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You may add water by itself only in an
emergency, but you should replace it with a
50/50 or appropriate mixture as soon as
possible.
Have your dealer check the engine cooling
system for leaks if you have to add a quart
(liter) of engine coolant more than once a month.
Checking hoses
Inspect all engine and heater system hoses for
deterioration, leaks and loose clamps before
adding or replacing engine coolant. Make
whatever repairs or replacements that are
necessary using Motorcraft parts or their
equivalents.
Engine coolant drain and flush
To drain your vehicle’s engine coolant:
1.
Turn off the engine and let it cool. Fully
depressurize the engine cooling system by
covering the radiator cap with a thick cloth
and turning it slowly counterclockwise to the
first stop. Step back while the pressure
releases.
2.
Remove the cap.
3.
Attach a small hose to the drain tube at the
bottom of the radiator.
4.
Let the engine coolant drain into a suitable
container. Disconnect the lower radiator hose
at the radiator connector and drain any
remaining engine coolant into a container.
5.
Reconnect the lower radiator hose and close
the radiator drain cock.
Proper procedures for flushing the cooling
system can be found in the
Truck Service Manual
.
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Engine coolant refill procedure
After you have drained the engine cooling
system:
1.
Fill the radiator with a 50/50 mixture of the
specified engine coolant concentrate and
water. Allow several minutes for trapped air
to escape (bubble out) and for engine coolant
to flow through the radiator.
2.
Replace the radiator cap to its fully installed
position, then back off to the first stop. This
will prevent high pressure from building up
in the cooling system during this part of the
fill procedure.
3.
Start and idle the engine until the thermostat
opens and the radiator upper hose becomes
warm.
4.
Shut off the engine and allow the engine to
cool. Cover the radiator cap with a thick
cloth and cautiously remove it. Step back
while the pressure releases.
5.
Finally, check the radiator and add more
engine coolant if needed, following the
procedures noted above. Reinstall the
radiator cap securely, when finished.
6.
If more engine coolant is necessary, fill the
overflow reservoir to the appropriate level
marked on the bottle.
301
Windshield Washer Fluid and
Wipers
Washer Fluid
Check the level of the windshield washer fluid
every time you stop for fuel. The reservoir for
the windshield washer fluid is located in the
engine compartment.
Adding washer fluid
R
WARNING
Do not put windshield washer fluid in the
container for the engine coolant.
Adding windshield washer fluid
If the wiper blades still do not work properly
after you clean them, you may need to replace
the wiper blade assembly or the blade element.
When replacing the wiper blade assembly, blade
refill, or wiper arm always use a Motorcraft part
or equivalent. To replace the blades, follow the
instructions that come with them.
Use specially formulated windshield washer
fluid rather than plain water, because specially
formulated washer fluids contain additives that
dissolve road grime. For safety reasons, washer
fluids containing an appropriate antifreeze such
as methanol should be used in freezing weather
(temperatures below 32˚F [0˚C]). State or local
302
regulations on Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC’s) may restrict use of the most common
antifreeze, methanol. Washer fluids containing
non-methanol antifreeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather protection
without damaging the vehicle’s paint finish,
wiper blades, and windshield washer system.
If you choose to use a windshield washing
solution that must be mixed, follow the
manufacturer’s mixing instructions. Improperly
mixed solutions may freeze unexpectedly.
NOTE:
The addition of shields to the front of
the vehicle, as used to deflect bugs,
may also adversely affect the washer
system from delivering fluid to the
windshield. Devices such as bug
shields are not recommended to be
added to your new Ford product.
Wiper Blades
Check the windshield wiper blades at least twice
a year. Also check them whenever they seem
less effective than usual. Such substances as tree
sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness
of wiper blades.
If the blades do not wipe properly, clean both
the windshield and the wiper blades. Use
undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild
detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Do
not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner, or other
solvents to clean your wiper blades. These will
damage your blades.
To make reaching the wiper blades easy, simply
turn the ignition switch to ACC and turn your
wipers on. Wait for them to reach a vertical
position and turn the ignition to OFF. Do not
move the wipers manually. Moving the wipers
manually may damage them.
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