
Maximum trailer weight
*
Powertrain
1,000 lb (454 kg)
2.0L GTDI
1,000 lb (454 kg)
3.0L V6 GTDI
* Calculated with SAE J2807 method.
251
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing

ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines for safe towing:
•
Do not tow a trailer until you drive your
vehicle at least 1000 miles (1600
kilometers).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws for
towing a trailer.
• See the instructions included with towing
accessories for the proper installation
and adjustment specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. See your scheduled
maintenance information.
• If you use a rental trailer, follow the
instructions the rental agency gives you.
You can find information on load
specification terms found on the tire label
and Safety Compliance label as well as
instructions on calculating your vehicle's load
in the Load Carrying chapter. See Load Limit
(page 244).
Remember to account for the trailer tongue
weight as part of your vehicle load when
calculating the total vehicle weight. Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note:
Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the hook
retainers of your vehicle hitch.
To connect the safety chains, cross them
under the trailer tongue and allow enough
slack for turning tight corners. Do not allow
the chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your vehicle's
brake system. Your vehicle may not have
enough braking power and your chances of
having a collision greatly increase. Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if you install
them properly and adjust them to the
manufacturer's specifications. The trailer
brakes must meet local and federal
regulations.
The rating for the tow vehicle's braking
system operation is at the gross vehicle
weight rating, not the gross combined
weight rating.
Separate functioning brake systems are
required for safe control of towed vehicles
and trailers weighing more than 1500
pounds (680 kilograms) when load.
Trailer Lamps
WARNING
Never connect any trailer lamp wiring
to the vehicle's tail lamp wiring; this
may damage the electrical system resulting
in fire. Contact your authorized dealer as
soon as possible for assistance in proper
trailer tow wiring installation. Additional
electrical equipment may be required. 252
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing

Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Make sure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing up to
get the feel of your vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip. When
turning, make wider turns so the trailer
wheels clear curbs and other obstacles.
When Towing a Trailer
•
Do not drive faster than 70 mph (113
km/h) during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers).
• Do not make full-throttle starts.
• Check your hitch, electrical connections
and trailer wheel lug nuts thoroughly after
you have traveled 50 miles (80
kilometers).
• When stopped in congested or heavy
traffic during hot weather, place the
gearshift in position P to aid engine and
transmission cooling and to help A/C
performance. •
Turn off the speed control with heavy
loads or in hilly terrain. The speed control
may turn off automatically when you are
towing on long, steep grades.
• Shift to a lower gear when driving down
a long or steep hill. Do not apply the
brakes continuously, as they may
overheat and become less effective.
• If your transmission is equipped with a
Grade Assist or Tow/Haul feature, use
this feature when towing. This provides
engine braking and helps eliminate
excessive transmission shifting for
optimum fuel economy and transmission
cooling.
• Allow more distance for stopping with a
trailer attached. Anticipate stops and
brake gradually.
• Avoid parking on a grade. However, if
you must park on a grade:
1. Turn the steering wheel to point your vehicle tires away from traffic flow.
2. Set your vehicle parking brake.
3. Place the automatic transmission in position
P. 4. Place wheel chocks in front and back of
the trailer wheels. (Chocks not included
with vehicle.)
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or
Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Note: Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before
backing the trailer into the water.
Note: Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after
removing the trailer from the water.
When backing down a ramp during boat
launching or retrieval:
• Do not allow the static water level to rise
above the bottom edge of the rear
bumper.
• Do not allow waves to break higher than
6 inches (15 centimeters) above the
bottom edge of the rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow water to
enter vehicle components:
• Causing internal damage to the
components.
• Affecting driveability, emissions, and
reliability.
253
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing

