2009 FORD EXPLORER cooling

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 “FULL COLD” 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.
WARNING: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.
Add the proper mixture of coolant and water to the cooling system by
following these steps:
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 (a translucent 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, to
within the “COLD FILL RANGE” or the “FULL COLD” 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 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 quart (1.0 liter) of engine coolant per
month, have your authorized dealer check the engine cooling system.
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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.
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•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.
•Engine Oil Overheat Mode:The
(Engine coolant temperature)
indicator will be on. The instrument cluster has no separate oil
temperature indicator.
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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.
WARNING: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.
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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
engine5.0 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
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Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............349
instrument panel ....................351
interior .....................................352
plastic parts ............................350
washing ....................................347
waxing .....................................348
wheels ......................................348
wiper blades ............................350
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............84
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................35
AM/FM/CD .................................27
Compass, electronic ..................129
calibration ...............................130
set zone adjustment .......130, 144
Console ..............................103–104
overhead ..................................102
rear ..........................................104
Controls
power seat ...............................174
steering column ......................114
Coolant
checking and adding ..............368
refill capacities ................372, 392
specifications ..........................392
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................111
Customer Assistance ................310
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................343
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................344
Getting roadside assistance ...310
Getting the service you
need .........................................339
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................345Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................343
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................90
Defrost
rear window ..............................88
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................388
engine oil .................................361
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................389
Driving under special
conditions ..................296, 303, 306
sand .........................................305
snow and ice ...........................307
through water .................306, 309
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................84
DVD system .................................49
E
Electronic message
center .................................123, 135
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................331
running out of fuel .........331, 379
Emergency Flashers .................311
Emission control system ..........384
Engine ........................................396
cleaning ...................................349
coolant .....................................368
fail-safe cooling .......................373
idle speed control ...................366
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lubrication specifications .......392
refill capacities ........................392
service points ..................357–358
starting after a collision .........312
Engine block heater .................278
Engine oil ..................................361
checking and adding ..............361
dipstick ....................................361
filter, specifications ........364, 391
recommendations ...................364
refill capacities ........................392
specifications ..........................392
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................277
F
Fail safe cooling ........................373
Family entertainment system ....49
Floor mats .................................150
Fluid capacities .........................392
Fog lamps ....................................90
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......299
driving off road .......................302
indicator light .........................299
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................288
Fuel ............................................375
calculating fuel
economy ..................124, 137, 381
cap ...........................................377
capacity ...................................392
choosing the right fuel ...........378
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................384
detergent in fuel .....................379
filler funnel .............................379
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................375, 377, 381filter, specifications ........374, 391
fuel pump shut-off switch .....312
improving fuel economy ........381
octane rating ...................378, 396
quality ......................................379
running out of fuel .........331, 379
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................375
Fuses ..................................313–314
G
Garage door opener ..................103
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............377
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................381
Gauges .........................................18
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................266
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................266
H
Hazard flashers .........................311
Headlamps ...................................89
aiming ........................................91
bulb specifications ....................94
daytime running lights .............90
flash to pass ..............................91
high beam .................................90
turning on and off ....................89
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................82, 84
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................117
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