BREAKING-IN
You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 mi (480 km). During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics.
Avoid driving too fast during the first
1,000 mi (1,600 km)
. Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.
Do not tow during the first
1,000 mi
(1,600 km).
ECONOMICAL DRIVING
Your fuel economy is affected by several
things, such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under, and how you
maintain your vehicle.
You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
• Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
• Drive at steady speeds without
stopping.
• Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.
• Combine errands and minimize
stop-and-go driving.
• Close the windows for high-speed
driving.
• Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105
km/h]).
• Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size.
• Use the recommended engine oil.
• Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
•
Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.
• Revving the engine before turning it off.
• Idle for periods longer than one minute.
• Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.
• Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.
• Use the speed control in hilly terrain.
• Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.
• Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow a
trailer.
• Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).
• Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.
Conditions
• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a
trailer may reduce fuel economy at any
speed.
• Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
• To maximize the fuel economy, drive
with the tonneau cover installed (if
equipped).
• Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.
• Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 8– 10
miles (12 –16 kilometers) of driving.
• Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.
217
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Driving Hints
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
MINA
MAX
B
ENGINE OIL CHECK
To check the engine oil level consistently
and accurately, do the following:
1. Make sure the parking brake is on. Make
sure the transmission is in park (P) or
neutral (N).
2. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
3. Make sure that your vehicle is on level ground.
4. Switch the engine off and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the oil
pan. Checking the engine oil level too
soon after you switch the engine off
may result in an inaccurate reading.
5. Open the hood. See Opening and
Closing the Hood (page 244).
6. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean, lint-free cloth. See
Under
Hood Overview (page 247).
7. Replace the dipstick and remove it again to check the oil level. See
Engine Oil Dipstick
(page 248). 8.
Make sure that the oil level is between
the maximum and minimum marks. If
the oil level is at the minimum mark,
add oil immediately. See
Capacities
and Specifications (page 304).
9. If the oil level is correct, replace the dipstick and make sure it is fully seated.
Note: Do not remove the dipstick when the
engine is running.
Note: If the oil level is between the
maximum and minimum marks, the oil level
is acceptable. Do not add oil.
Note: The oil consumption of new engines
reaches its normal level after approximately
3,100 mi (5,000 km)
.
Adding Engine Oil WARNING
Do not remove the filler cap when
the engine is running.
Do not use supplemental engine oil
additives because they are unnecessary
and could lead to engine damage that may
not be covered by the vehicle Warranty.
248
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing MaintenanceE146429 E142732
Cleaning the Wheels..................................270
Cleaning the Windows and Wiper Blades...........................................................268
Clearing All MyKeys
.......................................59
Climate.............................................................391
Climate Control
..............................................116
Climate Controlled Seats..........................139 Cooled Seats........................................................ 139
Heated Seats........................................................ 139
Collision Warning System........................200 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION.......................... 200
Coolant Check See: Engine Coolant Check........................... 250
Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator
.......50
Creating a MyKey...........................................58
Programming/Changing Configurable
Settings............................................................... 58
Cross Traffic Alert
.........................................197
False Alerts........................................................... 199
Switching the System Off and On...............199
System Errors....................................................... 199
System Lights, Messages and Audible Alerts.................................................................. 198
System Limitations............................................ 199
Using the System................................................ 197
Cruise Control
...................................................77
Principle of Operation...................................... 188
Type 1........................................................................\
. 77
Type 2........................................................................\
77
Cruise control See: Using Cruise Control................................188
Customer Assistance
.................................226
D
Data Recording
..................................................9
Event Data Recording.......................................... 10
Service Data Recording........................................ 9
Daytime Running Lamps............................85
Direction Indicators
.......................................86
Lane Change.......................................................... 86
Doors and Locks.............................................63
Driver and Passenger Airbags...................45 Children and Airbags...........................................45
Proper Driver and Front Passenger Seating
Adjustment........................................................ 45
Driving Aids.....................................................195
Driving Hints
....................................................217 Driving Through Water................................218
DRL
See: Daytime Running Lamps......................... 85
E
Economical Driving.......................................217
Emission Control System...........................161 On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II).................... 162
Readiness for Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Testing.................................................... 162
End User License Agreement..................457 VEHICLE SOFTWARE END USER LICENSE
AGREEMENT (EULA) ................................. 457
Engine Block Heater....................................153 Using the Engine Block Heater...................... 154
Engine Coolant Check...............................250 Adding Coolant.................................................. 250
Coolant Change.................................................. 252
Engine Coolant Temperature Management.................................................. 253
Fail-Safe Cooling................................................ 252
Recycled Coolant................................................ 251
Severe Climates.................................................. 251
Engine Immobilizer See: Passive Anti-Theft System..................... 73
Engine Oil Check
..........................................248
Adding Engine Oil.............................................. 248
Engine Oil Dipstick......................................248
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec
.........................................................299
Drivebelt Routing............................................... 299
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™
.................................................299
Drivebelt Routing.............................................. 300
Entertainment...............................................381 AM/FM Radio...................................................... 382
Apps....................................................................... 390
Bluetooth Stereo or USB................................ 389
CD (If equipped)................................................ 388
HD Radio ™ Information (If
Available)........................................................ 385
SIRIUS® Satellite Radio (If Activated)........................................................ 383
Sources................................................................... 381
Supported Media Players, Formats and Metadata Information................................ 390
USB Ports............................................................. 390
485
Flex (), enUSA, First Printing Index