coolant FORD MUSTANG 2003 4.G User Guide

water as soon as possible. Water alone (without
engine coolant) can cause engine damage from
corrosion, overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol or brine or any
engine coolants mixed with alcohol or
methanol antifreeze (coolant).Alcohol and
other liquids can cause engine damage from
overheating or freezing.
•Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to
the coolant.These can be harmful and
compromise the corrosion protection of the
engine coolant.
•Do not mix with recycled coolant unless from
a Ford-approved recycling process (seeUse of
Recycled Engine Coolantsection).
To reduce the risk of personal injury, make
sure the engine is cool before unscrewing
the coolant pressure relief cap. The cooling system
is under pressure; steam and hot liquid can come
out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly.
If you must remove the pressure relief cap or
radiator cap (depending upon engine application),
follow these steps to avoid personal injury:
1. Before you remove the cap, turn the engine off
and let it cool.
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a thick cloth
around the cap. Slowly turn cap counterclockwise
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.
Engine coolant refill procedure-3.8L V6 engine
Note:Use the following procedure when refilling the
cooling system of a vehicle equipped with a 3.8L V6
engine. Failure to follow this warning may result in
damage to the engine and engine cooling system.
Maintenance and Specifications
209

The following procedure should be used when
refilling the cooling system of a 3.8L V6 engine after
it has been drained or become extremely low.
1. Remove the cap
from the engine
coolant reservoir.
2. Open the cooling
system vent plug.
3. Remove the radiator
cap as previously
outlined.
4. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the radiator until full.
5. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir until
the coolant level is at the“cold fill level”as listed on
the reservoir.
6. Close the cooling system vent plug.
7. Reinstall the engine coolant reservoir cap.
8. Reinstall the radiator cap.
9. Start and idle the engine until the upper radiator
hose is warm (this indicates the thermostat is open
and coolant is flowing through the entire system).
10. Immediately shut the engine off.
11. Wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap and
cautiously remove the radiator cap.
12. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the radiator until full.
13. Reinstall the radiator cap.
14. Check the coolant level in the reservoir before
you drive your vehicle the next few times (with the
engine cool).
15. If necessary, add a50/50 mixtureof engine
coolant and distilled water to the engine coolant
reservoir until the coolant level is at the“cold fill
level”as listed on the reservoir.
If you are unsure of how to operate the cooling
system vent plug when adding engine coolant to the
3.8L V6 engine, contact your dealer.
2
31
Maintenance and Specifications
210

Engine coolant refill procedure-4.6L V8 engine
The following procedure should be used when
refilling the cooling system of a 4.6L V8 engine after
it has been drained or become extremely low.
1. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
2. Slowly add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant
and distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir
until the coolant level is at the“cold fill level”as
listed on the reservoir.
3. Reinstall the pressure relief cap.
4. Start and idle the engine until the upper radiator
hose is warm (this indicates the thermostat is open
and coolant is flowing through the entire system).
5. Shut the engine off and let it cool.
6. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
7. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir until
the coolant level is at the“cold fill level”as listed on
the reservoir.
8. Reinstall the pressure relief cap.
9. Check the coolant level in the reservoir before
you drive your vehicle the next few times (with the
engine cool).
10. If necessary, add a50/50 mixtureof engine
coolant and distilled water to the engine coolant
reservoir until the coolant level is at the“cold fill
level”as listed on the reservoir.
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant
concentration see Checking Engine Coolant section).
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
Maintenance and Specifications
211

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 recommends the use of a
recycled engine coolant produced by Ford-approved
processes in vehicles originally equipped with
Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant (green-colored).
However, not all coolant recycling processes produce
coolant that meets Ford specification
ESE-M97B44–A. Use of such coolant may harm the
engine and cooling system components.
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.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in
Adding engine coolantin 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%.
Maintenance and Specifications
212

•NEVERincreasethe 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.
Maintenance and Specifications
213

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.
If your vehicle is
equipped with the
3.8L V6 engine,check
the power steering
fluid level with the
engine at normal
operating temperature.
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).
FILL
HOT
Maintenance and Specifications
225

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Brake fluid Motorcraft
High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Engine oil
(includes
filter change)Motorcraft
SAE 5W-20
Premium
Synthetic
Blend Motor
Oil3.8L OHV V6
engine4.7 L (5.0
quarts)
4.6L SOHC
V8 engine5.7L (6.0
quarts)
Engine
coolant
1Motorcraft
Premium
Engine
Coolant
(green-
colored)or
Motorcraft
Premium
Gold Engine
Coolant
(yellow-
colored)3.8L OHV V6
engine11.2L (11.8
quarts)
4.6L SOHC
V8 engine13.3L (14.1
quarts)
Power
steering fluidMotorcraft
MERCON
AT F3.8L OHV V6
engineKeep in
FULL HOT
range on
dispstick
4.6L SOHC
V8 engineFill to
between MIN
and MAX
lines on
reservoir
Maintenance and Specifications
238

