2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL engine coolant

The engine coolant must be maintained at the correct fluid level
and concentration to work properly. If the engine coolant fluid
level and concentration is not maintained correctly, damage to
the engine and cooling system may result.
When the engine is cold, check the
level of the engine coolant in the
reservoir.
²The engine coolant should be at the ªcold fill levelº as listed on the
engine coolant reservoir.
²If the engine coolant reservoir becomes empty, the LOW ENGINE
COOLANT warning will illuminate in the message center.
²Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance Guide for service interval
schedules.
²Be sure to read and understandPrecautions when servicing your
vehiclein this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the recommended interval,
the engine coolant reservoir may become low or empty. If this occurs,
the LOW ENGINE COOLANT warning will illuminate and you will need
to add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer toAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
COLD FILL
LEVEL
Maintenance and care
170

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
Use only Ford Premium Engine Coolant E2FZ-19549-AA (in
Canada, Motorcraft CXC-10) or a premium engine coolant that
meets Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A.
²DO NOT USE Ford Extended Life Engine Coolant
F6AZ-19544-AA (orange in color).
²DO NOT USE a DEX-COOLtengine coolant or an equivalent
engine coolant that meets Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D.
²DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol antifreeze or any engine
coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze.
²DO NOT USE supplemental coolant additives in your vehicle.
These additives may harm your engine's cooling system.
²DO NOT MIX recycled coolant and conventional coolant
together in your vehicle. Mixing of engine coolants may harm
your engine's cooling system.
²The use of an improper coolant may harm engine and cooling
system components and may void the warranty of your vehicle's
engine cooling system. If you are unsure which type of coolant
your vehicle requires, contact your local dealer.
Do not put engine coolant in the windshield washer fluid
reservoir. If engine coolant is sprayed onto the windshield, it
could make it difficult to see through the windshield.
When the engine is cool, add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir, until the coolant is at the
ªcold fill levelº or within the ª cold fill rangeº as listed in the engine
coolant reservoir (depending upon application).
²NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
²NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
²Engine coolant concentrations above 60% or below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
Maintenance and care
171

Plain water may be added in an emergency, but youmustreplace it with
a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water as soon as possible.
Check the coolant level in the reservoir before you drive your vehicle the
next few times (with the engine cool). If necessary, add a50/50
mixtureof engine coolant and distilled water to the engine coolant
reservoir until the coolant level is at the ªcold fill levelº or within the
ªcold fill rangeº as listed on the reservoir (depending upon application).
Have your dealer check the engine cooling system for leaks if you have
to add more than 1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of engine coolant per month.
To avoid scalding hot steam or coolant from being released from
the engine cooling system, never remove the radiator cap while
the engine is running or hot. Failure to follow this warning may result
in damage to the engine's cooling system and possible severe personal
injury.
If you must remove the radiator cap, follow these steps to avoid personal
injury:
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. Slowly
turn cap counterclockwise 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.
Recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a recycled engine coolant
produced by Ford-approved processes.
Not all coolant recycling processes produce coolant which meets Ford
specification ESE-M97B44-A. Use of a recycled engine coolant which
does not meet the Ford specification may harm engine and cooling
system components.
Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a responsible manner.
Follow your community's regulations and standards for recycling and
disposing of automotive fluids.
Maintenance and care
172

Coolant refill capacity
To find out how much fluid your vehicle's cooling system can hold, refer
toRefill capacitiesin theCapacities and specificationschapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than ±36É C [±34É F]):
²it may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration
above 50%.
²NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
²increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
²refer 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:
²it is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration
above 40%.
²NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
²decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
²decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
²refer 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.
Maintenance and care
173

CHECKING AND ADDING POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid.
Refer to the Scheduled Maintenance
Guide for the service interval
schedules. If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCONtAT F.
1. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal operating
temperature (the engine coolant temperature gauge indicator will be
near the center of the normal area between H and C).
2. While the engine idles, turn the steering wheel left and right several
times.
3. Turn the engine off.
4. Check the fluid level in the
reservoir. It should be between the
MIN and MAX lines. Do not add
fluid if the level is in this range.
5. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking
the level until it reaches the range between the MIN and MAX lines. Be
sure to put the cap back on the reservoir.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid
Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance Guide for scheduled intervals for
fluid checks and changes. Your transaxle does not consume fluid.
However, the fluid level should be checked if the transaxle is not working
properly, i.e., if the transaxle slips or shifts slowly or if you notice some
sign of fluid leakage.
Maintenance and care
174

