2003 FORD MUSTANG coolant reservoir

4.6L DOHC SUPERCHARGED V–8 ENGINE
1. Engine oil filler cap
2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. Engine oil dipstick
4. Power distribution box
5. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
6. Battery
7. Power steering fluid reservoir
8. Engine coolant reservoir
9. Intercooler reservoir
10. Air filter assembly
11. Auxiliary power distribution block
12. Supercharger
Engine/Transmission
7

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 4.6L DOHC Supercharged
V8 engine
Air filter element FA-1632
Fuel filter FG-800A
Battery BXT-59
Oil filter FL-820S
PCV valve EV-153
Spark plugs* AGSF-12FM1
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information
(VECI) decal for spark plug gap information.
REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part Name Capacity
Brake fluid Motorcraft High
Performance DOT
3 Motor Vehicle
Brake FluidFill to line on
reservoir
Engine oil
(includes filter
change)Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
Oil5.7L (6.0 quarts)
Engine coolant
1Motorcraft
Premium Engine
Coolant
(green-colored) or
Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)15.2L (16.1
quarts)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FFill to between
MIN and MAX
lines on reservoir
Rear axle lubricant
2Motorcraft SAE
75W-140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle Lubricant1.4L (2.9 pints)
Fuel tank N/A 59.4L (15.7
gallons)
Maintenance
14

OCTANE RECOMMENDATIONS
Your vehicle is designed
to use“Premium”
unleaded gasoline with
an (R+M)/2 octane
rating of 91 or higher for optimum performance. The
use of gasolines with lower octane ratings may
degrade performance. We do not recommend the
use of gasolines labeled as“Premium”in high
altitude areas that are sold with octane ratings of
less than 91.
If your engine knocks under most driving conditions
while you are using fuel with the recommended
octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified service
technician to prevent any engine damage.
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 -36°C
(-34°F). Coolant concentration testing is possible
with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the
Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester,
0014–R1060). The level of coolant should be
maintained at the“cold full”of“cold fill range”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.A50–50 mixture of coolant and
water provides the following:
•freeze protection down to -36°C (-34°F).
•boiling protection up to 129°C (265°F).
•protection against rust and other forms of
corrosion.
91(R+M)/2 METHOD
Maintenance
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•an accurate temperature readout from the
engine coolant gauge.
When the engine is cold,
check the level of the
engine coolant in the
reservoir.
•The engine coolant should be at the“cold fill
level”as listed on the engine coolant reservoir.
•Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for
service interval schedules.
•Be 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 the reservoir is low or
empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer to
Adding engine coolantin this chapter.
Note: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
When adding coolant, make sure it is a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water. Add
the mixture to the coolant reservoir,when the
engine is cool, until the appropriate fill level is
obtained.
Do not add engine coolant when the engine
is hot. Steam and scalding liquids released
from a hot cooling system can burn you badly.
Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts.
Maintenance
17

Do not put engine coolant in the windshield
washer fluid container. If sprayed on the
windshield, engine coolant could make it difficult
to see through the windshield.
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
either green-colored Motorcraft Premium Engine
Coolant meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44–A
or yellow-colored Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine
Coolant meeting Ford Specification
WSS-M97B51–A1. To determine your vehicle’s
coolant type (color), check your coolant reservoir.
•Add Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant
(green-colored), VC-4–A (U.S.) or CXC-10
(Canada) or Motorcraft Premium Gold
Engine Coolant (yellow-colored), VC-7–A,
depending on the type of coolant originally
equipped in your vehicle.If you are unsure
which type of coolant your vehicle requires, check
your coolant reservoir or contact your local
dealer.
•Do not add/mix an orange-colored, extended
life coolant such as Motorcraft Speciality
Orange Engine Coolant, VC-2 (US) or
CXC-209 (Canada), meeting Ford
specification WSS-M97B44–D with the
factory-filled coolant.Mixing Motorcraft
Speciality Orange Engine Coolant or any
orange-colored extended life product with your
factory filled coolant can result in degraded
corrosion protection.
•A large amount of water without engine coolant
may be added, in case of emergency, to reach a
vehicle service location. In this instance, the
cooling system must be drained and refilled with a
50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled
water as soon as possible. Water alone (without
engine coolant) can cause engine damage from
corrosion, overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol or brine or any
engine coolants mixed with alcohol or
Maintenance
18

methanol antifreeze (coolant).Alcohol and
other liquids can cause engine damage from
overheating or freezing.
•Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to
the coolant.These can be harmful and
compromise the corrosion protection of the
engine coolant.
•Do not mix with recycled coolant unless from
a Ford-approved recycling process (seeUse of
Recycled Engine Coolantsection).
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.
If you must remove the pressure relief cap or
radiator cap (depending upon engine application),
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.
Engine coolant refill procedure
The following procedure should be used when
refilling the cooling system after it has been drained
or become extremely low.
1. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
2. Slowly add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant
and distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir
until the coolant level is at the“cold fill level”as
listed on the reservoir.
Maintenance
19

3. Reinstall the pressure relief cap.
4. Start and idle the engine until the upper radiator
hose is warm (this indicates the thermostat is open
and coolant is flowing through the entire system).
5. Shut the engine off and let it cool.
6. Remove the pressure relief cap from the engine
coolant reservoir as previously outlined.
7. Add a50/50 mixtureof engine coolant and
distilled water to the engine coolant reservoir until
the coolant level is at the“cold fill level”as listed on
the reservoir.
8. Reinstall the pressure relief cap.
9. Check the coolant level in the reservoir before
you drive your vehicle the next few times (with the
engine cool).
10. If necessary, add a50/50 mixtureof engine
coolant and distilled water to the engine coolant
reservoir until the coolant level is at the“cold fill
level”as listed on the reservoir.
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant
concentration (refer toChecking Engine Coolant).
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.
Steering linkage lubrication
The front and rear tie rod ends on this vehicle have
high temperature seals with greaseable fittings. The
Maintenance
20