The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, using snow tires and traction
devices may be necessary. See your authorized Mazda dealer for more
information on tire cables and other traction devices for your vehicle.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and traction devices:
²Install cables securely, verifying that the cables do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If this does not work, remove
the cables to prevent vehicle damage.
² Avoid overloading your vehicle.
² Remove the tire cables when they are no longer needed.
² Do not use cables on dry roads.
² The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from the vehicle when
using snow tires and traction devices.
² Do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mph) with tire cables on your vehicle.
Consult your dealer for information on other Mazda approved methods of
traction control.
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.
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WARNING: If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap,
excessive pressure or vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the
fuel system or cause the fuel cap to disengage in a collision,
which may result in possible personal injury.
WARNING: Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death
if misused or mishandled.
WARNING: Gasoline may contain benzene, which is a
cancer-causing agent.
Observe the following guidelines when handling automotive fuel: WARNING: Automotive fuels
can be harmful or fatal if
swallowed. Fuel such as
gasoline is 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.
² Extinguish all smoking materials and any open flames before fueling
your vehicle.
² Always turn off the vehicle before fueling.
² 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.
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190
²Avoid 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.
² 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.
² Be particularly careful if you are taking ªAntabuseº or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline 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.
WARNING: When refueling always shut the engine off and
never allow sparks or open flames near the filler neck. Never
smoke while refueling. Fuel vapor is extremely hazardous under
certain conditions. Care should be taken to avoid inhaling
excess fumes.
WARNING: The flow of fuel through a fuel pump nozzle can
produce static electricity, which can cause a fire if fuel is
pumped into an ungrounded fuel container. Be very careful to
put the container on the ground before adding fuel to it.
Use the following guidelines to avoid static build-up when filling an
ungrounded fuel container:
² Place approved fuel container on the ground.
² DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the vehicle.
² Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container while
filling.
² DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel pump handle in the fill
position.
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191
Choosing the right fuel
²Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is
prohibited by law and could damage your vehicle.
² Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel
system components.
² Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with
metallic compounds, including manganese-based compounds
containing MMT.
² Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your
vehicle was not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
ªRegularº unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as ªRegularº that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
NOTE:Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly.
However, if it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are
using fuel with the recommended octane rating, see your authorized
Mazda dealer to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
NOTE:If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation
driveability problems during a cold start, try a different brand of
ªRegularº unleaded gasoline. ªPremiumº unleaded gasoline is not
recommended (particularly in the United States) because it may cause
these problems to become more pronounced. If the problems persist, see
your authorized Mazda dealer.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel
tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane
rating.
Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system.
Repairs to correct the effects of using an aftermarket product in
your fuel may not be covered by your warranty.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
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192
Many of the world's automakers
issued the World-wide Fuel Charter
that recommends gasoline
specifications to provide improved
performance and emission control
system protection for your vehicle.
Gasolines that meet the World-wide
Fuel Charter should be used when
available. Ask your fuel supplier
about gasolines that meet the
World-wide Fuel Charter. In Canada,
look for fuels that display theAuto Makers' Choiceylogo.
Cleaner air
Mazda endorses the use of reformulated ªcleaner-burningº gasolines to
improve air quality.
Running out of fuel
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse
affect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
² You may need to cycle the ignition from OFF to ON several times after
refueling, to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to
the engine.
² The
indicator may come on. For more information on the ªCheck
Engineº indicator, refer to the Instrumentationchapter.
Fuel Filler Cap
Your fuel tank filler cap has an indexed design with a 1/8 turn on/off
feature.
When fueling your vehicle: 1. Turn the engine off.
2. Carefully turn the filler cap counterclockwise 1/8 of a turn until it stops.
3. Pull to remove the cap from the fuel filler pipe.
4. To install the cap, align the tabs on the cap with the notches on the filler pipe.
5. Turn the filler cap clockwise 1/8 of a turn until it stops.
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193
After refueling, if the ªCHECK FUEL CAPº indicator comes on and stays
on when you start the engine, the fuel filler cap may not be properly
installed. Turn off the engine, remove the fuel filler cap, align the cap
properly and reinstall it securely. The indicator should turn off after three
driving cycles with the fuel filler cap properly installed. A driving cycle
consists of a cold engine start-up followed by mixed city/highway driving.
If you must replace the fuel filler cap, replace it with a fuel filler
cap that is designed for your vehicle. The customer warranty may
be void for any damage to the fuel tank or fuel system if the
correct genuine Mazda fuel filler cap is not used.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 pressure or vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the
fuel system or cause the fuel cap to disengage in a collision,
which may result in possible personal injury.
Fuel Filter
For fuel filter replacement, see your authorized Mazda dealership. Refer
to the service maintenance section for the appropriate intervals for
changing the fuel filter.
Replace the fuel filter with an authorized Mazda part. The
customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel system
if an authorized Mazda fuel filter is not used.
ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
Measuring techniques
Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fillups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend taking
fuel economy measurements during the first 1, 600 km (1, 000 miles) of
driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 3, 000 km±5, 000 km (2, 000 miles-3, 000 miles).
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194
Filling the tank
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theRefill capacities
section of the Capacities and specifications chapter.
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the
empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the
amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates
empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty.
The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should
not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your
vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be
able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the
fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
² Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling,
an error in the reading will result if the engine is left running.
² Use the same filling rate setting (low Ð medium Ð high) each time
the tank is filled.
² Allow no more than 2 automatic click-offs when filling.
² Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
² Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
² Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
² Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.
Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.
Calculating fuel economy 1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading (in kilometers or miles).
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in liters or gallons).
3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and record the current odometer reading.
4. Subtract your initial odometer reading from the current odometer reading.
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195
5. Follow one of the simple calculations in order to determine fueleconomy:
Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total kilometers
traveled.
Divide total miles traveled by total gallons used.
Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city
or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle's fuel
economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records
during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel
economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy.
Driving style Ð good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
² Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
² Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
² Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
² Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
² Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
² Slow down gradually.
² Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
² Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
² Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
² You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
² Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
² Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
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196