2003 Mercury Mountaineer octane

•Avoid 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.
•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.
•Be particularly careful if you are taking“Antabuse”or other forms of
disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline and/or
ethanol 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.
•FFV fuel tanks may contain zero to 85 percent ethanol. Any fuel
blends containing gasoline and ethanol should be treated the same as
“Fuel Ethanol”. To identify if your vehicle is an FFV, check your VIN
or the label on the inside of your fuel filler door. When checking the
VIN look for the engine type identifier (8th character). If your vehicle
is an FFV, then the character will be labeled as a“K.”
Pure ethanol is the alcohol which is the intoxicating agent in liquor, beer
and wine. It is distilled from the fermentation of plants such as field corn
and sugar cane. When ethanol is used in the making of motor fuels, a
small amount of a bad tasting chemical is added to discourage beverage
use. The resulting fuel is called E
d100 meaning 100% pure ethanol
diluted by 2% to 5% gasoline as the“denaturant.”
Fuel ethanol (summer blend
d) is then made by adding 15% more
unleaded gasoline. The resulting fuel also has a higher octane rating than
unleaded regular gasoline and other properties which allow engine
designs with greater efficiency and power.
Winter blends may contain up to 30% (E70)unleaded gasoline (25% plus
the denaturant) to enhance cold engine starts. Severely cold weather
may require additional measures for reliable starting. Refer toCold
Weather Startingin theDrivingchapter.
Ethanol is more chemically active than gasoline. It corrodes some metals
and causes some plastic and rubber components to swell, break down or
become brittle and crack, especially when mixed with gasoline. Special
materials and procedures have been developed for flexible fuel vehicles
and the dispensers used by ethanol fuel providers.
Maintenance and Specifications
226

Octane recommendations
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 dealer or a qualified service technician to prevent
any engine damage.
Unleaded Gasoline engines
Your vehicle is designed to use“Regular”unleaded gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recommend the use of gasolines
labeled as“Regular”that are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in
high altitude areas.
FFV engine (if equipped)
Your vehicle is designed to use (E85) Fuel Ethanol,“Regular”unleaded
gasoline or any percentage of the two fuels combined.
U.S. government regulations require fuel ethanol dispensing
pumps to have a small, square, orange and black label with the
common abbreviation or the appropriate percentage for that
region. Use of other fuels such as Fuel Methanol may cause
powertrain damage, a loss of vehicle performance, and your
warranty may be invalidated.
Fuel quality
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.
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.
Unleaded Gasoline engines
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems during a cold start, try a different brand of“Regular”unleaded
gasoline.“Premium”unleaded gasoline is not recommended (particularly
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
Maintenance and Specifications
228

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 this 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:
•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.
•Use the same filling rate setting (low—medium—high) each time
the tank is filled.
•Allow no more than 2 automatic click-offs when filling.
•Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
•Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
•Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
•Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.
Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.
Filling the tank for FFV equipped vehicles
Your vehicle will operate on both unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of 87, or E-85 fuel, or any mixture of these two. For best results it is
recommended that you do not add less than 5 gallons of fuel when
refueling. Observing this precaution will avoid possible hard starting
and/or deterioration in drivability during warm up.
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).
Maintenance and Specifications
231

ItemFord Part
Name or
equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Transfer case
(AWD)Motorcraft
MERCON
Multi-Purpose
AT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
Transfer case
Front Output
Slip ShaftPremium
Long-Life GreaseXG-1-C or
XG-1-KESA-M1C75-B
Windshield
washer fluidMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateZC—32–A WSB-M8B16–A2
1Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. MERCONand
MERCONV are not interchangeable. DO NOT mix MERCONand
MERCONV. Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide to determine
the correct service interval.
2Limited-slip differentials must add 118 ml (4 oz) of Additive Friction
Modifier XL—3 or equivalent meeting Ford specification EST-M2C118–A
to the rear axle whenever the axle has been serviced.
ENGINE DATA
Engine 4.0L SOHC V6 engine 4.6L V8 engine
Cubic inches 245 281
Required fuel 87 octane 87 octane
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Spark plug gap 1.3-1.4 mm (0.052-0.056
inch)1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-0.056 inch)
Ignition system EDIS EDIS
Compression ratio 9.7:1 9.4:1
Maintenance and Specifications
248

Engine oil ..................................212
checking and adding ..............212
dipstick ....................................212
filter, specifications ........215, 243
recommendations ...................215
refill capacities ........................244
specifications ..................246, 248
Exhaust fumes ..........................145
F
Fail safe cooling ........................223
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....225
Floor mats ...................................79
Fluid capacities .........................244
Foglamps .....................................37
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................148
Fuel ............................................225
calculating fuel
economy ............................70, 230
cap ...........................................229
capacity ...................................244
choosing the right fuel ...........227
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................233
detergent in fuel .....................229
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................225, 229, 231
filter, specifications ........230, 243
fuel pump shut-off switch .....165
improving fuel economy ........230
octane rating ...........228, 248–249
quality ......................................228
running out of fuel .................229
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................225
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................225, 227–228Fuses ..................................166–167
G
Garage door opener ..............52, 62
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............229
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................230
Gauges .........................................14
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating) .......................................156
calculating ...............................157
definition .................................156
driving with a heavy load ......156
location ....................................156
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) .......................................156
calculating .......................156–157
definition .................................156
driving with a heavy load ......156
location ....................................156
H
Hazard flashers .........................164
Head restraints ...........................97
Headlamps
aiming ........................................39
bulb specifications ....................41
daytime running lights .............37
flash to pass ..............................38
high beam .................................38
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................31–32
HomeLink universal
transceiver (see Garage door
opener) ..................................62, 65
Hood ..........................................207
Index
258

I
Ignition .......................142, 248–249
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................131
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................235
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................203
cluster ........................................10
J
Jack ....................................176, 178
positioning .......................176, 180
storage .............................176–178
Jump-starting your vehicle ......183
K
Keyless entry system .................89
Keys
positions of the ignition .........142
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................41
daytime running light ...............37
fog lamps ...................................37
high beams ................................38
instrument panel, dimming .....38
interior lamps ...........................40
Liftgate ..................................79, 85
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........146
Limited-slip axle .......................155Load limits .................................156
GAWR ......................................156
GVWR ......................................156
trailer towing ..........................156
Loading instructions .................157
Locks
childproof ..................................84
doors ..........................................83
Lubricant specifications ...246, 248
Lumbar support, seats .............101
M
Manual transmission
lubricant specifications ..........248
Message center ...........................68
english/metric button ...............73
system check button ................72
warning messages .....................74
Mirrors .........................................53
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ........................................52
fold away ...................................56
heated ........................................55
side view mirrors (power) .......55
Moon roof ....................................61
Motorcraft parts ................230, 243
O
Octane rating ............................228
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................212
P
Parking brake ............................146
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....243
Index
259