2001 Mercury Cougar Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 219

Maintenance and care 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. Changing engine coolant Change your engine coolant according to the appropriate schedule listed in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide". It is important that the engine coolant be changed at the specified intervals. The corrosion protection of engine coolant is depleted with time and usage. Use of engine coolant with depleted corrosion protection may result in damage to the coolant system. Color, specific gravity and freeze point of the coolant are not indicators of depletion. To find out how much fluid your vehicle's cooling system can hold, refer to the Refill capacities in the Capacities and Specifications chapter. Fill your coolant reservoir following the directions given in the Adding engine coolant section.