coolant Mercury Sable 2003 s User Guide

1. Before you begin, turn the engine off and let it cool.
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a thick cloth around the coolant
pressure relief cap on the coolant reservoir (an opaque plastic bottle).
Slowly turn cap counterclockwise (left) until pressure begins to release.
3. Step back while the pressure releases.
4. When you are sure that all the pressure has been released, use the
cloth to turn it counterclockwise and remove the cap.
5. Fill the coolant reservoir slowly with the proper coolant mixture (see
above), to within the“cold fill range”or the“cold full”level on the
reservoir. If you removed the radiator cap in an overflow system, fill the
radiator until the coolant is visible and radiator is almost full.
6. Replace the cap. Turn until tightly installed. (Cap must be tightly
installed to prevent coolant loss.)
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant concentration, refer
toChecking Engine Coolantsection. If the concentration is not 50/50
(protection to–34°F/–36°C), drain some coolant and adjust the
concentration. It may take several drains and additions to obtain a 50/50
coolant concentration.
Whenever coolant has been added, the coolant level in the coolant
reservoir should be checked the next few times you drive the vehicle. If
necessary, add enough 50/50 concentration of engine coolant and
distilled water to bring the liquid level to the proper level.
If you have to add more than 1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of engine coolant per
month, have your dealer check the engine cooling system. Your cooling
system may have a leak. Operating an engine with a low level of coolant
can result in engine overheating and possible engine damage.
Recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine
coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold
Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet
available.
Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling
and disposing of automotive fluids.
Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer
toRefill capacitiesin this chapter.
Maintenance and Specifications
175

Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than–36°C[–34°F]):
•It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration
above 50%.
•NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
•Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration
above 40%.
•NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
protection at the temperatures in which you drive.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system
and engine protection.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions
Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an overfilled tank
may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire.
Maintenance and Specifications
176

If the vehicle’s powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a“not ready for I/M test”
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
•First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
•Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
CHECKING AND ADDING POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid.
Refer to the scheduled maintenance
guide for the service interval
schedules. If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCONAT F.
1. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
2. While the engine idles, turn the steering wheel left and right several
times.
3. Turn the engine off.
Maintenance and Specifications
188

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Engine
coolant
1Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)3.0L V6 Vulcan
engine11.0L (11.6
quarts)
3.0L V6 Duratec
engine10.0L (10.6
quarts)
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)
2
Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Premium
Synthetic Blend
Motor Oil (US)
Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
Oil (Canada)3.0L V6 Vulcan
engine4.25L (4.5
quarts)
3.0L V6 Duratec
engine5.2L (5.5 quarts)
Fuel tank
capacityN/A All vehicles 68.1L (18.0
gallons)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT F3.0L V6 Vulcan
engineFill to line on
dipstickFill to line
on reservoir
3.0L V6 Duratec
engineFill to line on
reservoir
Automatic
transaxle -
4F50NMotorcraft
MERCONV
AT F3.0L V6 Vulcan
engine12.8L (13.5
quarts)
3.0L V6 Duratec
engine12.7L (13.4
quarts)
Automatic
transaxle -
AX4SMotorcraft
MERCONV
AT F3.0L V6 Vulcan
engine11.6L (12.2
quarts)
Maintenance and Specifications
197

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Windshield
washer fluid -
FrontMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll 2.8L (94.7 oz.)
Windshield
washer fluid -
RearMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateWagon 1.8L (60.9 oz.)
1Add the coolant type originally equipped in your vehicle.
2Use of sythetic or sythetic blend motor oil is not mandatory. Engine oil
need only meet the requirements of Ford specification WSS-M2C153–H
and the API Certification mark.
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
ItemsFord Part
Name or
equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidPM-1 ESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Door latch,
hood latch,
auxiliary hood
latch, seat
tracks, trunk
and liftgate
latchesMulti-Purpose
GreaseXG-4 or XL-5 ESR-M1C159-A
or
ESA-M1C93-B
Lock cylinders Penetrating and
Lock LubricantMotorcraft XL-1 none
Maintenance and Specifications
198

