2002 Ford Thunderbird Owner's Manual - Page 196

Maintenance and Specifications 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. Recycled engine coolant Ford Motor Company recommends the use of a recycled engine coolant produced by Ford-approved processes in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant (green-colored). However, not all coolant recycling processes produce coolant that meets Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A. Use of such coolant may harm the engine and cooling system components. Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available. Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Follow your community's regulations and standards for recycling and disposing of automotive fluids. Coolant refill capacity To find out how much fluid your vehicle's cooling system can hold, refer to Refill capacities in this chapter. Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in Adding engine coolant in this chapter. Severe climates If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than -36° C [-34° F]), it may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%. Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate freeze protection. Never increase the engine coolant concentration above 60% (protection to -60°F). At a level over 60%, your engine could overheat and become damaged. If you drive in extremely hot climates, it is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration at 50/50 coolant and water. Do not allow the coolant concentration to fall below 40% coolant. At a concentration less than 40%, the corrosion protection to your engine and cooling components may be compromised and permanent damage may result. 196