Get Maintenance and Specifications -> ENGINE COOLANT Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Third Generation (2002-2005)

Maintenance and Specifications

If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed,

the clock and the preset radio stations must be reset once the battery is

reconnected.

• Always dispose of automotive

batteries in a responsible manner.

Follow your local authorized

standards for disposal. Call your

local authorized recycling center

to find out more about recycling

automotive batteries.

RECYCLE

ENGINE COOLANT

Checking engine coolant

The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the

mileage intervals listed in the scheduled maintenance guide. The coolant

concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and distilled water,

which equates to a freeze point of -36° C (-34° F). Coolant concentration

testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the

Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014–R1060). The level of coolant

should be maintained at the “cold full” of “cold fill range” level in the

coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions

in the Adding engine coolant section.

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.

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When the engine is cold, check the

level of the engine coolant in the

reservoir.

• The engine coolant should be at

the “cold fill level” or within the

“cold fill range” as listed on the

engine coolant reservoir

(depending upon application).

• Refer to the Scheduled

Maintenance Guide for service

interval schedules.

• Be sure to read and understand

Precautions when servicing

your vehicle in 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 to Adding engine coolant in this chapter.

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 (VC-7–B in Oregon), meeting Ford

Specification WSS-M97B51–A1.

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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.

• 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 “cold full” 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.

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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

to 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 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

to Refill capacities in this chapter.

Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in Adding 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%.

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Maintenance and Specifications

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.

How fail-safe cooling works

If the engine begins to overheat:

• The engine coolant temperature

gauge will move to the red (hot)

area.

• The

and the

will illuminate.

symbol

• The “Service Engine Soon”

indicator 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.

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Maintenance and Specifications

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.

Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem

increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to a

service facility as soon as possible.

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.

The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel filler cap is

venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops

before completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise, fuel may

spray out and injure you or others.

If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive pressure or

vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause

the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible

personal injury.

Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if misused or

mishandled.

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Maintenance and Specifications -> ENGINE COOLANT for Your Ford Explorer SUV Third Generation (2002-2005)

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