2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD engine coolant

engine coolant and distilled water as soon as possible. Water alone
(without engine coolant) can cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
²Do not use alcohol, methanol or brine or any engine coolants
mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze (coolant).Alcohol
and other liquids can cause engine damage from overheating or
freezing.
²Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to the coolant.These
can be harmful and compromise the corrosion protection of the engine
coolant.
²Do not mix with recycled coolant unless from a Ford-approved
recycling process (seeUse of Recycled Engine Coolantsection).
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 ªcold fullº 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.
To avoid 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.
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 (an opaque 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 (see
above), to within the ªcold fill rangeº or the ªcold fullº 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.)
Maintenance and specifications
205

After any coolant has been added, check the coolant concentration see
Checking Engine Coolant section). If the concentration is not 50/50
(protection to ±34É F/±36É 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.
If you have to add more than 1.0 liter (1.0 quart) of engine coolant per
month, have your 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 recommends the use of a recycled engine coolant
produced by Ford-approved processes in vehicles originally equipped
with Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant (green-colored). However, not
all coolant recycling processes produce coolant that meets Ford
specification ESE-M97B44±A. Use of such coolant may harm the engine
and cooling system components.
Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine
coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold
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
toRefill capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this chapter.
Maintenance and specifications
206

Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than ±36É C [±34É F]), it
may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the coolant
concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate freeze protection.
Never increase the engine coolant concentration above 60%
(protection to ±60ÉF). At a level over 60%, your engine could overheat
and become damaged.
If you drive in extremely hot climates, it is still necessary to maintain the
coolant concentration at 50/50 coolant and water.Do not allow the
coolant concentration to fall below 40% coolant.At a concentration
less than 40%, the corrosion protection to your engine and cooling
components may be compromised and permanent damage may result.
What you should know about fail-safe cooling
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 begins to overheat:
²The engine coolant temperature
gauge will move to the H (hot)
area.
²The
symbol will
illuminate.
²The
symbol will illuminate.
²The
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:
²The engine power will be limited.
²The 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.
H
C
Maintenance and specifications
207

Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take
your vehicle to a service facility 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.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to a service facility.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low.
Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the engine is
running or hot.
5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to a service facility.
Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem
increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to a
service facility as soon as possible.
Checking and adding engine cooling fan hydraulic fluid
Check the engine cooling fan hydraulic fluid. Refer to the scheduled
maintenance guide for the service interval schedules. If adding fluid is
necessary, use only MERCONtAT F.
Maintenance and specifications
208

If the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has just been serviced,
the on-board diagnostics system is reset to a ªnot ready for I/M testº
condition. To ready the on-board diagnostics system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary as
described below:
²First, at least 10 minutes of driving on an expressway or highway.
²Next, at least 20 minutes driving in stop-and-go, city-type traffic with
at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least eight hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle. The
engine must warm up to its normal operating temperature. Once started,
do not turn off the engine until the above driving cycle is complete.
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.
MAX
MIN
MAX
MIN
Maintenance and specifications
219

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Brake fluid High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
Fluid
1
All Fill to MAX line
on reservoir
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
Oil3.9L-4V V8
engine5.7L (6.0
quarts)
Engine coolant
2Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored)
orMotorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)3.9L-4V V8
engine11.3L (11.9
quarts)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FAll Fill to MAX line
on reservoir
Engine cooling
fan fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FAll Fill to MAX line
on reservoir
Rear axle
3Motorcraft SAE
75W-140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle LubricantAll 1.4L (2.9-3.0
pints)
Fuel tank N/A All 68.2L (18.0
gallons)
Transmission
fluid
4Motorcraft
MERCONtV
AT FAutomatic
(5R55N)11.2L (11.9
quarts)5
Maintenance and specifications
228

Item Ford part
nameFord part
numberFord
specification
Door latch, hood
latch, auxiliary
hood latch, door
hinges, striker
plates, seat
tracks and fuel
filler door hingeMulti-Purpose
GreaseD0AZ-19584-AA
or
F5AZ-19G209-AAESB-M1C93-B or
ESR-M1C159-A
Engine coolant Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored)VC-4±A (US) or
CXC-10 (CanadaESE-M97B44±A
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)VC-7-A WSS-M97B51-A1
Engine oil Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
OilXO-5W20-QSP WSS-M2C153-H
with API
Certification
Mark
Lock cylinders Motorcraft
Penetrating and
Lock LubricantMotorcraft XL-1 none
Power steering
and engine
cooling fan fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FXT-2-QDX MERCONt
Rear Axle
LubricantMotorcraft SAE
75W-140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle Lubricant
2
F1TZ-19580-B
or
XY-75W14O-QLWSL-M2C192-A
Automatic
transmission
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtV
AT F
3
XT-5-QM MERCONtV
Maintenance and specifications
230

A
Accessory delay ..........................64
Air bag supplemental restraint
system ................................109, 119
and child safety seats ............110
description ......................109, 119
disposal ....................................122
driver air bag ..................111, 120
indicator light ...........12, 113, 121
operation .........................111, 120
passenger air bag ...........111, 120
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................114
side air bag ..............................119
Air cleaner filter .......221±222, 227
Air conditioning ..........................35
Air filter, cabin ............................48
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................202
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ......................136±137
Anti-theft system ........................94
arming the system ....................94
disarming a triggered system ..94
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................141
fluid, adding ............................221
fluid, checking ........................221
fluid, refill capacities ..............228
fluid, specification ..................231
Auxiliary power point .................63
Axle
lubricant specifications ..229, 231
refill capacities ........................228B
Battery .......................................200
acid, treating emergencies .....200
charging system warning
light ............................................13
jumping a disabled battery ....169
maintenance-free ....................200
replacement, specifications ...227
servicing ..................................200
Belt minder ...............................104
Brakes ........................................136
anti-lock ...........................136±137
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light .........12, 137
brake warning light ..................12
fluid, checking and adding ....220
fluid, refill capacities ..............228
fluid, specifications .........229, 231
lubricant specifications ..229, 231
parking ....................................138
shift interlock ..........................140
Break-in period .............................6
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....228
Cassette tape player ...................19
Certification Label ....................233
Child safety restraints ..............122
child safety belts ....................122
Child safety seats ......................123
attaching with tether straps ..127
in front seat ............................125
in rear seat ..............................125
LATCH .....................................130
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............188
exterior ....................................192
Index
237