2004 Mercury Sable Owner Guide 3rd Printing - Page 196

Maintenance and Specifications If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed, the clock and radio settings must be reset once the battery is reconnected. • Always dispose of automotive batteries in a responsible manner. Follow your local authorized standards for disposal. Call your local authorized recycling center to find out more about recycling automotive batteries. RE D TU LE A RN RECYCLE ENGINE COOLANT Checking engine coolant The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the mileage intervals listed in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide. The coolant concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and distilled water, which equates to a freeze point of -36° C (-34° F). Coolant concentration testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the Rotunda Battery and Antifreeze Tester, 014-R1060). The level of coolant should be maintained at the "cold full" of "cold fill range" level in the coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions in the Adding engine coolant section. Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above 60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly. A 50-50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following: • Freeze protection down to -36° C (-34° F). • Boiling protection up to 129° C (265° F). • Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion. • Enables calibrated gauges to work properly. 196 2004 Sable (sab) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA English (fus)