2008 Mercury Mountaineer Coolant 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 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
toMaintenance product specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined inAdding engine coolant
in this section.
Severe climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34°F [–36°C ]):
•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%.
•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
340

•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 (4.6L V8 engine only)
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.
Fail-safe cooling and engine oil overheat mode (4.6L V8 only)
If the engine coolant and/or engine oil overheat, the vehicle’s fail-safe
modes will reduce engine power to limit engine damage, even with a
total loss of coolant. The vehicle’s range and/or speed will be reduced,
depending on vehicle load, terrain, and outside temperatures.
The instrument cluster provides warnings for each mode.
•Fail-Safe Cooling Mode:The
(Service engine
soon),
(Engine oil pressure), and(Engine coolant
temperature) indicators will be on.
Along with these warning indicators, the engine coolant temperature
gauge will read in the Hot (H) area.
If the engine coolant reaches even hotter temperatures, fail-safe
cooling mode limits engine power more and disables air conditioning.
The engine will switch to alternating cylinder operation to help cool
the engine. The engine will run rough in this mode.
If continued operation increases the engine coolant temperature to a
critical range, the engine will shut down. Steering and braking effort
will increase. Once engine coolant temperature cools, the engine can
be restarted.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
341

•Engine Oil Overheat Mode:The(Engine coolant temperature)
indicator will be on. The instrument cluster has no separate oil
temperature indicator.
Along with the
(Engine coolant temperature) indicator, the engine
coolant temperature gauge will read in the Hot (H) area.
Oil overheat can be triggered in severe driving conditions, such as
towing heavy loads over mountainous terrain in extreme hot
temperatures. As oil temperature increases, engine and vehicle speed
will be limited. The transmission will also shift differently.
When the engine oil has cooled, the vehicle will perform normally.
When fail-safe cooling mode is activated
You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the
vehicle with caution. 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 an authorized dealer.
3. If this is not possible, wait approximately 15 minutes for the engine to
cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low. Look for coolant leakage
in the engine compartment and under the vehicle.
Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the engine is
running or hot.
5. Restart the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer.
Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem
increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
FUEL FILTER
For fuel filter replacement, see your authorized dealer. Refer to
scheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate intervals for
changing the fuel filter.
Replace the fuel filter with an authorized Motorcraft part. The
customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel system
if an authorized Motorcraft fuel filter is not used.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
342

POWER STEERING FLUID
Check the power steering fluid. Refer toscheduled maintenance
informationfor the service interval schedules.
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.
5. The fluid level should be between the MIN and MAX lines. Do not add
fluid if the level is in this range.
6. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking
the level until it reaches the correct operating range. Be sure to put the
cap back on the reservoir. Refer toMaintenance product specifications
and capacitiesin this chapter for the proper fluid type.
BRAKE FLUID
The fluid level will drop slowly as
the brakes wear, and will rise when
the brake components are replaced.
Fluid levels between the “MIN” and
“MAX” lines are within the normal
operating range; there is no need to
add fluid. If the fluid levels are
outside of the normal operating
range the performance of the
system could be compromised; seek
service from your authorized dealer immediately.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid
The automatic transmission does not have an underhood transmission
fluid dipstick.
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
354

Item CapacityFord Part Name or
equivalentFord Part Number /
Ford Specification
Engine coolant 4.0L
engine without auxiliary
climate control12.2 quarts
(11.5L)
Motorcraft Premium
Gold Engine Coolant
with bittering agent
(yellow-colored)
1
VC-7-B /
WSS-M97B51-A1 Engine coolant 4.0L
engine with auxiliary
climate control13.9 quarts
(13.2L)
Engine coolant 4.6L
engine without auxiliary
climate control13.9 quarts
(13.2L)
Engine coolant 4.6L
engine with auxiliary
climate control15.7 quarts
(14.9L)
Cooling system stop
leak pellets—Motorcraft Cooling
System Stop Leak PelletsVC-6 /
WSS-M99B37-B6
Engine oil (4.0L) 5.0 quarts (4.7L)Motorcraft SAE 5W-30
Premium Synthetic
Blend Motor Oil (US)
Motorcraft SAE 5W-30
Super Premium Motor
Oil (Canada)
2
XO-5W30-QSP (US)
CXO-5W30-LSP12
(Canada) /
WSS-M2C929-A with API
Certification Mark
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
360

A
Accessory delay ........................102
AdvanceTrac ..............................255
Air cleaner filter ...............356–358
Air conditioning ..........................79
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................181–182, 190, 192
and child safety seats ............183
description ..............182, 190, 192
disposal ....................................195
driver airbag ............184, 191, 193
indicator light .................190, 195
operation .................184, 191, 193
passenger airbag .....184, 191, 193
side airbag ...............................190
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................270
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................336
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................253
Anti-theft system ......................148
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................20, 24, 32
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................262, 265
fluid, adding ............................354
fluid, checking ........................354
fluid, refill capacities ..............359
fluid, specification ..................359
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....40
Auxiliary power point ...............100
Axle
lubricant specifications ..........359refill capacities ........................359
B
Battery .......................................334
acid, treating emergencies .....334
jumping a disabled battery ....300
maintenance-free ....................334
replacement, specifications ...358
servicing ..................................334
Belt-Minder
.............................176
Booster seats .............................197
Brakes ........................................252
anti-lock ...................................253
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................253
fluid, checking and adding ....354
fluid, refill capacities ..............359
fluid, specifications .................359
lubricant specifications ..........359
parking ....................................254
shift interlock ..........................260
C
Calculating load ........................239
Capacities for refilling fluids ....359
Cargo cover ...............................132
Cargo management system ......132
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................290
Child safety restraints ..............196
child safety belts ....................196
Child safety seats ......................201
attaching with tether straps ..205
in front seat ............................202
in rear seat ..............................202
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
368

Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................197
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............317
instrument panel ....................319
interior .....................................320
plastic parts ............................318
washing ....................................315
waxing .....................................316
wheels ......................................316
wiper blades ............................318
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............79
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................34
AM/FM/CD .................................26
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............124
Console ................................99–100
overhead ....................................98
rear ..........................................100
Controls
power seat ...............................154
steering column ......................107
Coolant
checking and adding ..............336
refill capacities ................340, 359
specifications ..........................359
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................105
Customer Assistance ................278
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................311
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............312
Getting roadside assistance ...278
Getting the service you
need .........................................307Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................313
Utilizing the Mediation/
Arbitration Program................311
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................86
Defrost
rear window ..............................83
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................354
engine oil .................................329
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................356
Driving under special
conditions ..................268, 272, 275
sand .........................................274
snow and ice ...........................276
through water .................274, 277
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................79
DVD system .................................49
E
Electronic message center .......115
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................300
Emergency Flashers .................280
Emission control system ..........351
Engine ........................................363
cleaning ...................................317
coolant .....................................336
fail-safe cooling .......................341
idle speed control ...................334
lubrication specifications .......359
2008 Mountaineer(mnt)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
369