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•Transmissions give their best fueleconomy when operated in the topcruise gear and with steady pressureon the gas pedal.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (ifequipped) is less fuel efficient thantwo-wheel-drive operation.
•Close the windows for high-speeddriving.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Note:Driving through deep water abovethe recommended levels can cause vehicledamage.
If driving through deep or standing wateris unavoidable, proceed very slowly. Neverdrive through water that is higher than thebottom of the wheel rims (for cars) or thebottom of the hubs (for trucks).
When driving through water, traction orbrake capability may be limited. Also,water may enter your engine’s air intakeand severely damage your engine or yourvehicle may stall.
Once through the water, always dry thebrakes by moving your vehicle slowly whileapplying light pressure on the brake pedal.Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle asquickly as dry brakes.
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•The transmission must relearn itsadaptive strategy. As a result of this,the transmission may shift firmly. Thisoperation is considered normal and willnot affect function or durability of thetransmission. Over time the adaptivelearning process will fully updatetransmission operation to its optimumshift feel.
•The clock and the preset radio stationsmust be reset once the battery isreconnected.
•Your vehicle’s engine is electronicallycontrolled by a computer, some controlconditions are maintained by powerfrom the battery, the engine mustrelearn its idle and fuel trim strategy.
When the battery is disconnected or a newbattery is installed, begin the batteryrelearn process:
1.With the vehicle at a complete stop,set the parking brake.
2.Put the gearshift lever in P (Park), turnoff all accessories and start the engine.
3.Run the engine until it reaches normaloperating temperature.
4.Allow the engine to idle for at least oneminute.
5.Turn the A/C on and allow the engineto idle for at least one minute.
6.Drive the vehicle to complete therelearning process.
•The vehicle may need to be drivento relearn the idle and fuel trimstrategy.
CHANGING THE ENGINE AIR
FILTER
WARNING
To reduce the risk of vehicle damageand personal burn injuries, do notstart your engine with the air cleanerremoved and do not remove it while theengine is running.
Change the air filter element at the properinterval. See Scheduled Maintenance(page 121).
When changing the air filter element, useonly the air filter element listed. SeeCapacities and Specifications (page111).
Note:Failure to use the correct air filterelement may result in severe enginedamage. The customer warranty may bevoid for any damage to the engine if thecorrect air filter element is not used.
1.Loosen the latches that secure the airfilter cover in place.
2.Carefully separate the two halves ofthe air filter housing.
3.Remove the air filter element from thehousing.
4.Wipe any dirt or debris from the air filterhousing and cover.
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When washing:
•Take care when using a power washerto clean the engine. The high-pressurefluid could penetrate the sealed partsand cause damage.
•Do not spray a hot engine with coldwater to avoid cracking the engineblock or other engine components.
•Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo andDegreaser on all parts that requirecleaning and pressure rinse clean. InCanada, use Motorcraft EngineShampoo.
•Never wash or rinse the engine while itis hot or running; water in the runningengine may cause internal damage.
•Never wash or rinse any ignition coil,spark plug wire or spark plug well, orthe area in and around these locations.
•Cover the battery, power distributionbox, and air filter assembly to preventwater damage when cleaning theengine.
CLEANING THE ALLOY
WHEELS (If Equipped)
Note:Do not apply a cleaning chemical towarm or hot wheel rims and covers.
Note:Some automatic car washes maycause damage to the finish on your wheelrims and covers.
Note:Industrial-strength or heavy-dutycleaners in combination with brush agitationto remove brake dust and dirt, could wearaway the clear coat finish over a period time.
Note:Do not use hydrofluoric acid-basedor high caustic-based wheel cleaners, steelwool, fuels or strong household detergents.
Note:If you intend parking your vehicle foran extended period after cleaning thewheels with a wheel cleaner, drive yourvehicle for a few minutes before doing so.This will reduce the risk of increasedcorrosion of the brake discs.
Alloy wheels and wheel covers are coatedwith a clear coat paint finish. To maintaintheir condition we recommend that you:
•Clean the wheels weekly usingMotorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner.Apply using manufacturer'sinstructions.
•Use a sponge to remove heavydeposits of dirt and brake dustaccumulation.
•Rinse thoroughly with a strong streamof water when you have completed thecleaning process.
•To remove tar and grease, useMotorcraft Bug and Tar Remover.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30days or more, read the followingmaintenance recommendations to makesure your vehicle stays in good operatingcondition.
We engineer and test all motor vehiclesand their components for reliable, regulardriving. Under various conditions,long-term storage may lead to degradedengine performance or failure unless youuse specific precautions to preserve enginecomponents.
General
•Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilatedplace.
•Protect from sunlight, if possible.
•If vehicles are stored outside, theyrequire regular maintenance to protectagainst rust and damage.
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