1997 FORD E SERIES cooling

hilly country or on hot days.
Speed control may shut off if you
are towing on very long, steep
grades.
When towing a trailer
If towing a trailer and your vehicle
is not equipped with the Ford
trailer tow package, an auxiliary
transmission fluid cooler is
recommended.
²Use D (Drive) rather than
D(Overdrive) while towing up
or down steep hills. This will
eliminate excessive downshifting
and upshifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission
cooling.
²Anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
²Allow more room for stopping
with a trailer attached.
²Practice turning, stopping and
backing in an area before
starting on a trip to get the feel
of the vehicle/trailer
combination.
²When turning, drive slightly
beyond the normal turning point
so the trailer wheels will clear
curbs and other obstacles.
²When stopped in traffic for long
periods of time in hot weather,
place the gearshift in P (Park)
to increase idle speed. This aids
engine cooling and air
conditioner efficiency.
²Vehicles with trailers should not
be parked on a grade. If you
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Driving
97

The cooling fan is
automatic and may come
on at any time. Always
disconnect the negative terminal
of the battery before working
near the fan.
²If you must work with the
engine running, avoid wearing
loose clothing or jewelry that
could get caught in moving
parts. Take precautions with
long hair.
²Do not work on a vehicle with
the engine running in an
enclosed space, unless you are
sure you have enough
ventilation.
²Keep all lit cigarettes, open
flames and other lit material
away from the battery and all
fuel related parts.
If you disconnect the battery, the
engine must ªrelearnº its idle
conditions before your vehicle will
drive properly, as explained in
Batteryin this chapter.
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Maintenance and care
125

Automotive fluids are not
interchangeable; do not use engine
coolant, antifreeze or windshield
washer fluid outside of its specified
function and vehicle location.
When adding engine coolant
Ford recommends Ford Premium
Cooling System Fluid, which is an
optimized formula that will protect
all metals and rubber elastomers
used in Ford engines for four years
or 80,000 km (50,000 miles).
It is neither necessary nor
recommended to use supplemental
coolant additives in your
gasoline-powered vehicle. These
additives may harm your engine
cooling system.
When you change or add engine
coolant, it is important to maintain
engine coolant concentration
between 40% (-24ÉC [-11ÉF]) and
60% (-52ÉC [-62ÉF]), depending on
your local climate conditions.
A coolant concentration below 40%
will result in a loss of freeze
protection. A concentration above
60% may cause the engine to
overheat on a warm day.
Refer toLubricant specifications
in theSpecifications and
capacitieschapter. Use only a
premium nationally-recognized
brand name engine coolant or
equivalent.
Always dispose of used
automotive fluids in a responsible
manner. Follow your community's
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Maintenance and care
137

standards for disposing of these
types of fluids. Call your local
recycling center to find out more
about recycling automotive fluids.
Adding engine coolant
Never remove the pressure
cap while the engine is
running or hot.
1. Before you remove the cap, turn
the engine off and let it cool.
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a
thick cloth around the cap and
turn it slowly counterclockwise.
3. Step back while the pressure
releases.
4. When you are sure that all the
pressure has been released, use
the cloth to remove the cap.
5. Add engine coolant until the
level is between the MIN and MAX
lines on the engine coolant
recovery reservoir.
Follow the recommended service
interval for changing engine
coolant as outlined in theService
Guide.
Checking the cooling system
hoses
Inspect all engine and heater
system hoses and hose connections
for:
²deterioration
²leaks
MAX FILL
MIN FILL
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Maintenance and care
138

²loose hose clamps
What you should know about
fail-safe cooling (if equipped)
If the engine coolant supply is
depleted, this feature allows the
vehicle to be driven temporarily
before incremental component
damage is incurred. The ªfail safeº
distance depends on ambient
temperatures, vehicle load and
terrain.
How fail-safe cooling works
If the engine overheats, the engine
will automatically switch from
eight to alternating four cylinder
operation. Each disabled cylinder
acts as an air pump and cools the
engine.
When this occurs, the engine
coolant temperature gauge will
move into the red area and the
light illuminates.
The service engine soon light will
illuminate, indicating that vehicle
service is required.
The vehicle will still operate, but
will have limited engine power and
no air conditioning capability.
Continued operation will increase
engine temperature and cause the
engine to completely shut down.
The vehicle will coast to a stop.
As the engine temperature cools,
the engine may be re-started. Take
your vehicle to a service facility as
soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.
H
C
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Maintenance and care
139

Item Ford part name Ford part
numberFord
specification
Engine coolant Ford Premium
Cooling System
FluidE2FZ-19549-AA ESE-M97B44-A
Engine oil
(gasoline)Motorcraft
5W-30 Super
Premium Motor
OilXO-5W30-QSP WSS-M2C153-F
with API
certification
mark
Engine oil
(diesel)Consult separate diesel engine owner's guide
supplement
Hinges, latches
and striker
platesMulti-Purpose
GreaseD7AZ-19584-AA
or
D0AZ-19584-AAESR-M1C159-A
and
ESB-M1C93-B
Lock cylinders Penetrating
LubricantE8AZ-19501-B Ð
Power steering
reservoirMotorcraft
MERCONT
Automatic
Transmission
FluidXT-2-QDX MERCON
Automatic
transmissionMotorcraft
MERCONT
Automatic
Transmission
FluidXT-2-QDX MERCON
Windshield
washer fluid
reservoirUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateC9AZ-19550-AC
or BCESR-M17P5-A
Disc brake
caliper railsSilicone Brake
Caliper and
Dielectric
compoundD7AZ-19A331-A
WA-10ESE-M1C171-A
Capacities and specifications
175

Air bag supplemental restraint
system ..........................................52
and child safety seats ..............54
description ................................52
disposal ......................................58
indicator light ...........................57
passenger air bag .....................55
Audio system (see Electronic
sound system) .............................17
Battery .......................................144
servicing ..................................145
Brakes
adjustment ................................80
anti-lock .....................................80
fluid, checking and adding ....134
parking ......................................80
Brake-shift interlock ...................85
Break-in period .............................4
Bulbs, replacing ........................165
headlamps ...............................166
specifications ..........................167
Cleaning your vehicle ...............168
engine compartment ..............170
fabric ........................................172
instrument panel ....................172
plastic parts ............................171
safety belts ..............................172
tail lamps .................................171
washing ....................................168
waxing .....................................169
wheels ......................................170
Climate control system ..............17
Controls
steering column ........................23
Coolant (see Engine coolant)
proper solution .......................137
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................144
Driving under special
conditionsheavy load .................................86
Emission control system ..........162
emissions warranty .................163
Engine ........................................178
check engine temperature
warning, message center .......129
Engine block heater ...................77
Engine coolant
checking and adding ..............136
checking hoses .......................138
Engine oil
changing oil and oil filter .......133
specifications ..........................130
Entry system
illumination ...............................36
Exhaust fumes ............................78
Fail safe cooling ........................139
Flashing the lights ......................27
Fuel ............................................157
calculating fuel economy .......161
improving fuel economy ..........99
octane rating ...........................160
quality ......................................160
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................157
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......100
Fuse panels
instrument panel ....................104
power distribution box ...........108
Fuses ..........................................102
Gauges, Mechanical ....................11
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................12
engine oil pressure gauge ........13
fuel gauge ..................................12
Gearshift ......................................24
Hazard flashers ....................27,100
Headlamps
turning on and off ....................15
Hood ..........................................128
Index
183