2009 FORD FLEX flat tire

•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.
•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.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
353

Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........291
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................361, 364
Specification chart, lubricants..362
Speed control ............................101
Starting your vehicle ........250–252
jump starting ..........................307
Steering wheel
controls ....................................104
tilting .........................................87
Stereo
6-CD in dash .............................16
CD-MP3 .....................................16
SYNC ............................................63
T
Temporary mobility kit .............296
Tilt steering wheel ......................87
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....233
Tires ...................................218–219
alignment ................................226
care ..........................................222
changing ..........................291–292
checking the pressure ............222
inflating ...................................220
label .........................................232
replacing ..................................224
rotating ....................................226
safety practices .......................225
sidewall information ...............228
snow tires and chains ............238
spare tire .................................289
Temporary mobility kit ..........296
terminology .............................219
tire grades ...............................219treadwear ........................218, 223
Towing .......................................244
recreational towing .................249
trailer towing ..........................244
wrecker ....................................312
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............362
lubricant specifications ..........362
Transmission .............................262
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....262
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................358
Turn signal ..................................80
U
USB port ......................................27
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................365
Vehicle loading ..........................239
Ventilating your vehicle ...........253
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................332
Water, Driving through .............277
Windows
power .........................................96
rear wiper/washer .....................87
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................86
checking and adding fluid .....332
replacing wiper blades ...332–333
Wrecker towing .........................312
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
374