Get Maintenance and Specifications -> ENGINE COOLANT Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

Maintenance and Specifications

• 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

intervals listed in scheduled maintenance information. The coolant

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

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

testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester. The level of

coolant should be maintained at the FULL COLD 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 -34°F (-36°C).

• Boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).

• 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.

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Maintenance and Specifications

• 4.0L V6 engine

• 4.6L V8 engine

• 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 scheduled maintenance information for service interval

schedules.

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.

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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. If coolant is

filled to the COLD FILL RANGE or FULL COLD level when the engine is

not cool, the system will remain underfilled.

WARNING: 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.

WARNING: 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.

• DO NOT MIX different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle.

Make sure the correct coolant is used. DO NOT MIX recycled coolant

and conventional coolant together in the vehicle. Mixing of engine

coolants may harm your engine’s cooling system. The use of an

improper coolant may harm engine and cooling system components

and may void the warranty. Refer to Maintenance product

specifications and capacities in this chapter.

Note: Do not use stop leak pellets or cooling system sealants/additives

as they can cause damage to the engine cooling and/or heating systems.

This damage would not be covered under your vehicle’s warranty.

• 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.

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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.

WARNING: 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.

Add the proper mixture of coolant and water to the cooling system by

following these steps:

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, 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

to Checking 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.

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Maintenance and Specifications

If you have to add more than 1.0 quart (1.0 liter) of engine coolant per

month, have your authorized 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 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 Maintenance product specifications and capacities in this chapter.

Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in Adding 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/freeze protection characteristics of the

engine coolant and may cause engine damage.

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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

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 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.

Fail-safe cooling and engine oil overheat mode (4.6L V8 only)

If the engine coolant and/or engine oil overheat, the vehicle’s fail-safe

modes will reduce engine power to limit engine damage, even with a

total loss of coolant. The vehicle’s range and/or speed will be reduced,

depending on vehicle load, terrain, and outside temperatures.

The instrument cluster provides warnings for each mode.

• Fail-safe cooling mode: The

(service engine

(engine oil pressure), and (engine coolant

soon),

temperature) indicators will be on.

Along with these warning indicators, the engine coolant temperature

gauge will read in the H (Hot) area.

If the engine coolant reaches even hotter temperatures, fail-safe

cooling mode limits engine power more and disables air conditioning.

The engine will switch to alternating cylinder operation to help cool

the engine. The engine will run rough in this mode.

If continued operation increases the engine coolant temperature to a

critical range, the engine will shut down. Steering and braking effort

will increase. Once engine coolant temperature cools, the engine can

be restarted.

• Engine oil overheat mode: The

(engine coolant temperature)

indicator will be on. The instrument cluster has no separate oil

temperature indicator.

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Maintenance and Specifications

Along with the

(engine coolant temperature) indicator, the engine

coolant temperature gauge will read in the H (Hot) area.

Oil overheat can be triggered in severe driving conditions, such as

towing heavy loads over mountainous terrain in extreme hot

temperatures. As oil temperature increases, engine and vehicle speed

will be limited. The transmission will also shift differently.

When the engine oil has cooled, the vehicle will perform normally.

When fail-safe cooling mode is activated

You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the

vehicle with caution. 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 an authorized dealer.

3. If this is not possible, wait approximately 15 minutes for the engine to

cool.

4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low. Look for coolant leakage

in the engine compartment and under the vehicle.

WARNING: Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the

engine is running or hot.

5. Restart the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer.

Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem

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

authorized dealer as soon as possible.

FUEL FILTER

For fuel filter replacement, see your authorized dealer. Refer to

scheduled maintenance information for the appropriate intervals for

changing the fuel filter.

Replace the fuel filter with an authorized Motorcraft௡ part. The

customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel system

if an authorized Motorcraft௡ fuel filter is not used.

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Maintenance and Specifications -> ENGINE COOLANT for Your Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

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