Replace the rear axle lubricant anytime you
submerge the rear axle in water. Water may
contaminate the rear axle lubricant, which is
not a normal maintenance inspection item
unless there is a possibility of a leak or other
axle repair is required.
TOWING THE VEHICLE ON FOUR
WHEELS
Emergency Towing
WARNING
If your vehicle has a steering wheel
lock make sure the ignition is in the
accessory or on position when being towed. You can flat-tow (all wheels on the ground,
regardless of the powertrain/transmission
configuration) your disabled vehicle (without
access to wheel dollies, car-hauling trailer,
or flatbed transport vehicle) under the
following conditions:
•
Your vehicle is facing forward so you tow
it in a forward direction.
• You place the transmission in position N.
If you cannot place the transmission in
position
N, you may need to override it.
See Transmission (page 173).
• Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
• Maximum distance is 50 miles (80
kilometers).
Recreational Towing
Note: Put your climate control system in
recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust
fumes from entering the vehicle.
See
Climate Control (page 134). Follow these guidelines if you have a need
for recreational (RV) towing. An example of
recreational towing would be towing your
vehicle behind a motorhome. These
guidelines are to make sure you do not
damage the transmission during towing.
Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L Engine
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
CANNOT
be flat-towed (all wheels on the ground) as
vehicle or transmission damage may occur.
You must place the front wheels on a
two-wheel tow dolly. If you are using a tow
dolly, follow the instructions specified by the
equipment provider.
All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles CANNOT be
flat-towed (all wheels on the ground), as
vehicle or transmission damage may occur.
It is recommended to tow your vehicle with
all four (4) wheels off the ground such as
when using a car-hauling trailer. Otherwise,
you cannot tow your vehicle.
254
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing

Vehicles Equipped with a 3.0L Engine
You can tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground using the Neutral Tow feature,
or with all four wheels off the ground using
a vehicle transport trailer. If you are using a
vehicle transport trailer, follow the instruction
specified by the equipment provider.
If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground:
•
Tow only in the forward direction.
• Release the parking brake.
Neutral Tow
Enter Neutral Tow mode by doing the
following:
1. Put the ignition in accessory mode by pressing the engine START button
without pressing the brake pedal.
2. Select the neutral tow option under the vehicle settings menu in the information
display. See General Information (page
108).
3. Press and hold the OK button to start the
neutral tow process. 4. Press the brake pedal and select
N on
the push-button transmission.
5. Turn the ignition off by pressing the engine START button without pressing
the brake pedal.
If the process completes successfully:
• the
N on the push-button transmission
blinks slowly
• A confirmation message appears in the
information display.
Note: If the parking brake is applied, a
message appears in the information display.
Note: Do not exceed 65 mph (105 km/h).
Note: Start the engine and allow it to run for
five minutes at the beginning of each day
and every six hours (or fewer). Shut the
engine off and verify that a message
appears indicating neutral tow has been
engaged, before continuing to tow.
Exit Neutral Tow mode, make sure the
ignition is on (engine can be on or off ), press
the brake pedal and select
P on the
push-button transmission. If the process is completed successfully, a
message appears indicating that neutral tow
has disengaged in both the instrument
cluster and push-button transmission display
P
.
255
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Towing

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
Vehicles Sold in the United States:
Getting Roadside Assistance
If you ever need help on the road, the Lincoln
Motor Company is there for you with
nationwide, 24-hours-a-day,
seven-days-a-week assistance.
The service is available:
•
Throughout the life of the vehicle for
original owners.
• For six years or 68,351 mi (110,000 km)
(whichever comes first) within the
extended powertrain warranty coverage
period for subsequent owners.
• For the coverage period listed on the
Roadside Assistance Card included in
your Owner's Manual portfolio.
This complimentary Roadside Assistance
program is separate from the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty, and includes:
• A flat tire change with a good spare
(except vehicles supplied with a tire
inflation kit).
• Battery jump start. •
Lock-out assistance (key replacement
cost is the client's responsibility).
• Fuel delivery — independent service
contractors, if not prohibited by state,
local or municipal law shall deliver up to
2 gal (8 L)
of gasoline or 5 gal (20 L) of
diesel fuel to a disabled vehicle.
Roadside Assistance limits fuel delivery
service to two no-charge occurrences
within a 12-month period.
• Winch out — available within 98 ft (30 m)
of a paved or county maintained road,
no recoveries.
• Towing — independent service
contractors, if not prohibited by state,
local or municipal law shall tow Lincoln
eligible vehicles to the client's selling or
preferred dealer within 99 mi (160 km) of
the disablement location or to the nearest
Lincoln dealer. If a client requests a tow
to a selling or preferred dealer that is
more than
99 mi (160 km) from the
disablement location, the client shall be
responsible for any mileage costs in
excess of
99 mi (160 km). Roadside Assistance includes up to $200
coverage for a towed trailer if the disabled
eligible vehicle requires service at the
nearest authorized dealer. If the towing
vehicle is operational but the trailer is not,
then the trailer does not qualify for any
roadside services.
Vehicles Sold in the United States:
Using Roadside Assistance
United States Lincoln vehicle clients who
require Roadside Assistance, call
1-800-521-4140.
If you need to arrange roadside assistance
for yourself, Lincoln Motor Company will
reimburse a reasonable amount for towing
to the nearest Lincoln dealership within 99 mi
(160 km)
. To obtain reimbursement
information, United States Lincoln vehicle
clients, call 1-800-521-4140. Lincoln Motor
Company will ask you to submit your original
receipts.
259
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Roadside Emergencies

