1998 FORD CONTOUR ESP

Maintenance and care
137 Refer to the ”Maintenance
Schedule” booklet for additional
information.
Always dispose of used
automotive fluids in a
responsible manner. Follow your
community’s standards for
disposing of these types of fluids.
Call your local recycling center to
find out more about recycling
automotive fluids.
It is recommended you use the
appropriate Motorcraft oil filter (or
another brand meeting Ford
specifications) for your engine
application.
Empty and used oil
containers must be disposed
of at an authorized waste disposal
facility.
Engine oil filler cap
The design of the filler cap varies
by engine. To open, turn in the
direction of the arrow and pull. Do
not open the cap while the engine
is running.
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Maintenance and care
141 Always dispose of used
automotive fluids in a
responsible manner. Follow your
community’s standards for recycling
and disposing of automotive fluids.
Recycled engine coolant
Ford Motor Company recommends
that Ford and Lincoln-Mercury
dealers use recycled engine coolant
produced by Ford-approved
processes. Not all coolant recycling
processes produce coolant which
meets Ford specifications ESE-
M97B44-A, and use of such coolant
may harm engine and cooling
system components.
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Maintenance and care
148
Batteries normally produce
explosive gases which can
cause personal injury. Do not allow
flames, sparks or lit tobacco to
come near the battery. Always
cover your face and protect your
eyes and also provide ventilation.
Applying too much pressure
on the ends when lifting a
battery could cause acid to spill.
Lift the battery with a carrier or
with your hands on the opposite
corners.
Follow these steps to
minimize risk of personal
injury.
Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible
manner. Follow your community’s
local standards for disposal. Call
your local recycling center to find
out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
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Maintenance and care
154Temperature ABC
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire’s resistance to the
generation of 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
excess temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
cars 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.
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded.
Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
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Maintenance and care
180Waxing your vehicle
The best way to determine when
the paintwork needs waxing is by
noting when water stops beading
on the surface. This could be every
three or four months depending on
operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-
based waxes. Remove any bugs and
tar before waxing the vehicle. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a
clean cloth to remove bugs. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.
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 or lower any exterior
accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash.
Remove particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect remains,
tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
After washing, apply the brakes
several times to dry them.
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