2014 Ford C-MAX Hybrid Owner Manual - Page 216

Maintenance Note: For best results, coolant concentration should be tested with a refractometer such as Rotunda tool 300-ROB75240 available from your dealer. Ford does not recommend the use of hydrometers or coolant test strips for measuring coolant concentrations. Note: Automotive fluids are not interchangeable. Do not use engine coolant or antifreeze or windshield washer fluid outside of its specified function and vehicle location. Note: During normal vehicle operation, the coolant may change color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the coolant is clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the coolant has degraded nor does it require the coolant to be drained, the system to be flushed, or the coolant to be replaced. Note: It is very important to use prediluted coolant meeting the Ford specification in order to avoid plugging the small coolant passageways. Use of concentrated coolant and water may cause coolant passageway plugging and void the warranty. See Capacities and Specifications (page 265). • Do not mix different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used. Mixing of coolants may harm your cooling system. The use of an improper coolant may harm the engine, inverter system controller, and cooling system components and may void the warranty. In case of emergency, a large amount of water without engine coolant may be added to the engine cooling system only in order to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the engine cooling system must be drained, chemically cleaned with Motorcraft Premium Cooling System Flush, and refilled with prediluted engine coolant as soon as possible. Water alone (without engine coolant) can cause engine damage from corrosion, overheating, or freezing. DO NOT use this method for the inverter system controller cooling system. The inverter system controller cooling system operates close to ambient temperature, and is susceptible to freezing in any subfreezing environment in the absence of coolant. Adding Coolant WARNINGS 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. 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. Do not add coolant further than the MAX mark. Note: Do not use stop leak pellets, cooling system sealants, or additives as they can cause damage to the cooling or heating systems. This damage would not be covered under your vehicle's warranty. • 214 C-MAX (CCG)