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 4.6L DOHC V8 engine
Engine air filter element FA-1615
Cabin Air filter element FP-5
Fuel filter FG-800A
Battery BXT-65-750
Oil filter FL-820-S
PCV valve EV-111
Spark plugs* AWSF-32E
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) decal for spark
plug gap information.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)Motorcraft SAE
5W-30 Super
Premium
Motor OilAll 5.7L (6.0 quarts)
Engine
coolant
1Premium
Engine CoolantAll 15.0L
(15.8 quarts)
Brake fluid
2All Fill to line on
reservoir
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT FAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Fuel tank N/A All 75.7L
(20.0 gallons)
Automatic
transaxleMotorcraft
MERCONtV
AT FAll 13.0L
(13.7 quarts)
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll 3.4L (3.6 quarts)
Capacities and specifications
209

1Use Ford Premium Engine Coolant (green in color). DO NOT USE Ford
Extended Life Engine Coolant (orange in color). Refer toAdding engine
coolant, in the Maintenance and Care chapter.
2Use only brake fluids certified to meet Ford specifications. Refer to
Lubricant Specificationsin this chapter. DOT 3 fluid is recommended.
However, if DOT 3 is not available, DOT 4 fluid can be used.
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
ItemFord Part
Name or
equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Brake fluid High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
Fluid
1
C6AZ-19542-AB ESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Hinges, latches,
stricker plates,
fuel filler door
hinge and seat
tracksMulti-Purpose
GreaseDOAZ-19584-AA
or
F5AZ-19G209-AAESB-M1C93-B or
ESR-M1C159-A
Lock cylinders Penetrating and
Lock LubricantE8AZ-19A501-B none
Automatic
transaxle
(AX4N)Motorcraft
MERCONtV
AT FXT-5-QM
MERCONtV
Engine oil Motorcraft SAE
5W-30 Super
Premium Motor
OilXO-5W30-QSP WSS-M2C153-G
and API
Certification
Mark
Constant
velocity jointsCV Joint Grease
(High Temp.)E43Z-19590-A ESP-M1C207-A
Engine coolant Ford Premium
Engine CoolantE2FZ-19549-AA
(in Canada,
Motorcraft
CXC-8-B)ESE-M97B44-A
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FXT-2-QDX MERCONt
Capacities and specifications
210

Accessory delay ..........................76
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ..........104,105,109
and child safety seats ............106
description .......................105,109
disposal ....................................112
driver air bag ...................107,110
indicator light ...............9,108,111
operation ..........................107,110
passenger air bag ............107,110
side air bag ..............................109
Air cleaner filter .......................209
Air conditioning ..........................24
automatic temperature
control system ..........................24
Air filter, cabin ..........................179
Air suspension ...........................129
description ..............................129
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................169
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) .......................125,126
Anti-theft system ........................79
arming the system ....................79
disarming a triggered system ..80
Audio system (see Radio) .........30
Automatic transaxle .................130
driving with .............................132
fluid, adding ............................174
fluid, checking ........................174
fluid, refill capacities ..............209
fluid, specification ..................211
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........210
Battery .......................................177
acid, treating emergencies .....177
charging system
warning light .............................11
jumping a disabled battery ....156
maintenance-free ....................177
replacement, specifications ...209
servicing ..................................177Belt minder ...............................100
Brakes ........................................125
anti-lock ............................125,126
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ..........10,126
brake warning light ..................10
fluid, checking and adding ....168
fluid, refill capacities ..............209
fluid, specifications ..........210,211
lubricant specifications ...210,211
shift interlock ..........................130
Break-in period .............................3
Capacities for refilling fluids ....209
CD changer .................................42
Certification Label ....................213
Child safety restraints ..............112
child safety belts ....................112
Child safety seats ......................113
attaching with tether straps ..117
in front seat ............................115
in rear seat ..............................115
Cleaning your vehicle ...............204
engine compartment ..............206
exterior ....................................205
exterior lamps .........................206
instrument panel ....................207
instrument panel lens ............207
interior ..............................207,208
mirrors .....................................205
plastic parts ............................205
safety belts ..............................208
washing ....................................204
waxing .....................................204
wheels ......................................205
windows ..................................208
wiper blades ............................206
woodtone trim ........................208
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............24
Clock ............................................30
Compass, electronic ....................69
calibration ............................71,73
Index
226