Ford E-250 (2009 year). Manual — part 70

Recycled engine coolant

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 Maintenance product specifications and capacities in this chapter.

Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in Adding engine coolant
in this section.

Severe climates

If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34°F [–36°C]):
• It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration

above 50%.

• NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
• Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will

decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.

• Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the

coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months.

If you drive in extremely hot climates:
• It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration

above 40%.

• NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
• Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will

decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.

• Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will

decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.

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• Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the

coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
protection at the temperatures in which you drive.

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.

What you should know about fail-safe cooling (if equipped)

If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.

How fail-safe cooling works

If the engine begins to overheat:
• The engine coolant temperature

gauge will move to the red (hot)
area.

• The service engine soon

indicator light will illuminate.

• The engine coolant

temperature

indicator light will illuminate.

If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine
will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.

When this occurs the vehicle will still operate. However:
• The engine power will be limited.
• The air conditioning system will be disabled.
Continued operation will increase the engine temperature and the engine
will completely shut down, causing steering and braking effort to
increase.

Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take
your vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.

When fail-safe mode is activated

You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high-speed

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operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore:

1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.

2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to an authorized dealer.

3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.

4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low.

WARNING: Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the
engine is running or hot.

5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer.

Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem
increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as possible.

FUEL FILTER

Your vehicle is equipped with a lifetime fuel filter that is integrated with
the fuel tank. Regular maintenance or replacement is not needed.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS

Important safety precautions

WARNING: Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an
overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire.

WARNING: The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel
filler cap is venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait

until it stops before completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise,
fuel may spray out and injure you or others.

WARNING: If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap,
excessive vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system

or cause the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in
serious personal injury.

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WARNING: Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death
if misused or mishandled.

WARNING: Fuel ethanol and gasoline may contain benzene,
which is a cancer-causing agent.

Observe the following guidelines when handling automotive fuel:
• Extinguish all smoking materials

and any open flames before
fueling your vehicle.

• Always turn off the vehicle before

fueling.

• Automotive fuels can be harmful

or fatal if swallowed. Fuels such as gasoline and ethanol are highly
toxic and if swallowed can cause death or permanent injury. If fuel is
swallowed, call a physician immediately, even if no symptoms are
immediately apparent. The toxic effects of fuel may not be visible for
hours.

• Avoid inhaling fuel vapors. Inhaling too much fuel vapor of any kind

can lead to eye and respiratory tract irritation. In severe cases,
excessive or prolonged breathing of fuel vapor can cause serious
illness and permanent injury.

• Avoid getting fuel liquid in your eyes. If fuel is splashed in the eyes,

remove contact lenses (if worn), flush with water for 15 minutes and
seek medical attention. Failure to seek proper medical attention could
lead to permanent injury.

• Fuels can also be harmful if absorbed through the skin. If fuel is

splashed on the skin and/or clothing, promptly remove contaminated
clothing and wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. Repeated or
prolonged skin contact with fuel liquid or vapor causes skin irritation.

• Be particularly careful if you are taking “Antabuse” or other forms of

disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline and/or
ethanol vapors, or skin contact could cause an adverse reaction. In
sensitive individuals, serious personal injury or sickness may result. If
fuel is splashed on the skin, promptly wash skin thoroughly with soap
and water. Consult a physician immediately if you experience an
adverse reaction.

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