engine coolant Mercury Mountaineer 2004 s User Guide
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Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly.A
50–50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following:
•Freeze protection down to -36° C (-34° F).
•Boiling protection up to 129° C (265° F).
•Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.
•Enables calibrated gauges to work properly.
When the engine is cold, check the
level of the engine coolant in the
reservoir.
•The engine coolant should be at the “FULL COLD” level or within the
“COLD FILL RANGE” as listed on the engine coolant reservoir
(depending upon application).
•Refer to theScheduled Maintenance Guidefor service interval
schedules.
•Be sure to read and understandPrecautions when servicing your
vehiclein this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the recommended interval,
the engine coolant reservoir may become low or empty. If the reservoir is
low or empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer toAdding
engine coolantin this chapter.
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Note:Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do not use engine
coolant, antifreeze or windshield washer fluid outside of its specified
function and vehicle location.
Adding engine coolant
When adding coolant, make sure it is a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant
and distilled water. Add the mixture to the coolant reservoir,when the
engine is cool, until the appropriate fill level is obtained.
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 and OR), VC-7–B
(CA and OR only), 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 Speciality Orange Engine Coolant, VC-2 (US) or
CXC-209 (Canada), meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44–D
with the factory-filled coolant.Mixing Motorcraft Speciality 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.
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•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
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 (until “clicks” are heard).
(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
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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 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 –36° C [–34° F]), it
may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the coolant
concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate freeze protection.
Never increase the engine coolant concentration above 60%
(protection to –60°F). At a level over 60%, your engine could overheat
and become damaged.
If you drive in extremely hot climates, it is still necessary to maintain the
coolant concentration at 50/50 coolant and water.Do not allow the
coolant concentration to fall below 40% coolant.At a concentration
less than 40%, the corrosion protection to your engine and cooling
components may be compromised and permanent damage may result.
What you should know about fail-safe cooling (4.6L V8 engine
only)
If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.
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How fail-safe cooling works
If the engine begins to overheat:
•The engine coolant temperature
gauge will move to the red (hot)
area.
•HIGH TEMP LOW OIL (if
equipped) or CHECK GAUGE (if
equipped) will illuminate.
•TheService engine soonindicator light will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine
will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs the vehicle will still operate. However:
•The engine power will be limited.
•The air conditioning system will be disabled.
Continued operation will increase the engine temperature:
•The engine will completely shut down.
•Steering and braking effort will increase.
Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take
your vehicle to a service facility as soon as possible to minimize engine
damage.
When fail-safe mode is activated
You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high speed
operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to a service facility.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low.
Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the engine is
running or hot.
5. Restart the engine and take your vehicle to a service facility.
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•4.6L V8 engine
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.
4. Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
5. The fluid level should be between the MIN and MAX lines. Do not add
fluid if the level is in this range.
6. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking
the level until it reaches the correct operating range. Be sure to put the
cap back on the reservoir.
BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR
The fluid level will drop slowly as
the brakes wear, and will rise when
the brake components are replaced.
Fluid levels below the “MAX” line
that do not trigger the brake system
warning lamp are within the normal
operating range, there is no need to
add fluid. If the fluid levels are
outside of the normal operating
range, the performance of your
brake system could be
compromised, seek service from your dealer immediately.
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Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Engine coolant
3Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)4.0L SOHC V6
enginewithout
auxiliary climate
control15.4L
(16.3 quarts)
4.0L SOHC V6
enginewith
auxiliary climate
control17.2L
(18.2 quarts)
4.6L V8 engine
without
auxiliary climate
control17.6L
(18.6 quarts)
4.6L V8 engine
withauxiliary
climate control19.0L
(20.1 quarts)
Front axle
lubricantMotorcraft SAE
80W-90
Premium Rear
Axle Lubricant4x4/AWD
vehicles1.3L
(1.4 quarts)
Rear axle
lubricantMotorcraft SAE
75W-90 Fuel
Efficient High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle LubricantConventional
Axle1.7L (3.5 pints)
Limited Slip
Axle
41.5L (3.25 pints)
Windshield
washer fluidMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll vehicles 4.0L
(4.2 quarts)
1Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. MERCONand
MERCONV are not interchangeable. DO NOT mix MERCONand
MERCONV. Refer to yourScheduled Maintenace Guideto determine
the correct service interval.