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Rear axle
lubricant
2Motorcraft
SAE 80W-90
Premium
Rear Axle
Lubricant7 .5 inch axle 1.5L (3.25
pints)
Motorcraft
SAE 75W-140
Synthetic
Rear Axle
Lubricant8.8 inch axle 2.0L (4.25
pints)
Fuel tank N/A All 59.4L (15.7
gallons)
Transmission
fluid
3Motorcraft
MERCONV
AT FAutomatic
with 3.8L
OHV V6
engine13.1L (13.9
quarts)4
Automatic
with 4.6L
SOHC V8
engine12.0L (12.8
quarts)4
Motorcraft
MERCON
AT FManual with
3.8L OHV V6
engine2.6L (5.6
pints)5
Synthetic
MERCON
AT FManual with
4.6L SOHC
V8 engine3.8L (8.0
pints)5
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll 3.8L (4.0
quarts)
1Add the coolant type originally equipped in your
vehicle.
2Rear axle lubricants do not need to be checked or
changed unless a leak is suspected, service is
required or the axle assembly has been submerged
in water. The axle lubricant should be changed any
time the rear axle has been submerged in water. Fill
6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 9/16 inch) below
bottom of fill hole. Add 118 ml (4 oz.) of Additive
Friction Modifier C8AZ-19B546-A or equivalent
Maintenance and Specifications
239

Item Ford part
nameFord part
numberFord
specification
Engine coolant Motorcraft
Premium
Engine Coolant
(green-colored)VC-4–A(US)
or CXC-10
(Canada)ESE-M97B44-A
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-
colored)VC-7–A
WSS-M97B51–A1
Engine oil Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
OilXO-5W20-QSP WSS-M2C153-H
with API
Certification
Mark
Lock cylinders Penetrating
and Lock
LubricantMotorcraft
XL-1none
Power steering
fluid and
convertible top
fluid (if
equipped)Motorcraft
MERCONAT FXT-2-QM MERCON
Rear Axle
LubricantMotorcraft SAE
80W-90
Premium Rear
Axle Lubricant
1
XY-80W90-QL WSP-M2C197-A
Motorcraft SAE
75W-140
Synthetic Rear
Axle LubricantXY-75W140-QL WSP-M2C192-A
Automatic
transmission
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONV
AT F
2
XT-5-QM MERCONV
3.8L Manual
transmission
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
4.6L Manual
transmission
fluidMotorcraft
Synthetic
MERCONAT FXT-2–QSM
MERCONand
ESR-M2C163–A2
Disc brake
caliper railsMotorcraft
Silicone Brake
Caliper Grease
and Dielectric
CompoundXG-3 ESE-M1C171-A
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateC9AZ-19550-AC ESR-M17P5-A
Maintenance and Specifications
241

A
ABS (see Brakes) ... 140
Air bag supplemental
restraint
system .............. 114–115
and child safety
seats ....................... 116
description ............ 115
disposal .................. 119
driver air bag ........ 117
indicator
light .................. 11, 119
operation ............... 117
passenger
air bag .................... 117
Air cleaner filter ..... 237
Air conditioning
manual heating
and air conditioning
system ..................... 63
Antifreeze
(see Engine
coolant) ................... 206
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) .... 140–141
Anti-theft system
warning light ........... 11
Audio system
(see Radio) .......... 19, 43
Automatic
transmission ............ 144
driving an automatic
overdrive ............... 146
fluid, adding .......... 228
fluid, checking ...... 228
fluid, refill
capacities ............... 238
fluid,
specification .......... 242Auxiliary power
point ........................... 78
Axle
lubricant
specifications... 240, 242
refill capacities ...... 238
traction lok ............ 144
B
Battery ..................... 203
acid, treating
emergencies .......... 203
charging system
warning light ........... 11
jumping a disabled
battery ................... 170
maintenance-free .. 203
replacement,
specifications ........ 237
servicing ................ 203
voltage gauge .......... 16
BeltMinder ............... 109
Brakes .............. 138, 141
anti-lock ......... 140–141
anti-lock brake
system (ABS)
warning light ... 13, 141
brake warning
light .......................... 14
fluid, checking
and adding ............ 226
fluid, refill
capacities ............... 238
fluid,
specifications... 240, 242
lubricant
specifications... 240, 242
parking .................. 139
shift interlock ........ 144
Break-in period ........... 5
Bulbs .......................... 71
Index
248