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 or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
257
locking/unlocking doors ...........84
opening the trunk .....................85
panic alarm ...............................84
replacement/additional
transmitters ...............................86
replacing the batteries .............85
Roadside assistance ..................186
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........110
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..................100, 104–108
Safety Canopy ...........................123
Safety defects, reporting ..222–223
Safety restraints ........100, 104–109
Belt-Minder...........................111
extension assembly ................109
for adults .........................105–108
for children .............................126
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................102
safety belt maintenance .........110
warning light and chime ........110
Safety seats for children ..........130
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................271
Satellite Radio Information ........38
Seats ............................................94
child safety seats ....................130
front seats .................................95
heated ........................................98
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ..........................................88
Servicing your vehicle ..............232
Setting the clock
AM/FM/CD .................................24
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................30Spark plugs,
specifications .....................266, 270
Specification chart,
lubricants ...................................267
Speed control ..............................64
Starting your
vehicle ........................169–170, 172
jump starting ..........................210
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................58
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................58
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....155
Tires ...................................140–141
alignment ................................148
care ..........................................144
changing ..................................198
checking the pressure ............144
inflating ...................................142
label .........................................154
replacing ..................................146
rotating ....................................148
safety practices .......................147
sidewall information ...............150
snow tires and chains ............160
spare tire .................................196
terminology .............................141
tire grades ...............................141
treadwear ........................140, 145
Towing .......................................166
recreational towing .................168
trailer towing ..........................166
wrecker ....................................215
Traction control ........................176
Traction-lok rear axle ...............178
2008 05+ Mustang(197)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
279
