and verify cooling fan operates when engine reaches normal operating temperature
Check for coolant leaks around upper radiator hose connection while engine is at operating temperature
Verify no unusual noises from fan assembly during operation
Confirm coolant level remains stable in reservoir after test drive
Test with air conditioning on to verify fan engages at high speed

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