
ENGINE COOLANT
Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the
mileage intervals listed in the scheduled maintenance guide. The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and water, which
equates to a freeze point of -36É C (-34É F). Coolant concentration
testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the
Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014±R1060). The level of coolant
should be maintained at the ªcold fullº of ªcold fill rangeº level in the
coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions
in theAdding Engine Coolantsection.
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:
²Freeze protection down to -36É C (-34É F).
²Boiling protection up to 129É C (265É F).
²Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.
²Enables calibrated gauges to work properly.
Maintenance and Specifications
252

²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
Maintenance and Specifications
264

²If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
²Remove the tire chains when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire chains on dry roads.
²The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.
MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 3.8L OHV V6 engine
Air filter element FA-1616
Fuel filter FG-986B
Battery (standard) BXT-65-650
Battery (optional) BXT-65-750
Oil filter FL-400S
PCV valve EV-152
Spark plugs* AWSF-42EE***
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) decal for spark
plug gap information.
*** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it must be reinstalled in the
same cylinder. Cylinders No. 1, 2, and 3 have a ªEGº suffix. Cylinders No.
4, 5, and 6 have a ªEº suffix. If a spark plug needs to be replaced, use
only spark plugs with the service part number suffix letter ªEEº as
shown on the engine decal.
Maintenance and Specifications
277

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Brake fluid Motorcraft 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
Oil3.8L engine 5.44L
(5.75 quarts)
Engine coolant
2Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored)
or
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)Without rear
heater14.0L
(14.8 quarts)
With rear heater 15.0L
(15.9 quarts)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Fuel tank N/A All 98.4L
(26.0 gallons)
Automatic
transaxle fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtV
AT FAll 13.0L
(13.7 quarts)
Windshield
washer fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll Fill to line on
reservoir
1Use 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.
2Add the coolant type originally equipped in your vehicle.
Maintenance and Specifications
278

LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
Item Ford part
nameFord part
numberFord
specification
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
Fluid
1
PM-1 ESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Door
weatherstripsSilicone
LubricantF7AZ-19G208-BA
and
F5AZ-19553-AAESR-M13P4-A
Engine coolant Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant (green
colored)VC-4±A
(in Canada,
Motorcraft
CXC-10)ESE-M97B44-A
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow colored)VC-7±A WSS-M97B51-A1
Engine oil Motorcraft SAE
5W20 Super
Premium Motor
OilXO-5W20-QSP WSS-M2C153-H
with API
Certification
Mark
Door latch, hood
latch,auxiliary
hood latch, door
and liftgate
hinges, striker
plates, seat
tracks, sliding
door both sides
(upper and
lower track) and
fuel filler door
hinge.Multi-Purpose
GreaseXG-4or
F5AZ-19G209-AAESR-M1C159-A
Lock cylinders Penetrating and
Lock LubricantMotorcraft XL-1 none
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FXT-2-QDX MERCONt
Maintenance and Specifications
279

in rear seat ......................165, 167
tether anchorage
hardware .................................168
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............237
exterior ....................................241
instrument cluster lens ..........239
instrument panel ....................239
interior .....................................239
plastic parts ............237±238, 240
safety belts ..............................240
washing ....................................235
waxing .....................................235
wheels ......................................236
windows ..................................240
wiper blades ............................238
woodtone trim ........................238
Clock ..........................22, 31, 37, 48
Compass, electronic ............88, 107
Console ........................................94
overhead ....................................82
Controls
power seat ...............................130
Coolant
checking and adding ..............252
refill capacities ................256, 278
specifications ..................279±280
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................90
Cupholder(s) .............................134
Customer Assistance ................200
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................241
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................227
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............231Getting roadside
assistance ................................200
Getting the service
you need .................................225
Ordering additional
owner's literature ...................232
The Dispute Settlement
Board .......................................228
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program ...............231
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................67
Defrost
rear window ..............................66
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................269
engine oil .................................246
Doors
door ajar warning .....................14
lubricant specifications ..........279
power sliding ............................83
Driving under special
conditions
through water .........................192
E
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................218
Emission control system ..........265
Engine ................................280±281
check engine/service engine
soon light ..................................10
cleaning ...................................237
coolant .....................................252
Index
288

idle speed control ...................249
lubrication
specifications ..................279±280
refill capacities ........................278
service points ..........................244
starting after a collision .........201
Engine block heater .................178
Engine oil ..................................246
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................246
checking and adding ..............246
dipstick ....................................246
filter, specifications ........248, 277
recommendations ...................248
refill capacities ........................278
specifications ..................279±280
Exhaust fumes ..........................178
F
Floor mats ...................................96
Fluid capacities .........................278
Fuel ............................................257
calculating fuel economy .......262
cap .....................................11, 259
capacity ...................................278
choosing the right fuel ...........260
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................265
detergent in fuel .....................261
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................257, 259, 262
filter, specifications ........262, 277
fuel pump shut-off switch .....201
gauge .........................................17
improving fuel economy ........262
low fuel warning light ..............14
octane rating ...........260, 280±281
quality ......................................261
running out of fuel .................261safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................257
Fuses ..................................203±204
G
Garage door opener ..............82, 96
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ......11, 259
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................262
Gauges .........................................16
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................16
fuel gauge ..................................17
odometer ...................................17
speedometer .............................17
tachometer ................................18
trip odometer ............................18
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................193
calculating ...............................194
definition .................................193
driving with a heavy load ......193
location ....................................193
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................193
calculating .......................193±194
definition .................................193
driving with a heavy load ......193
location ....................................193
H
Hazard flashers .........................201
Head restraints .................129, 133
Headlamps ...................................67
aiming ..................................69±70
autolamp system .......................67
bulb specifications ....................73
Index
289

daytime running lights .............67
flash to pass ..............................68
high beam ...........................15, 68
replacing bulbs .........................74
turning on and off ....................67
warning chime ..........................15
Heating
heater only system ...................58
heating and air conditioning
system .......................................60
rear seat controls .....................64
HomeLink universal
transceiver
(see Garage door opener) ...96±99
Hood ..........................................243
I
Ignition .......................175, 280±281
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................164
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................266
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................239
cluster ................................10, 239
lighting up panel
and interior ...............................69
J
Jack ............................................212
positioning ...............................212
storage .....................................212
Jump-starting your vehicle ......218K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...................................121
locking and unlocking doors ..123
programming entry code .......122
Keys ...................................124±126
key in ignition chime ...............15
positions of the ignition .........175
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................67
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................73
cargo lamps ...............................69
daytime running light ...............67
headlamps .................................67
headlamps, flash to pass ..........68
instrument panel, dimming .....69
interior lamps .....................71±73
replacing bulbs ....... 73±74, 76±78
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................71
Liftgate ..............................110, 112
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
air bag ........................................12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ....12, 181
anti-theft ...................................14
brake ..........................................12
charging system ........................12
check engine .............................10
door ajar ....................................14
fuel cap light .............................11
fuel reset ...................................13
high beam ...........................13, 15
low fuel ......................................14
low washer fluid .......................14
oil pressure ...............................13
Index
290