2Indicates only approximate dry-fill capacity. Some applications may vary
based on cooler size and if equipped with an in-tank cooler. The amount
of transmission fluid and fluid level should be checked by a qualified
technician.
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3Add the coolant type originally equipped in your vehicle.
4Limited Slip differentials must add 118ml (4oz) of additive Friction
Modifier XL-7 or equivalent to the rear axle whenever the axle has been
serviced.
5Use of synthetic or synthetic 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
ItemFord Part
Name or
equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Body hinges,
latches, door
striker plates
and rotors, seat
tracks, fuel filler
door hinge and
spring, hood
latch, auxiliary
latch, seat
tracksMulti-Purpose
Grease or
Multi-Purpose
Grease SprayXG—4 or XL-5ESR-M1C159-A
or
ESB-M1C93–B
Hydraulic brake
fluidMotorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidPM-1ESA-M6C25-A,
DOT 3
Driveshaft, slip
spline, universal
jointsPremium Long
Life GreaseXG-1-C or
XG-1-KESA-M1C75-B
Engine coolant Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)VC-7-A (U.S.,
except CA and
OR), VC-7-B
(CA and OR
only)WSS-M97B51-A1
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A
Accessory delay ..........................49
AdvanceTrac ..............................141
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ................................115, 120
and child safety seats ............117
description ......................115, 120
disposal ....................................123
driver air bag ..................117, 121
indicator light .................119, 122
operation .........................117, 121
passenger air bag ...........117, 121
Air cleaner filter .......................262
Air conditioning ..........................28
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................151
Ambulance packages ....................7
Antifreeze (see
Engine coolant) ........................226
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................139
Audio system (see Radio) ...18, 21
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................147
fluid, adding ............................245
fluid, checking ........................245
fluid, refill capacities ..............263
fluid, specification ..................267
Auxiliary power point .................48
Axle
lubricant specifications ..265, 267
refill capacities ........................263
B
Battery .......................................224acid, treating emergencies .....224
jumping a disabled battery ....195
maintenance-free ....................224
replacement, specifications ...262
servicing ..................................224
BeltMinder .................................111
Brakes ........................................139
anti-lock ...................................139
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ...............139
fluid, checking and adding ....244
fluid, refill capacities ..............263
fluid, specifications .........265, 267
lubricant specifications ..265, 267
parking ....................................140
shift interlock ..........................145
C
Calculating load ........................166
Capacities for refilling fluids ....263
Cargo cover ...........................76–77
Cell phone use ............................45
Certification Label ....................269
Changing a tire .........................186
Child safety restraints ..............123
child safety belts ....................123
Child safety seats ......................126
attaching with tether straps ..130
in front seat ............................127
in rear seat ..............................127
Cigar lighter
Power Point ..............................48
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............210
instrument panel ....................212
interior .....................................213
interior trim ............................213
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plastic parts ............................212
safety belts ..............................213
washing ....................................209
waxing .....................................209
wheels ......................................210
wiper blades ............................212
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............28
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................23
AM/FM/CD .................................18
Compass, electronic ....................61
calibration .................................62
set zone adjustment ...........61, 64
Console ........................................45
overhead ....................................46
rear ......................................46, 48
Controls
power seat .................................94
steering column ........................54
Coolant
checking and adding ..............226
refill capacities ................230, 263
specifications ..................265, 267
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................51
Customer Assistance ................173
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................214
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................201
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............205
Getting roadside assistance ...173
Getting the service
you need .................................201
Ordering additional
owner’s literature ...................206
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................202Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............205
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................33
Defrost
rear window ..............................32
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................245
engine oil .................................220
Doors
lubricant specifications ..........265
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................246
Driving under special
conditions ..................149, 154, 157
sand .........................................156
snow and ice ...........................158
through water .................156, 161
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................28
E
Electronic message center .........63
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................195
Emergency Flashers .................174
Emission control system ..........241
Engine ........................................267
cleaning ...................................210
coolant .....................................226
fail-safe coolant ......................230
idle speed control ...................224
lubrication
specifications ..................265, 267
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