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Home >> Ford >> 2000 >> Contour SE, 2.5 L, Standard >> Repair and Diagnosis >> External Pages >> Different car >> Section 2681 (Engine Cooling System (Hybrid)) >> General Procedures >> Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding >> Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler

Filling and Bleeding with a Vacuum Cooling System Filler

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Mercury Milan, 2011 Lincoln MKZ, and 2011 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
NOTE: Genuine Motorcraft® Specialty Green Engine Coolant is very sensitive to light. Do NOT allow this product to be exposed to ANY LIGHT for more than a day or two. Extended light exposure causes this product to degrade.
NOTE: Engine coolant provides boil protection, corrosion protection, freeze protection, and cooling efficiency to the engine and cooling components. In order to obtain these protections, maintain the engine coolant at the correct concentration and fluid level in the degas bottle. To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:
  • Add Motorcraft® Specialty Green Engine Coolant or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B55-A (dark green color). Use the same type of coolant that was originally used to fill the cooling system. Do not mix coolant types.
  • Do not add or mix with any other type of engine coolant. Mixing coolants may degrade the coolant's corrosion protection.
  • Do not add alcohol, methanol, or brine, or any engine coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. These can cause engine damage from overheating or freezing.
  • Ford Motor Company does NOT recommend the use of recycled engine coolant in vehicles originally equipped with Motorcraft® Specialty Green Engine Coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
  1. Install the vacuum cooling system filler and follow the manufacturer's instructions to fill and bleed the cooling system.
    • Recommended coolant concentration is 50/50 engine coolant to distilled water.
    • For extremely cold climates (less than -37°C [-34°F]):
      • It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
      • NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
      • Maximum coolant concentration is 60/40 for cold weather areas.
      • A coolant concentration of 60% provides freeze point protection down to -50°C (-58°F).
      • Engine coolant concentration above 60% decreases the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
    • For extremely hot climates:
      • It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration above 40%.
      • NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
      • Minimum coolant concentration is 40/60 for warm weather areas.
      • A coolant concentration of 40% provides freeze point protection down to -26°C (-15°F).
      • Engine coolant concentration below 40% decreases the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
    • Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
Fig 1: Identifying Vacuum Cooling System Filler
G06937943Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.