Get Maintenance and Specifications -> Engine coolant Guide for Ford Fusion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

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.

Coolant concentration testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze

tester. The level of coolant should be maintained at the FULL COLD

level or within the COLD FILL RANGE 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:

• Improved freeze protection.

• Improved boiling protection .

• Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.

• Proper function of calibrated gauges.

301

2011 Fusion (fsn)

Owners Guide, 3rd Printing

USA (fus)

Maintenance and Specifications

When the engine is cold, check the

level of the engine coolant in the

reservoir.

COLD FILL RANGE

• The engine coolant should be at the FULL COLD level, or within the

COLD FILL or MIN / MAX 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.

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 the 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.

302

2011 Fusion (fsn)

Owners Guide, 3rd Printing

USA (fus)

Maintenance and Specifications

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

Make sure the correct coolant is used. 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.

• 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

distilled 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.

303

2011 Fusion (fsn)

Owners Guide, 3rd Printing

USA (fus)

Maintenance and Specifications

• 2.5L coolant bleed valve

• 3.0L coolant bleed valve

5. Open the coolant bleed valve on the back of the engine water outlet

for the 2.5L engine or in the thermostat housing for the 3.0L engine.

6. 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.

7. Close the bleed valve and reinstall the cap on the coolant reservoir.

Turn the cap until it is 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, 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.

304

2011 Fusion (fsn)

Owners Guide, 3rd Printing

USA (fus)

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 previously in the Adding

engine coolant section.

Severe climates

If you drive in extremely cold climates:

• It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration

above 50%.

• NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.

• A coolant concentration of 60% will provide improved freeze

point protection. Increased engine coolant concentrations

above 60% will decrease the overheat protection

characteristics of the engine coolant and may cause engine

damage.

• If available, 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.

305

2011 Fusion (fsn)

Owners Guide, 3rd Printing

USA (fus)

Maintenance and Specifications

• If available, 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 (2.5L I4 and 3.5L V6

engines 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 H (hot) area.

• The

symbol 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 and the engine

will completely shut down, causing steering and braking effort to

increase.

Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take

your vehicle to an authorized dealer 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.

306

2011 Fusion (fsn)

Owners Guide, 3rd Printing

USA (fus)

Maintenance and Specifications -> Engine coolant for Your Ford Fusion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

Related Topics

Maintenance and Specifications

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals