engine coolant FORD TAURUS 2006 4.G User Guide

Do not add engine coolant when the engine is hot. Steam and
scalding liquids released from a hot cooling system can burn you
badly. Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts.
Do not put engine coolant in the windshield washer fluid
container. If sprayed on the windshield, engine coolant could
make it difficult to see through the windshield.
•Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored), VC-7–A (U.S., except CA, OR and NM),
VC-7–B (CA, OR and NM), meeting Ford Specification
WSS-M97B51–A1.
Note:Use of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets, VC-6, may
darken the color of Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from
yellow to golden tan.
•Do not add/mix an orange-colored, extended life coolant such
as Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant, VC-2 and VC-3
(US) or CXC-209 (Canada), meeting Ford specification
WSS-M97B44–D with the factory-filled coolant.Mixing Motorcraft
Specialty Orange Engine Coolant or any orange-colored extended life
product with your factory filled coolant can result in degraded
corrosion protection.
•A large amount of water without engine coolant may be added, in case
of emergency, to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the
cooling system must be drained and refilled with a 50/50 mixture of
engine coolant and distilled water as soon as possible. Water alone
(without engine coolant) can cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol, 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.
For vehicles with overflow coolant systems with a non-pressurized cap
on the coolant recovery system, add coolant to the coolant recovery
reservoir when the engine is cool. Add the proper mixture of coolant and
water to the “FULL COLD” level. For all other vehicles which have a
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coolant degas system with a pressurized cap, or if it is necessary to
remove the coolant pressure relief cap on the radiator of a vehicle with
an overflow system, follow these steps to add engine coolant.
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.
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 (a translucent 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 “FULL COLD” 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 coolant). 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 quart (1.0 liter) 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.
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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 section.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this section.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34° F [–36° C ]):
•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.
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driving cycles without these or any other temporary malfunctions
present, theCheck engine/Service engine soonlight should turn off. (A
driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed
city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is required.
If theCheck engine/Service engine soonlight remains on, have your
vehicle serviced at the first available opportunity.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M test of
the on-board diagnostics system. If your
indicator is on, refer to
the description in theWarning lights and chimessection of the
Instrument Clusterchapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the
indicator on.
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.
POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid.
Refer to thescheduled
maintenance informationfor 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.
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3For spark plug replacement, see your dealer or a qualified service
technician. Refer toscheduled maintenance informationfor the
appropriate intervals for changing the spark plugs.
Replace the spark plugs with ones that meet Ford material and
design specifications for your vehicle, such as Motorcraft or
equivalent replacement parts. The customer warranty may be
void for any damage to the engine if such spark plugs are not
used.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part Name Capacity
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance DOT 3
Motor Vehicle Brake
FluidFill to line on reservoir
Engine coolant
1Motorcraft Premium
Gold Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)11.6 quarts (11.0L)
Engine oil (includes
filter change)
2Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Premium
Synthetic Blend
Motor Oil (US)
Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor Oil
(Canada)4.5 quarts (4.25L)
Fuel tank capacity N/A 18.0 gallons (68.1L)
Power steering fluid Motorcraft
MERCONAT FFill to line on dipstick
Automatic transaxle
- 4F50NMotorcraft
MERCONVATF13.5 quarts (12.8L)
Windshield washer
fluidMotorcraft Premium
Windshield Washer
Concentrate94.7 oz (2.8L.)
1Add the coolant type originally equipped in your vehicle.2Use of synthetic or synthetic blend motor oil is not mandatory. Engine
oil need only meet the requirements of Ford specification
WSS-M2C930-A and the API Certification mark.
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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, and
trunk latchesMulti-Purpose
GreaseXG-4 or XL-5 ESA-M1C93-B
Lock cylinders Motorcraft
Penetrating and
Lock LubricantXL-1 none
Automatic
transaxle
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-M2C930-A
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 (U.S.,
except CA, OR
and NM),
VC-7-B (CA, OR
and NM)WSS
-M97B51–A1
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A
Accessory delay ..........................44
Air cleaner filter .......................217
Air conditioning ..........................25
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ............................95–96, 102
and child safety seats ..............97
description ........................96, 102
disposal ....................................104
driver airbag ................96, 98, 103
indicator light .........................101
operation .....................96, 98, 103
passenger airbag .........96, 98, 103
side airbag ...............................102
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................198
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................145
Anti-theft system ........................75
arming the system ....................76
disarming a triggered
system .......................................76
Audio system (see Radio) ...15, 18
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................215
fluid, checking ........................215
fluid, refill capacities ..............218
fluid, specification ..................220
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................151
Auxiliary power point .................42
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........219
B
Battery .......................................196acid, treating emergencies .....196
jumping a disabled battery ....168
maintenance-free ....................196
replacement, specifications ...217
servicing ..................................196
BeltMinder ...................................90
Brakes ........................................144
anti-lock ...................................145
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................146
fluid, checking and adding ....215
fluid, refill capacities ..............218
fluid, specifications .........219–220
lubricant specifications ..219–220
parking ....................................146
shift interlock ..........................148
Bulbs ............................................33
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....218
Cargo net .....................................62
CD changer .................................20
CD-single premium ...............15, 18
Cell phone use ..............................7
Changing a tire .........................162
Child safety restraints ..............105
child safety belts ....................105
Child safety seats ......................107
attaching with tether straps ..112
in front seat ............................109
in rear seat ......................109, 111
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............184
instrument panel ....................186
interior .....................................186
interior trim ............................186
plastic parts ............................185
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washing ....................................183
waxing .....................................183
wheels ......................................184
wiper blades ............................185
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............25
Clock adjust
AM/FM/Cassette ........................15
AM/FM/CD .................................18
Compass
zone/calibration adjustment ....56
Compass Display .........................55
Console ........................................42
Controls
power seat .................................79
Coolant
checking and adding ..............198
refill capacities ................202, 218
specifications ..................219–220
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................45
Customer Assistance ................154
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................180
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................181
Getting roadside assistance ...154
Getting the service you
need .........................................174
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................182
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................177
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................179D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................29
Defrost
rear window ..............................27
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................215
engine oil .................................193
Doors
lubricant specifications ..........219
Driving under special
conditions ..................................153
through water .........................153
E
Electronic message center .........53
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................168
Emergency Flashers .................155
Emission control system ..........212
Engine ................................220–221
cleaning ...................................184
coolant .....................................198
idle speed control ...................196
lubrication
specifications ..................219–220
refill capacities ........................218
service points ..........................191
starting after a collision .........155
Engine block heater .................144
Engine oil ..................................193
checking and adding ..............193
dipstick ....................................193
filter, specifications ........195, 217
recommendations ...................195
refill capacities ........................218
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