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Driving while you tow
When towing a trailer:
•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
• Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.
• To 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 transmission section in this
chapter.
• Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
• Do 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
• Practice 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.
• Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
• The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer
weight.
• After you have traveled 80 km (50 miles), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
• To 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).
• Vehicles 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
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![MAZDA MODEL B4000 4WD 2002 Owners Manual •Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce MAZDA MODEL B4000 4WD 2002 Owners Manual •Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce](/manual-img/28/41052/w960_41052-257.png)
•Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
• Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
• 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.
• Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
• Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
• Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
• Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
• Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Lubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle service maintenance section.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
• Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
• Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
Maintenance and Specifications
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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, 253–254 Fuses ..................................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