•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.
•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.
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
271
waxing .....................................242
wheels ......................................242
wiper blades ............................244
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......31, 33
Clock ............................................55
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................73
Console
overhead ....................................54
Controls
power seat ...............................105
steering column ........................63
Coolant
checking and adding ..............258
refill capacities ................261, 280
specifications ..........................280
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ....................60
Cupholder(s) .............................112
Customer Assistance ................210
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................237
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................238
Getting roadside assistance ...210
Getting the service you
need .........................................233
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................239
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................237
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................38Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................276
engine oil .................................252
Driving under special
conditions ..................201, 204, 207
sand .........................................205
snow and ice ...........................208
through water .................206, 209
E
Electronic message center .........70
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................225
Emission control system ..........272
Engine ........................................282
cleaning ...................................243
coolant .....................................258
fail-safe cooling .......................262
idle speed control ...................256
lubrication specifications .......280
refill capacities ........................280
service points ..................250–251
starting after a collision .........212
Engine block heater .................188
Engine oil ..................................252
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................252
checking and adding ..............252
dipstick ....................................252
filter, specifications ........255, 279
recommendations ...................255
refill capacities ........................280
specifications ..........................280
Event data recording ....................6
Exhaust fumes ..........................188
F
Fail safe cooling ........................262
2009 MKZ(378)
Owners Guide
USA(fus)
Index
288