ItemsFord Part
Name or
equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Automatic
transaxle (AX4S
and 4F50N
1)Motorcraft
MERCONV
AT FXT-5-QM
MERCONV
Engine oil Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Premium
Synthetic Blend
Motor Oil (US)
Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
Oil (Canada)XO-5W20-QSP
(US)
CXO-5W20–LSP12
(Canada)WSS-M2C153-H
and API
Certification
Mark
Constant
velocity jointsCV Joint Grease
(High Temp.)XG-5 WSS-M2C258–A1
Engine coolant Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)VC-7–A WSS
-M97B51–A1
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
Windshield
washer fluidMotorcrarft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateZC-32–A WSB-M8B16–A2
1Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. Transmission
fluid requirements are indicated on the dipstick or on the dipstick
handle. Check the container to verify the fluid being added is of the
correct type. Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide to determine
the correct service interval.
Some transmission fluids may be labeled as dual usage, such as
MERCONand MERCONV. These dual usage fluids are not to be used
in an automatic transmission that requires use of the MERCONtype
fluid. However, these dual usage fluids may be used in transmissions that
require the MERCONV type fluid.
Maintenance and Specifications
199

A
Accessory delay ..........................48
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..............................91–92, 95
and child safety seats ..............94
description ..........................92, 95
disposal ......................................97
driver air bag ................92, 94, 96
indicator light ...........................95
operation .......................92, 94, 96
passenger air bag .........92, 94, 96
side air bag ................................95
Air cleaner filter .......................196
Air conditioning ..........................25
Antifreeze (see Engine
coolant) .....................................172
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................114
Anti-theft system ........................71
arming the system ....................71
disarming a triggered system ..72
Audio system (see Radio) ...16, 18
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................190
fluid, checking ........................190
fluid, refill capacities ..............197
fluid, specification ..................200
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................119
Auxiliary power point .................47
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........198
B
Battery .......................................170acid, treating emergencies .....170
jumping a disabled battery ....140
maintenance-free ....................170
replacement, specifications ...196
servicing ..................................170
BeltMinder ...................................87
Brakes ........................................114
anti-lock ...................................114
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................114
fluid, checking and adding ....189
fluid, refill capacities ..............197
fluid, specifications .........198, 200
lubricant specifications ..198, 200
parking ....................................115
shift interlock ..........................117
Bulbs ............................................34
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....197
Cargo area shade ........................58
Cargo cover .................................57
Cargo net .....................................57
CD changer .................................20
CD-single premium ...............16, 18
Cell phone use ............................55
Certification Label ....................202
Changing a tire .........................136
Child safety restraints ................98
child safety belts ......................98
Child safety seats ......................101
attaching with tether straps ..105
in front seat ............................102
in rear seat ......................102, 105
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............157
Index
Index
207

instrument panel ....................159
interior .............................159–160
interior trim ............................160
plastic parts ............................158
washing ....................................156
waxing .....................................156
wheels ......................................157
wiper blades ............................159
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............25
Compass, electronic ....................49
calibration .................................50
set zone adjustment .................49
Console ........................................54
Controls
power seat .................................75
Coolant
checking and adding ..............172
refill capacities ................175, 197
specifications ..................198, 200
Cruise control (see Speed
control) ........................................51
Customer Assistance ................127
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................161
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................149
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................153
Getting roadside assistance ...127
Getting the service you need 147
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................154
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................149
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................152D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................29
Defrost
rear window ..............................28
Dipstick
automatic transmission fluid .190
engine oil .................................167
Doors
lubricant specifications ..........198
Driving under special
conditions ..................................120
through water .........................121
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................140
Emergency Flashers .................128
Emission control system ..........186
Engine ........................................200
cleaning ...................................157
coolant .....................................172
idle speed control ...................170
lubrication specifications ......198,
200
refill capacities ........................197
service points ..................164–165
starting after a collision .........128
Engine block heater .................113
Engine oil ..................................167
checking and adding ..............167
dipstick ....................................167
filter, specifications ........169, 196
recommendations ...................169
refill capacities ........................197
specifications ..................198, 200
Exhaust fumes ..........................113
Index
208