Driving style — 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
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•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 the top gears 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 toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle may reduce fuel economy at any speed.
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•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] 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
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
authorized dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle.
The EPA window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy
comparisons with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of MPG (L/100 km)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a
catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with
applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic
converter and other emission control components continue to work
properly:
•Use only the specified fuel listed.
•Avoid running out of fuel.
•Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving, especially at
high speeds.
•Have the items listed inscheduled maintenance information
performed according to the specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance items listed inscheduled maintenance
informationare essential to the life and performance of your vehicle
and to its emissions system.
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Maintenance and Specifications
296
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............268
instrument panel ....................270
interior .............................270–271
plastic parts ............................268
safety belts ..............................270
washing ....................................266
waxing .....................................267
wheels ......................................267
wiper blades ............................269
Climate control
(see Air conditioning or
Heating) ...........................54, 56, 58
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................95
Console ........................................78
overhead ....................................77
Controls
power seat ...............................130
steering column ........................85
Convertible
cleaning ...................................269
Coolant
checking and adding ..............283
refill capacities ................286, 304
specifications ..........................304
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................83
Cupholder(s) .............................139
Customer Assistance ................235
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................263
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................264
Getting roadside assistance ...235
Getting the service you
need .........................................259
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................264Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................262
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................64
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................300
engine oil .................................277
Driving under special
conditions ..................227, 230, 232
sand .........................................231
snow and ice ...........................233
through water .................232, 234
DVD system .................................27
E
Electronic message center .........92
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................251
Emission control system ..........296
Engine ........................................307
cleaning ...................................268
coolant .....................................283
fail-safe cooling .......................287
idle speed control ...................281
lubrication specifications .......304
refill capacities ........................304
service points ..........................275
starting after a collision .........237
Engine block heater .................217
Engine oil ..................................277
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................277
checking and adding ..............277
dipstick ....................................277
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Power point .................................78
Power steering ..........................222
fluid, checking and adding ....299
fluid, refill capacity ................304
fluid, specifications .................304
Power Windows ...........................79
R
Radio ............................................16
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................27
Relays ........................................237
Remote entry system .......114, 116
illuminated entry ............120–121
locking/unlocking
doors ................................116–117
opening the trunk ...................117
panic alarm .............................117
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................119
replacing the batteries ...........118
Reverse sensing system ...........227
Roadside assistance ..................235
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........150
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................140, 144–148
Safety Canopy ...................164, 167
Safety defects, reporting ..........265
Safety restraints ........140, 144–148
Belt-Minder...........................151
extension assembly ................149
for adults .........................145–147
for children .....................170–171Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................142
safety belt maintenance .........150
warning light and chime ........150
Safety seats for children ..........174
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................308
Satellite Radio Information ........24
Seats ..........................................129
child safety seats ....................174
climate control ........................134
easy access/easyout feature ..133
front seats ...............129, 133–134
heated ..................................54, 56
memory seat ...................118, 133
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ........................................123
Servicing your vehicle ..............273
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........248
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................303, 307
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................304
Speed control ..............................83
Starting your vehicle ........214–216
jump starting ..........................251
Steering wheel
controls ......................................85
tilting .........................................76
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................76
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....198
Tires ...........................183–184, 245
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
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