1997 Mercury Sable ESP

one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire grade 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction A B C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance. Warning: The traction
grade assigned to this tire is based on braking
(straightahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and
C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
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Maintenance and care
131

To make sure that the catalytic converter and the
other emission control parts continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is
moving, especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in yourService Guide
performed according to the specified schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance Services listed in the
Service Guideare required because they are
considered essential to the life and performance of
your vehicle and to its emissions system.
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft
parts or Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for the service of
components affecting emission control, such
non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine Ford
Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
It is the owner's responsibility to determine the
equivalency of such parts. Please consult your
Warranty Information Booklet for complete warranty
information.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine compartment
and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss of
oil pressure, the charging system warning light, the
service engine soon light or the temperature warning
light. These sometimes indicate that the emissions
system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more
Maintenance and care
138

2. With the hood open,
locate the bubble level
vertical aim indicator.
It is visible when
viewed from the above
rear of the headlamp.
3.Usea7mmwrench to turn the vertical adjusting
screw until the reference mark on the reflector
extension aligns with the ª0º reference mark on the
vertical indicator when viewed directly from above.
4. Close the hood.
CLEANING AND CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Refer to the ªCustomer Assistance Guideº for a list
of Ford-approved cleaners, polishes and waxes.
Washing your vehicle
Wash your vehicle regularly
with cold or lukewarm
water. Never use strong
detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty,
use a quality car wash
detergent. Always use a
clean sponge, washing glove
or similar device and plenty of water for best results.
To avoid spots, avoid washing when the hood is still
warm, immediately after or during exposure to
strong sunlight.
During winter months, it is especially important to
wash the vehicle on a regular basis. Large quantities
of dirt and road salt are difficult to remove, and they
also cause damage to the vehicle. Remove anyR L
O
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Maintenance and care
146

FluidFord Part
Name or
EquivalentFord
Part
NumberFord
Specification
Automatic
transaxleXT-2-QDX Motorcraft
MERCONt
AT FMERCONt
Engine oil
(Gasoline
engines)XO-
5W30-QSPMotorcraft
5W30
super
premiumWSS-
M2C153-F and
API
Certification
Mark
Constant
velocity
jointsE43Z-
19590-ACV joint
grease -
high
temp.ESP-
M1C207-A
Engine
coolantE2FZ-
19549-AAFord
premium
cooling
system
fluidESE-
M97B44-A
Power
steering
pump
reservoirXT-2-QDX Motorcraft
MERCONt
AT FMERCONt
ENGINE DATA
Engine data
Engine 3.0L SOHC V6 3.0L DOHC V6
Cubic inches 182 183
Horsepower 145 @ 5250 rpm 200 @ 5750 rpm
Torque 170 @ 3250 rpm 200 @ 4500 rpm
Required fuel
grade87 octane 87 octane
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6 1-4-2-5-3-6
sab_engine-info
Capacities and specifications
155