Cold Weather Starting (Flexible Fuel Vehicles Only)
Note:Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds at a time as
starter damage may occur. If the engine fails to start, turn the key to off
and wait 30 seconds before trying again.
Note:Do not use starting fluid such as ether in the air intake system.
Such fluid could cause immediate explosive damage to the engine and
possible personal injury.
Note:You may experience a decrease in peak performance when the
engine is cold when operating on E85 ethanol.
The starting characteristics of all grades of E85 ethanol make it
unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C).
Consult your fuel distributor for the availability of winter grade ethanol.
As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors
should supply winter grade ethanol (same as with unleaded gasoline). If
summer grade ethanol is used in cold weather conditions, 0°F to 32°F
(-18°C to 0°C), you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle
or hesitation until the engine has warmed up.
If you should experience cold weather starting problems on E85 ethanol,
and neither an alternative brand of E85 ethanol nor an engine block
heater is available, adding unleaded gasoline to your tank improves cold
starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to operate on E85 ethanol
alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture of the two.
SeeChoosing the right fuelin theFuels and Refuelingchapter for
more information on ethanol.
Guarding Against Exhaust Fumes
WARNING:If you smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle, have
this checked immediately. Do not drive your vehicle if you smell
exhaust fumes. Carbon monoxide is present in exhaust fumes. Take
precautions to avoid its dangerous effects.
Important Ventilating Information
If you stop your vehicle and leave the engine idling for long periods, we
recommend that you do one of the following:
•Open the windows at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters).
•Set your climate control to outside air.
108Starting and Stopping the Engine
2014 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, November 2012
USA(fus)
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
WARNING:Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an
overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire.
WARNING:The fuel system may be under pressure. If you hear
a hissing sound near the fuel filler inlet, do not refuel until the
sound stops. Otherwise, fuel may spray out, which could cause serious
personal injury.
WARNING:Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if
misused or mishandled.
WARNING:The flow of fuel through a fuel pump nozzle can
produce static electricity, which can cause a fire if fuel is pumped
into an ungrounded fuel container.
WARNING:Fuel ethanol and gasoline may contain benzene,
which is a cancer-causing agent.
WARNING:When refueling always shut the engine off and never
allow sparks or open flames near the filler neck. Never smoke
while refueling. Fuel vapor is extremely hazardous under certain
conditions. Care should be taken to avoid inhaling excess fumes.
Observe the following guidelines when handling automotive fuel:
•Extinguish all smoking materials and any open flames before refueling
your vehicle.
•Always turn off the vehicle before refueling.
•Automotive fuels can be harmful or fatal if swallowed. Fuel, such as
gasoline, is highly toxic and if swallowed can cause death or
permanent injury. If fuel is swallowed, call a physician immediately,
even if no symptoms are immediately apparent. The toxic effects of
fuel may not be visible for hours.
•Avoid inhaling fuel vapors. Inhaling too much fuel vapor of any kind
can lead to eye and respiratory tract irritation. In severe cases,
excessive or prolonged breathing of fuel vapor can cause serious
illness and permanent injury.
Fuel and Refueling111
2014 Econoline(eco)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing, November 2012
USA(fus)