When would be the best time to have a coolant fluid exchange? What would happen if the coolant/antifreeze has already broken down on the old Ford E-350 Econoline?

There are a couple of indicators that could tell you that the coolant already needs some fluid exchange or the cooling system has to be checked. If the coolant is unusually low, you should check for a leak in the system. There could be a puddle of liquid underneath the vehicle because of the leak. The leak could be coming from a blown radiator cap, plugged radiator, or other damaged lines or parts of the cooling system. There's an obvious leak if you can smell coolant.

Even if the coolant level hasn't dropped, it doesn't necessarily mean that the fluid is still in great quality. If the color of the fluid has changed or has become cloudy, this could mean that it's contaminated with dirt or the additives in the fluid are depleted after some time. When the coolant/antifreeze has lost the additives that are supposed to prevent rust and scale from forming in the radiator and engine, it wouldn't be able to provide utmost protection. The fluid becomes less alkaline. With a weak coolant, the radiator and heater may get plugged with rust. The cooling system may fail, and this could lead to a costly engine repair as the engine overheats and seizes up.

What would be the best way to maintain the good working condition of the Ford Econoline's transmission? What's the recommended maintenance and service interval?

For preventive maintenance, the transmission filter and fluid of the Econoline van should be changed. This can be done every 25,000 miles, or whatever's recommended by the manufacturer for a specific model and year. If the fluid's translucent, red color has turned murky or dark, there's no reason for you to defer the fluid exchange. The contaminated fluid could only make transmission less efficient. Aside from changing the fluid and replacing the filter, the transmission system also needs to be flushed to remove old fluid residue. This could be done every 50,000 miles, or as suggested by the manufacturer for a specific Econoline model and year.

What could trigger the engine to idle roughly and erratically? The Econoline van won't idle smoothly. When the engine is warm, it could stall during idle. When my foot is off the gas, the engine starts to run roughly, and it may sometimes stall. However, when driven at higher speeds, it's back to normal.

Make sure that the idle speed is set correctly, based on the manufacturer specs. You may have to test the power circuits and check the lines for a vacuum leak. It's possible that the fuel pressure regulator is working at a low pressure. You may also be looking at a bad EGR valve or dirty fuel injectors. See if the ignition system is well—check the spark plugs, wires, and other relevant ignition parts. Compression should be checked to determine the engine's condition. With a scan tool, the engine control system should be checked.

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