2003 FORD EXCURSION coolant

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 “cold full” 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 reduce the risk of 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 “cold fill range” or the “cold full” 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.)
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant concentration, refer
toChecking Engine Coolantsection. If the concentration is not 50/50
(protection to –34° F/–36° 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.
Maintenance and Specifications
200

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.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –36° C [–34° F]):
•It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration
above 50%.
•NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
•Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer 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:
•It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration
above 40%.
•NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
Maintenance and Specifications
201

•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer 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.
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 “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.
How fail-safe cooling works
If the engine begins to overheat:
•The engine coolant temperature
gauge will move to the red (hot)
area.
•The
andsymbol will
illuminate.
•TheService Engine Soon
indicator light 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:
•The engine power will be limited.
•The 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.
Maintenance and Specifications
202

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.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions
Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an overfilled tank
may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire.
The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel filler cap is
venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops
before completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise, fuel may
spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive pressure or
vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause
the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible
personal injury.
Maintenance and Specifications
203

FluidFord Part
NameApplication Capacity
Engine coolant-
Gasoline engines3Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored)
orMotorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)5.4L V8 engine 25L
(26.4 quarts)4
6.8L V10 engine 27.0L
(28.5 quarts)4
Engine
coolant-Diesel
engineRefer to your 7.3L Diesel Supplement
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)-Gasoline
enginesMotorcraft SAE
5W-20 Premium
Synthetic Blend
Motor OilAll 5.7L
(6.0 quarts)
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)-Diesel
engineRefer to your 7.3L Diesel Supplement
Fuel tank N/A All 166.6L
(44.0 gallons)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FAll Fill to line on
dipstick
Transfer case
fluid (if
equipped)Motorcraft
MERCONAT F4x4 vehicles 1.9L
(2.0 quarts)
Transmission
fluid
5Motorcraft
MERCONAT F4x2 vehicles 16.1L
(17.1 quarts)6
4x4 vehicles 16.7L
(17.7 quarts)6
Windshield
washer fluidMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll 4.2L
(1.1 gallons)
Maintenance and Specifications
223

1Your vehicle’s rear axle is filled with a synthetic lubricant. Axle lubricant
quantities should not need to be checked unless a leak is suspected,
service is required or the axle assembly has been submerged in water.
The axle lubricant should be changed any time the rear axle has been
submerged in water.
2Add 236 ml (8 oz.) of Additive Friction Modifier XL-3 or equivalent
meeting Ford Specification EST-M2C118-A for complete refill of
Traction-Lok axles.
Service refill capacities are determined by filling the rear axle to the
bottom of the filler hole with the specified lubricant.
3Add the coolant type originally equipped in your vehicle.
4If equipped with auxiliary rear heater, add an additional 1.4 L
(1.5 quarts).
5Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. Transmission
fluid requirements are indicated on the dipstick or on the dipstick
handle. Check the container to verify the fluid being added is of the
correct type. Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide to determine
the correct service interval.
Some transmission fluids may be labeled as dual usage, such as
MERCONand MERCONV. These dual usage fluids are not to be used
in an automatic transmission that requires use of the MERCONtype
fluid. However, these dual usage fluids may be used in transmissions that
require the MERCONV type fluid.
MERCONand MERCONV type fluids are not interchangeable.
DO NOT mix MERCONand MERCONV. Use of a transmission
fluid that indicates dual usage (MERCONand MERCONV) in
an automatic transmission application requiring MERCONmay
cause transmission damage. Use of any fluid other than the
recommended fluid may cause transmission damage.
6Indicates only approximate dry-fill capacity. Some applications may vary
based on cooler size and if equipped with an in-tank cooler. The amount
of transmission fluid and fluid level should be set by the indication on
the dipstick’s normal operating range.
Maintenance and Specifications
224

LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
ItemFord part
name or
equivalentFord part
numberFord
specification
Spindle bearingHigh
Temperature
4X4 Front Axle
and Wheel
Bearing GreaseE8TZ-19590–A ESA-M1C198–A
Front axle Hypoid Gear Oil
SAE 90C6AZ-19580–E ESW-M2C105–A
Rear axle
1Motorcraft SAE
75W-140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle LubricantXY-75W140–QL WSL-M2C192-A
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidPM-1 ESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Engine
coolant-Gasoline
enginesMotorcraft
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
coolant-Diesel
engineRefer to your 7.3L Diesel Supplement
Maintenance and Specifications
225

A
Accessory delay ..........................59
Air bag supplemental
restraint system ........................109
and child safety seats ............111
description ..............................109
disposal ....................................113
driver air bag ..........................111
indicator light .........................113
operation .................................111
passenger air bag ...................111
Air cleaner filter ...............217, 222
Air conditioning ..........................41
Antifreeze (see
Engine coolant) ........................197
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................128
Audio system (see Radio) ...17, 21
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................132
fluid, adding ............................214
fluid, checking ........................214
fluid, refill capacities ..............222
fluid, specification ..................227
Auxiliary power point .................57
Axle
lubricant
specifications ..................225, 227
refill capacities ........................222
traction lok ..............................130
B
Battery .......................................195
acid, treating emergencies .....195
jumping a disabled battery ....166maintenance-free ....................195
replacement, specifications ...222
servicing ..................................195
BeltMinder .................................104
Brakes ........................................128
anti-lock ...................................128
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ...............128
fluid, checking and adding ....213
fluid, refill capacities ..............222
fluid, specifications .........225, 227
lubricant specifications ..225, 227
parking ....................................129
shift interlock ..........................131
Break-in period .............................5
Bulbs ............................................49
C
Calculating load ........................149
Capacities for refilling fluids ....222
Cargo net .....................................72
Cassette tape player ...................21
CD-single premium .....................17
Certification Label ....................229
Changing a tire .........................161
Child safety restraints ..............114
child safety belts ....................114
Child safety seats ......................116
attaching with tether straps ..120
in front seat ............................118
in rear seat ..............................118
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............184
instrument panel ....................185
interior .....................................186
interior trim ............................186
Index
235