1997 Mercury Mountaineer oil

Checking the engine oil
Check the engine oil every time
you fuel your vehicle.
Check the engine oil level more
frequently if the vehicle is carrying
a heavy load, towing a trailer,
idling for extended periods (like
police, taxi, or shuttle service
vehicles), or driven at high speeds
for extended periods of time.
To check engine oil:
1. Once the engine is warm, turn
the engine off. Make sure the
vehicle is parked on level ground.
2. Depress the parking brake.
Place the gearshift in P (Park).
3. Open the hood. Protect yourself
from engine heat.
4. Remove the engine oil dipstick
and wipe clean. Reinsert the
dipstick fully, then remove it again.
The oil level should be between
the MIN and MAX lines. If the oil
level lies between the MIN and
MAX lines, there is no need to
add.
5. If the oil level is below the MIN
line, add engine oil as necessary
and recheck the oil level. If the oil
level is above the letter ``M'' in
``MAX,'' engine damage and/or high
oil consumption may occur and
some oil must be removed from
the engine.
MAX MIN
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141

Adding engine oil
If the fluid level is below the MIN
line, add engine oil. Add engine oil
through the oil filler cap and use a
funnel to pour oil into the opening.
Make sure you use a certified
engine oil of the preferred
viscosity.
Recheck the oil level. Make sure
that the oil level is not above the
MAX line on the dipstick.
Continuous contact with
USED motor oil has
caused cancer in laboratory rats.
Ford production and aftermarket
(Motorcraft) oil filters are designed
for added engine protection and
long life. If a replacement oil filter
is used that does not meet Ford
material and design specifications,
startup engine noises or knock
may be experienced.
It is recommended you use the
appropriate Motorcraft oil filter (or
another brand meeting Ford
specifications) for your engine
application.
CHECKING AND ADDING
BRAKE FLUID
Brake fluid should be checked and
refilled as needed at least once
each year.
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142

If you notice one or more of the
following, the emission system may
not be working properly. Have the
vehicle serviced as soon as
possible.
²Fluid leaks.
²The
andCHECK
ENGINElights
illuminate in the instrument
cluster and remain lit.
²Strange odors.
²Engine runs more than five
seconds after shut-off or engine
misfires, surges, stalls or
backfires.
²Loss of oil pressure.
When servicing your vehicle, never
use a metal exhaust collector. A
metal collector may heat or deform
plastic parts.
Important emission control
information
By law, anyone who manufactures,
repairs, services, sells, leases,
trades vehicles, or supervises a
fleet of vehicles is not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to the vehicle or engine.
Changes that cause more
unburned fuel to reach the exhaust
system can increase the
temperature of the engine or
exhaust system.
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170

²Turn signals
²License plate lamp
²Fog lamps
²Interior overhead lamp
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless
they will be replaced immediately.
If a bulb is removed for an
extended period of time,
contaminants may enter the lamp
housings and affect performance.
Headlamps
Handle a halogen bulb
carefully and keep out of
children's reach. Grasp the bulb
only by its plastic base and do
not touch the glass; the oil from
your hand could cause the bulb
to break the next time that the
headlamps are operated.
1. Make sure that the headlamp
switch is in the OFF position.
2. Lift the hood and open the
hinged headlamp cover.
LIFT
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173

See your Lincoln/Mercury or Ford
dealer for precise adjustment of
your headlamps.
CLEANING AND CARING FOR
YOUR VEHICLE
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly with
cold or lukewarm water. Never use
strong detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty, use a
quality car wash detergent. Always
use a clean sponge and plenty of
water for best results. We
recommend that you have the
underbody of your vehicle washed
at the end of the winter to remove
deposits left by snow, salt and
water.
Remove any aftermarket
accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash.
After washing your vehicle, apply
the brakes several times to dry
them.
Wax the paintwork of your vehicle
once or twice a year. This will help
retain the glossy finish and water
droplets will run off more easily.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage
from road debris may be
camouflaged with touch-up paint,
paint repair foil, or aerosol paint
spray from the Ford Accessory
line. Observe the application
instructions on the products. In
order to retain the vehicle
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181

warranty on paperwork, remove
aggressive particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect
remains, tar spots, road salt, and
industrial fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash the wheels with the same
detergent you use to clean the
body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid based wheel cleaners, steel
wool, fuel, or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will
damage the finish of special wheel
surfaces. Use a tar and road oil
remover to remove grease and tar.
Cleaning plastic parts
Some of your vehicle's trim parts
are plastic. Clean with a tar and
road oil remover if necessary. Use
a vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning.
Do not clean plastic parts with
thinners, solvents or petroleum
based cleaners.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Any cleaner or polish that
increases the gloss of the upper
portion of the instrument panel
should be avoided. The dull finish
in this area is to help protect the
driver from undesirable windshield
reflection.
Cleaning the exterior lamps
Do not use dry paper towel,
chemical solvents, or abrasive
cleaners to clean the lamps; these
products may cause scratches or
crack the lamps.
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182

Cleaning the engine
A clean engine is more efficient
than a dirty one because a buildup
of grease and dirt acts as an
insulator and keeps the engine
warmer than normal. Follow these
guidelines to clean your engine:
²Take care when using a power
washer to clean the engine. The
high pressure fluid could
penetrate the sealed parts and
cause damage.
²In order to avoid cracking the
engine block, do not spray with
cold water.
²The alternator, ignition coil
packs, and air intake must be
covered to prevent water
damage when cleaning the
engine.
²Never wash or rinse the engine
while it is running; water in the
running engine may cause
internal damage.
Cleaning the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not wipe
properly, clean both the windshield
and the wiper blades using
undiluted windshield washer
solution or a mild detergent. Rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Do
not use fuel, kerosene, paint
thinner, or other solvents to clean
your wiper blades; these fluids will
damage your blades.
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183

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component Motorcraft part number
Spark plug
1AWSF-32EE*
Air filter FA-1641
Fuel filter FG-872
Oil filter FL-1A
Battery BXT-65-650 or BXT-65-850 (optional)
P.C.V. valve EV-152
1Refer to Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal for spark plug and
gap specifications.
*If any spark plug needs to be removed for examination, each spark plug
removed must be reinstalled in the same cylinder. Cylinders 1-4 have an
ªEGº suffix. Cylinders 5-8 have an ªEº suffix. If any spark plug needs to
be replaced, use only spark plugs with the service part number suffix
letters ªEEº as shown on the engine decal.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Component Capacity
Brake fluid Brake master
cylinderFill to line in
reservoir
1
Engine coolant Engine coolant
recovery reservoir
and radiator13.5 L (12.8 qts.)
Engine oil 5.0 L (302 c.i.d.) 4.7 L (5.0 qts.)
2
Fuel 4-door 79.5 L (21.0 gal)
Front axle Dana 35 front axle 1.7 L (3.5 pts.)
1
Power steering fluid Power steering fluid
reservoirFill to line in
reservoir1
Rear axle Ford conventional
and Traction Lok 8.82.6 L (5.5 pts.)1
Capacities and specifications
185