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Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular” unleaded gasoline with
pump (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.
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 dealer to
prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems, try a different brand of unleaded gasoline. “Premium”
unleaded gasoline is not recommended for vehicles designed to use
“Regular” unleaded gasoline because it may cause these problems to
become more pronounced. If the problems persist, see your authorized
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.
Many of the world’s automakers approved 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.
Cleaner air
Ford endorses the use of reformulated “cleaner-burning” gasolines to
improve air quality.
Running out of fuel
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse
effect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
• 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.
87 (R+M)/2 METHOD
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• The indicator may come on. For more information on the “check
engine” or the “service engine soon” indicator, refer to Warning lights
and chimes in the Instrument Cluster chapter.
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 fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles (1,600
km) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 2,000 miles-3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000 km).
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 the Refill 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 two 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.
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comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................234
detergent in fuel .....................230
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................226, 228, 231
filter, specifications ........226, 240
fuel pump shut-off switch .....177
improving fuel economy ........231
octane rating ...................230, 244
quality ......................................230
running out of fuel .................230
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................226
Fuel pump shut-off switch .......177
Fuses ..................................177–178
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............228
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................231
Gauges .........................................13
H
Hazard flashers .........................176
Head restraints ...........................95
Headlamps ...................................29
aiming ........................................32
autolamp system .......................29
bulb specifications ....................34
daytime running lights .............30
flash to pass ..............................31
high beam .................................31
replacing bulbs .........................35
turning on and off ....................29
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................22, 24 Homelink wireless control
system ..........................................59
Hood ..........................................211
I
Ignition ...............................164, 244
Illuminated visor mirror .............47
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................135
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................236
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................207
cluster ........................................10
lighting up panel and interior ...31
J
Jack ............................................184
positioning ...............................184
storage .....................................184
Jump-starting your vehicle ......190
K
Keyless entry system .................84
autolock .....................................86
keypad .......................................84
locking and unlocking doors ....86
programming entry code .........84
Keys .......................................72, 91
positions of the ignition .........164
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................29
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................34
2006 Zephyr (378)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA (fus) Index
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