1998 Mercury Villager Owner's Manuals

gasolines, the performance of the emission control devices and
systems may be adversely affected. Repair of damage caused by
using a fuel that your vehicle was not designed for may not
be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendation
Your vehicle is designed to use regular gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recommend gasolines
labeled as ªregularº in high altitude areas that are sold with
octane ratings of 86 or even less.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes knocks lightly.
However, if it knocks heavily under most driving conditions
on the recommended octane fuel, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel Quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation
problems, try a different brand of fuel. If the condition persists,
see your dealer or a qualified service technician.
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
issued a gasoline specification to provide information on high
quality fuels that optimize the performance of your vehicle.
We recommend the use of gasolines that meet the AAMA
specification if they are available.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to
your fuel tank if you continue to use a high-quality fuel.
Typical octane rating label
Maintenance and Care
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Gasolines for clean air
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air quality,
including reformulated gasolines that contain oxygenates such as
a maximum of 10%ethanol or 15%MTBE. There should be no
more than 5% methanol with cosolvents and additives to protect
the fuel system.
Safety Information Relating to Automotive Fuels
WARNING
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if
misused or mishandled.
mTurn vehicle off when refueling.
mDo not smoke when refueling. Fuels are extremely flammable.
mDo not siphon any fuel by mouth.
WARNING
Gasoline or gasoline blended with methanol can cause
blindness and possible death when swallowed. If any fuel
is swallowed, call a physician or poison control center
immediately.
mAvoid breathing vapors while refueling.
mIf fuel is splashed on the skin, wash with soap and water.
mIf fuel is splashed in the eyes, remove contact lenses (if worn),
flush with water for 15 minutes, and seek medical attention.
Gasoline and gasoline blends may contain small amounts of
carcinogens, such as benzene. Long-term exposure to unleaded
gasoline vapors has caused cancer in laboratory animals.
If you are taking the medication ªAntabuseº or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism, vapor or skin contact
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with a gasoline-methanol blend may cause the same kind of
adverse reaction as drinking an alcoholic beverage. In sensitive
individuals, serious personal injury or sickness could result.
Consult a physician promptly if you experience an adverse
reaction.
Running Out of Fuel
NOTE: Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may
have an adverse effect on modern powertrain
components.
You may need to crank the engine several times before the fuel
system starts to pump fuel from the tank to the engine.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is an estimate of the efficiency of your vehicle, and
can be calculated as Miles Per Gallon (MPG) or Liters Per 100
Kilometers (L/100K).
Do not calculate fuel economy during your vehicle's break-in
period. This would not be an accurate estimate of how much fuel
your vehicle will normally use.
To calculate fuel economy:
1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer
reading.
2. Every time you buy fuel, record the amount (in gallons or
liters) purchased.
3. After at least 3-5 tankfulls, fill the fuel tank and record the
final odometer reading.
4. Use these equations to calculate your fuel economy:
mEnglish: MPG = (total miles driven)4(gallons used)
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mMetric: L/100k = Multiply the number of liters used by 100
and divide the answer by the number of kilometers
travelled.
Comparisons With Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Fuel Economy Estimates
EPA fuel economy figures are obtained from laboratory tests
under simulated road conditions and may not reflect the actual
conditions you experience or your style of driving. The EPA fuel
economy estimate is not a guarantee that you will achieve the
fuel economy shown.
The following decrease fuel economy:
mLack of regular, scheduled maintenance
mRapid acceleration and excessive speed
mDriving with your foot on the brake
mSudden stops
mExtended engine idling
mUsing speed control in hilly terrain
mExtended use of the A/C, defroster, rear window defroster
and other accessories
mUnderinflated tires
mHeavy loads
mAftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or luggage racks, bug
deflectors, etc.
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Emission Control System
Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter which enables
your vehicle to comply with applicable exhaust emission
requirements.
WARNING
Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of harmful and
potentially lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Under extreme conditions excessive exhaust
temperatures could damage the fuel system, the interior
floor covering, or other vehicle components, possibly
causing a fire.
Malfunctions in the engine or exhaust system can result in
excessive exhaust system temperatures. Under extreme conditions
(for example, towing a trailer up a steep hill on a very hot day
with a malfunctioning engine or exhaust system), high exhaust
system temperatures could be damaging.
To make sure that the catalytic converter and the other emission
control parts continue to work properly:
mUse only unleaded fuel.
mAvoid running out of fuel.
mNever turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving,
especially at high speeds.
mHave the services listed in yourMaintenance Schedulebooklet
performed according to the specified schedule.
Maintenance and Care
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WARNING
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.
WARNING
Do not remove the floor carpet in your vehicle. Emission
controls cause high exhaust temperatures under the
floor.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke and loss of oil
pressure. Also watch for the charge warning light, the check engine
light, or the temperature warning light. These sometimes
indicate that the emission system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your vehicle or engine.
Changes that cause more unburned fuel to reach the exhaust
system can increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
In general, maintenance, replacement, or service of the emission
control devices or systems in your new Ford Motor
Company vehicle or engine may be performed at your expense
by any automotive repair establishment or individual using
automotive parts equivalent to those with which your vehicle or
engine was originally equipped.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases
vehicles, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles is
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission control device
or prevent it from working. In some of the United States and
in Canada, vehicle owners may be liable if their emission control
device is removed or is prevented from working.
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Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate properly. See
your dealer if the engine runs on for more than five seconds after
you shut it off or if it misfires, surges, stalls, or backfires.
Information about your vehicle's emissions control system is on
the Vehicle Emission Control Information decal located on or
near the engine. This decal identifies engine displacement and gives
some tune-up specifications.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Testing
In some localities it may be a legal requirement to pass an I/M
test of the on-board diagnostic (OBD-II) system. If your``Service
Engine Soon''light is on, reference the applicable light
description in the Warning Light and Gauges section of your
owners guide. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with the
``Service Engine Soon''light on.
If the vehicles powertrain system or battery has just been
serviced, the OBD-II system is reset to a ``not ready for I/M test''
condition. To ready the OBD-II system for I/M testing, a
minimum of 30 minutes of city and highway driving is necessary
as described below:
mFirst, at least ten minutes of driving on an expressway or
highway.
mNext, at least twenty minutes of driving in stop-and-go,
city-type driving with at least four idle periods.
Allow the vehicle to sit for at least 8 hours without starting the
engine. Then, start the engine and complete the above driving cycle.
The engine must warm up to it's normal operating
temperature. Once started, do not turn off the engine until the
above driving cycle is complete.
Maintenance and Care
315

Lights and Bulb Replacement
It is a good idea to check the operation of the following lights
frequently:
mheadlamps
mhigh-mount brakelamp
mtail lamps
mbrakelamps
mcornering lamps
mhazard flasher
mturn signals
mlicense plate lamps
The alignment of your headlamps should be checked if:
moncoming motorists frequently signal you to turn off your
vehicle's high beams when you do not have the high
beams on
mthe headlamps do not seem to give you enough light to see
clearly at night
mthe headlamp beams are not pointed slightly down and to the
right
Headlamp Bulb
The headlamps on your vehicle use replaceable bulbs. When the
lamp burns out, simply replace the bulb, rather than the
whole lamp.
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