Coolant Replacement Interval

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 20 other vehicles, including the 2002 Mercury Villager, 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, 2002 Lincoln Navigator, 2002 Lincoln Blackwood, and 2002 Ford Windstar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Never remove the radiator cap under any conditions while the engine is operating. Failure to follow these instructions could result in personal injury and/or damage to the cooling system or engine. To avoid having scalding hot coolant or steam blow out of the radiator, use extreme care when removing the radiator cap from a hot radiator. Wait until the engine has cooled, then wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap and turn it slowly to the first stop. Step back while the pressure is released from the cooling system. When you are certain all the pressure has been released, press down on the radiator cap (with a cloth), turn and remove.

NOTE: The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets (VC-6), darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from Yellow to Golden Tan.

To maintain the integrity of the coolant and the cooling system:

Add Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant VC-4-A (in Oregon VC-5, in Canada CXC-10) or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A (Green color), Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant such as VC-2, meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D or Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant VC-7-A or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B51-A1 (Yellow color). Use the same coolant that was drained from the cooling system. Do not mix coolant types.
Do not add/mix Orange-colored Motorcraft Speciality Orange Engine Coolant VC-2 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D. 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.
Do not mix with recycled coolant unless it meets the requirements of Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A or WSS-M97B51-A1. Not all coolant recycling processes meet these Ford specifications. Use of such coolants can harm the engine and cooling system components.

COOLANT REPLACEMENT INTERVAL

Application

Specification - Miles

Green Coolant ⁽¹⁾

45,000

Orange Coolant ⁽²⁾

150,000

Yellow Coolant ⁽³⁾

100,000

⁽¹⁾	Motorcraft Premium Engine Coolant VC-4-A (in Oregon, VC-5, in Canada CXC-10), or equivalent meeting Ford specification ESE-M97B44-A (Green in color).

⁽²⁾	Motorcraft Specialty Orange Engine Coolant such as VC-2, meeting Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D.

⁽³⁾	The addition of Motorcraft Cooling System Stop Leak Pellets, VC-6, darkens Motorcraft Premium Gold Engine Coolant from Yellow to Golden Tan.