Mercury Mountaineer 1997 Owner's Manuals

Checking the engine oil
Check the engine oil every time
you fuel your vehicle.
Check the engine oil level more
frequently if the vehicle is carrying
a heavy load, towing a trailer,
idling for extended periods (like
police, taxi, or shuttle service
vehicles), or driven at high speeds
for extended periods of time.
To check engine oil:
1. Once the engine is warm, turn
the engine off. Make sure the
vehicle is parked on level ground.
2. Depress the parking brake.
Place the gearshift in P (Park).
3. Open the hood. Protect yourself
from engine heat.
4. Remove the engine oil dipstick
and wipe clean. Reinsert the
dipstick fully, then remove it again.
The oil level should be between
the MIN and MAX lines. If the oil
level lies between the MIN and
MAX lines, there is no need to
add.
5. If the oil level is below the MIN
line, add engine oil as necessary
and recheck the oil level. If the oil
level is above the letter ``M'' in
``MAX,'' engine damage and/or high
oil consumption may occur and
some oil must be removed from
the engine.
MAX MIN
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141

Adding engine oil
If the fluid level is below the MIN
line, add engine oil. Add engine oil
through the oil filler cap and use a
funnel to pour oil into the opening.
Make sure you use a certified
engine oil of the preferred
viscosity.
Recheck the oil level. Make sure
that the oil level is not above the
MAX line on the dipstick.
Continuous contact with
USED motor oil has
caused cancer in laboratory rats.
Ford production and aftermarket
(Motorcraft) oil filters are designed
for added engine protection and
long life. If a replacement oil filter
is used that does not meet Ford
material and design specifications,
startup engine noises or knock
may be experienced.
It is recommended you use the
appropriate Motorcraft oil filter (or
another brand meeting Ford
specifications) for your engine
application.
CHECKING AND ADDING
BRAKE FLUID
Brake fluid should be checked and
refilled as needed at least once
each year.
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142

1. Clean the reservoir cap before
removal to prevent dirt or water
from entering the reservoir.
2. Visually inspect the fluid level.
3. If necessary, add brake fluid
until the level reaches within 1/89
of the MAX line on the reservoir.
²Do not exceed MAX.
Use only a DOT 3 brake fluid
certified to meet Ford specification
ESA-M6C25-A. Refer toLubricant
specifications.
Brake fluid is toxic.
If you use brake fluid that
is not DOT 3, you will
cause permanent damage.
Do not let the reservoir in
the master cylinder run
dry. This may cause the brakes
to fail.
MAX
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143

CHECKING AND ADDING
WASHER FLUID
Visually inspect the fluid level in
the washer fluid reservoir.
If washer fluid needs to be added
to the reservoir:
1. Lift the washer fluid reservoir
cover.
2. Add enough washer fluid to fill
the reservoir.
WASHERFLUIDONLY
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144

Checking and adding washer
fluid for the liftgate
The opening for this reservoir is
located on the left side of the
vehicle above the tail lamp. Be
sure to close the cover after filling
and before closing the liftgate. The
reservoir must be filled slowly to
allow trapped air to escape. Use of
a funnel is recommended for easier
filling.
CHECKING AND ADDING
ENGINE COOLANT
Check the engine coolant level in
the reservoir at least once a
month.
If the engine coolant has not been
checked for a long period of time,
the engine coolant reservoir may
eventually empty. If this occurs,
add engine coolant to the coolant
reservoir. For more information on
engine coolant maintenance, refer
toAdding engine coolant to the
reservoirin this chapter.
Automotive fluids are not
interchangeable; do not
use engine coolant, antifreeze, or
windshield washer fluid outside
of their specified function and
vehicle location.
When adding engine coolant
Ford recommends Ford Premium
Cooling System fluid, which is an
optimized formula that will protect
all metals and rubber elastomers
used in Ford engines for four years
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145

