2003 Ford Excursion Diesel Supplement 2nd Printing - Page 32

General maintenance information • The engine coolant should be at the "cold fill level" or within the "cold fill range" as listed on the engine coolant reservoir (depending upon application). • Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide for service interval schedules. • Be sure to read and understand Precautions when servicing your vehicle in your owner guide. 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 coolant in this chapter. Note: Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do not use engine coolant or windshield washer fluid outside of its specified function and vehicle location. Vehicles with Diesel engines typically are used to carry heavy loads and accumulate mileage rapidly. These two factors cause the additives in the coolant to "wear out" in a shorter time. Replace the engine coolant initially after five years or 100,000 miles and three years or 50,000 miles thereafter. Vehicles equipped with the yellow coolant do not require any additives. 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. 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 yellow-colored Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant meeting Ford Specification WSS-M97B51-A1. • Add Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant (yellow-colored), VC-7-A (VC-7-B in Oregon). 32