If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, the
engine may temporarily reach higher a
temperature during severe operating
conditions, for example ascending a long or
steep grade in high ambient temperatures.
At this time, you may notice the coolant
temperature gauge moves toward the red
zone and a message may appear in the
information display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle speed
caused by reduced engine power. In order
to manage the engine coolant temperature.
Your vehicle may enter this mode if certain
high-temperature and high-load conditions
take place. The amount of speed reduction
depends on vehicle loading, grade and
ambient temperature. If this occurs, there is
no need to pull off the road. You can
continue to drive your vehicle.
The air conditioning may automatically turn
on and off during severe operating
conditions to protect the engine from
overheating. When the coolant temperature
decreases to the normal operating
temperature, the air conditioning turns on.
If the coolant temperature gauge moves fully
into the red zone, or if the coolant
temperature warning or service engine soon
messages appear in your information display,
do the following:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely
possible and shift the transmission into
park (P).
2. Leave the engine running until the coolant temperature gauge needle
returns to the normal position. After
several minutes, if the temperature does
not drop, follow the remaining steps.
3. Switch the engine off and wait for it to cool. Check the coolant level.
4. If the coolant level is at or below the minimum mark, add prediluted coolant
immediately.
5. If the coolant level is normal, restart the engine and continue. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID CHECK
6F35/HF35 transmission
(If Equipped)
Note: Transmission fluid should be checked
by an authorized dealer. If required, fluid
should be added by an authorized dealer.
The automatic transmission does not have
a transmission fluid dipstick.
Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for scheduled intervals for fluid
checks and changes. Your transmission does
not consume fluid. However, the fluid level
should be checked if the transmission is not
working properly, (For example: if the
transmission slips or shifts slowly) or if you
notice some sign of fluid leakage.
See
Scheduled Maintenance (page 495).
Do not use supplemental transmission fluid
additives, treatments or cleaning agents. The
use of these materials may affect
transmission operation and result in damage
to internal transmission components.
307
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Maintenance

6F50/6F55 Transmission (If Equipped)
WARNINGS
The dipstick cap and surrounding
components may be hot; gloves are
recommended. Use gloves when moving the air filter
assembly. Components will be hot.
Note:
Automatic transmission fluid expands
when warmed. To obtain an accurate fluid
check, drive the vehicle until it is warmed up
(approximately 20 miles [30 kilometers]). If
your vehicle has been operated for an
extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the
vehicle should be turned off until normal
operating temperatures are reached to allow
the fluid to cool before checking. Depending
on vehicle use, cooling times could take up
to 30 minutes or longer. Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for scheduled intervals for fluid
checks and changes. Your transmission does
not consume fluid. However, the fluid level
should be checked if the transmission is not
working properly. For example, if the
transmission slips or shifts slowly or if you
notice some sign of fluid leakage.
1.
Drive the vehicle 20 miles (30 kilometers)
or until it reaches normal operating
temperature
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your
foot on the brake pedal, start the engine
and move the gearshift lever through all
of the gear ranges. Allow a minimum of
10 seconds for each gear to engage.
4. Put the gearshift lever in
P (Park) and
leave the engine running.
Note: You will need to move the air filter
assembly to access the transmission
dipstick. 5.
Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with
a clean, dry lint free rag. If necessary,
refer to Under hood overview in this
chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube by turning it to
the locked position.
7. Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid
level. The fluid should be in the
designated areas for normal operating
temperature.
Moving the Air Filter Assembly (Accessing
the Dipstick) WARNING
Do not run engine with the air filter
disconnected.
308
MKZ (CC9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing Maintenance