or 80,000 km (50,000 miles). It is
not necessary and not
recommended to use supplemental
coolant additives in your
gasoline-powered vehicle. These
additives may harm your engine
cooling system.
When you change or add engine
coolant, it is important to maintain
your engine coolant concentration
between 40% (-24ÉC [11ÉF]) and
60% (-52ÉC [-62ÉF]), depending on
your local climate conditions. A
coolant concentration below 40%
may cause the engine to overheat
on a warm day.
Do not use engine coolant that
does not meet all 14 requirements
of Ford Specification ESE-M97B44-A.
The use of an improper coolant
may void your warranty for the
engine cooling system. Use only a
premium nationally-recognized
brand name engine coolant.
Always dispose of used
automotive fluids in a responsible
manner. Follow your community's
standards for disposing of these
types of fluids. Call your local
recycling center to find out more
about recycling automotive fluids.
Adding engine coolant
Never remove the coolant
recovery cap while the
engine is running or hot.
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146

1. Before you remove the coolant
recovery cap, turn the engine off
and let it cool. Even when the
engine is cool, be careful when
removing the recovery cap. Wrap a
thick cloth around the cap for safe
removal.
2. When the engine is cool, lift the
cap.
3. Step back while pressure
releases.
4. When you are sure that all the
pressure has been released,
remove the recovery cap.
5. Stand away from the reservoir
opening; hot steam may blow out
or hot engine coolant may even
splash out.
6. Add engine coolant until the
level is between the MAX and MIN
lines on the engine coolant
recovery reservoir.
Follow the recommended service
interval for changing engine
coolant as outlined in theService
Guide. For coolant recovery
reservoir capacity, refer to
Lubricant specificationsin the
Capacities and specifications
chapter.
RADIATOR
COOLANT
ONLY


MAX
MIN
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147

Checking the cooling system
hoses
Before adding or replacing coolant,
inspect all cooling system hoses
for:
²deterioration
²leaks
²loose clamps
CHECKING AND ADDING
POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid at
least twice a year by completing
the following steps:
1. Start the engine.
2. When the engine coolant
temperature gauge reaches the
normal zone, turn off the engine.
CH
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148

3. Visually inspect the fluid level in
the power steering reservoir.
4. If necessary, add power steering
fluid until the fluid level reaches
MAX. Do not overfill the power
steering reservoir.
²As a maintenance precaution,
visually inspect the lines and
hoses of the power steering
system for leaks and damage.
²If new fluid is frequently
required, consult a qualified
service technician.
²Use fluid certified to meet Ford
Motor Company lubricant
specifications. Refer toRefill
capacitiesandLubricant
specificationslater in this
chapter.
CHECKING AND ADDING
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID
Check the automatic transmission
fluid according to the scheduled
intervals in theService Guide.
Before adding any fluid, make sure
the correct type will be used. This
information is indicated on the
dipstick.
Your vehicle should not be
driven if the fluid level is
below the bottom hole in the
dipstick and outside
temperatures are above 10ÉC
(50ÉF).
DONOTOVERFILLPOWERSTEERINGFLUID
MAX
MIN
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149

Your vehicle does not use up
transmission fluid. However, it is
recommended that you check the
transmission fluid at least twice a
year. The fluid level should be
checked if the transmission is not
working properly, i.e., the
transmission slips or shifts slowly
or if you notice some sign of fluid
leakage.
It is preferable to check the
transmission fluid level at normal
operating temperature, after
approximately 32 km (20 miles) of
driving. However, if necessary, you
can check the fluid level without
driving to obtain a normal
operating temperature if the
outside temperature is above 10ÉC
(50ÉF).
If the vehicle has been operated
for an extended period at high
speeds, in city traffic during hot
weather or pulling a trailer, the
vehicle should be turned off for
about 30 minutes to allow the fluid
to cool before checking.
1. Park the vehicle on a level
surface.
2. Start the engine and move the
gearshift lever through all of the
gear ranges. Allow sufficient time
for each gear to change.
3. Latch the gearshift lever in
P(Park), set the parking brake and
leave the engine running.
4. Remove the dipstick, wiping it
clean with a clean, dry rag.
5. Install the dipstick.
P R N D 2 1
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