2002 MAZDA MODEL B2300 weight

Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
²Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
²Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
²To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist
in transmission cooling. (For additional information, refer to the
Driving with a 4±speed automatic transmissionsection in this
chapter.
²Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
²Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more
frequent service intervals. Refer to your service maintenance section for
more information.
Trailer towing tips
²Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.
²Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
²The trailer tongue weight should be 10±15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
²After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
²To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or N (Neutral) (manual transmissions).
²Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer's wheels.
Driving
178

²Slow down gradually.
²Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
²Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
²You 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.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12±16 km (8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
Maintenance and Specifications
258

filter, specifications ................242
recommendations ...................242
refill capacities ........................272
specifications ..................275±276
Exhaust fumes ..........................152
F
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....250
Fluid capacities .........................272
Foglamps .....................................73
Four-Wheel Drive
vehicles ..........................16±17, 165
description ..............................165
driving off road .......................167
electronic shift ........................165
indicator light .........................165
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................157
Fuel ............................................250
calculating fuel economy .......256
cap .....................................15, 252
capacity ...................................272
choosing the right fuel ...........253
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................259
detergent in fuel .....................255
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................250, 252, 256
filter, specifications ................255
fuel pump shut-off switch .....182
gauge .........................................19
improving fuel economy ........256
octane rating ...................254, 276
quality ......................................254
running out of fuel .................255
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................250
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................250, 253±254Fuses ..................................183, 185
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ......15, 252
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ...................................256
Gauges .........................................18
battery voltage gauge ...............19
engine coolant temperature
gauge .........................................18
engine oil pressure gauge ........19
fuel gauge ..................................19
odometer ...................................20
speedometer .............................20
tachometer ................................20
trip odometer ............................20
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................170
calculating ...............................172
definition .................................170
driving with a heavy load ......170
location ....................................170
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................170
calculating .......................170, 172
definition .................................170
driving with a heavy load ......170
location ....................................170
H
Hazard flashers .........................182
Headlamps ...................................73
aiming ........................................74
bulb specifications ....................76
daytime running lights .............73
flash to pass ..............................74
high beam ...........................16, 74
replacing bulbs .........................77
turning on and off ....................73
Index
282