1996 Ford Explorer Owner's Manual - Page 352

RWARNING Continuous contact with USED motor oil has caused cancer in laboratory mice. Protect your skin by washing with soap and water. Engine Coolant Checking the engine coolant NOTE: Be sure to read and understand Precautions When Servicing Your Vehicle at the beginning of this chapter. Your vehicle's engine coolant protects the engine from overheating in the summer and from freezing in the winter. Check the level of the engine coolant at least once a month, but preferably each time you stop for fuel. Simply look at the engine coolant recovery reservoir located in the engine compartment. To locate this reservoir, see the diagram of your vehicle's engine under Engine types in this chapter. If the engine coolant has not been checked for a long period of time the engine coolant reservoir may eventually empty. If the engine coolant reservoir empties, check the engine coolant level in the radiator. Read the following warnings before removing the radiator cap. If it is necessary to fill the radiator, refer to the Engine Coolant Refill Procedure in this chapter for instructions. RWARNING Never remove the coolant recovery cap while the engine is running or hot. 1. Before you remove the radiator cap, turn the engine off and let it cool. Even when the engine is cool, be careful when you remove the radiator cap. 2. When the engine is cool, wrap a thick cloth around the cap and turn it slowly counterclockwise to the first stop. 352