1998 Ford Escort Owner's Manual - Page 145

Maintenance and care 6. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid level should be between the notches on the dipstick. 7. If necessary, add fluid in .25L (1/2 pint) increments through the filler tube until the level is correct. 8. If an overfill occurs, excess fluid should be removed by a qualified technician. Checking and adding manual transmission fluid The lubricant level and quality should not deteriorate under normal conditions. However, you should have the fluid checked occasionally. If lubricant is required, refer to Lubricant specifications in this section. BATTERY Your vehicle may be equipped with a Motorcraft maintenance-free battery. If the original equipment battery needs replacing, it may be replaced with a low-maintenance battery. The low-maintenance battery normally does not require additional water during its life of service. However, for severe usage or in high temperature climates, check your battery electrolyte level, at least every 24 months or 40,000 km (24,000 miles). Keep the electrolyte in each cell up to the "level" indicator. Do not overfill the battery cells. If the electrolyte level in the battery is low, you can add plain 145