GAUGES
Oil temperature gauge.A
Turbocharger boost gauge.B
Oil pressure gauge.C
Oil Temperature Gauge
If the needle enters the red section, theengine is overheating. Reduce enginespeed as soon as safely possible to allowthe engine to cool. If you continue tooperate the engine at high engine speedswith the needle in the red section, theengine speed reduces automatically toprevent engine damage.
Turbocharger Boost Gauge
Indicates the added intake pressureprovided by the turbocharger.
Oil Pressure Gauge
Oil pressure varies with engine speed. Thepressure rises as engine speed rises anddrops as engine speed drops.
If the needle enters the red section awarning lamp illuminates and a messageappears in the information display. Stopyour vehicle as soon as it is safe to do soand switch the engine off. Check theengine oil level.
WARNING LAMPS AND
INDICATORS
Performance Shift Indicator
It illuminates when thepowertrain reaches the optimumupshift point. It flashes when theengine is close to hitting the engine speedlimiter.
72018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingInstrument ClusterE215771 E218767
GENERAL INFORMATION
Launch Control
The system configures the chassis andpowertrain systems to deliver the fastest
possible acceleration when launching froma standing start.
Note: When you switch the feature on, itis only active once. You must switch thefeature on each time it is required.
To switch the feature on, do the following:
Note:Your vehicle must be completely stationary.
ActionStep
Fully press the clutch pedal and shift the gearshift lever to first gear.1
Access the following menus using the information display control.2
Expand the menu and then scroll to the followingmenu item.Settings3
Expand the menu and then scroll to the followingmenu item.Driver Assist4
Check the box to switch the feature on.Launch Control5
Fully press the accelerator pedal. Engine speed automatically limits to 5000RPM.6
Quickly release the clutch pedal when ready to launch.7
Note: Only use launch control when the front wheels are in the straight ahead position.Make sure there are no objects in front of your vehicle.
The system does not operate in any of thefollowing conditions:
•The transmission is in reverse (R).
•The engine has not reached normaloperating temperature.
INFORMATION MESSAGES
Message Indicator
The message indicatorilluminates to supplement somemessages.
The indicator is red or amber dependingon the severity of the condition and itremains on until the condition is resolved.
A system-specific symbol with a messageindicator may supplement somemessages.
82018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingInformation Displays
Note:Do not rock the vehicle if the engineis not at normal operating temperature ordamage to the transmission may occur.
Note:Do not rock the vehicle for more thana few minutes or damage to thetransmission and tires may occur or theengine may overheat.
Sand
Most of the time traction control improvestire traction by managing wheel slipthrough brake, engine, and all-wheel drivecalibrations. However, during low speeddriving, disabling traction control in deepsand can help keep the wheels moving tomaintain vehicle momentum.
When driving over sand, try to keep all fourwheels on the most solid area of the trail.Do not reduce tire pressures, shift to alower gear and drive steadily through theterrain. Apply the accelerator slowly andavoid spinning the wheels.
When driving at slow speeds in sand underhigh outside temperatures, use a low gearwhen possible. Using a low gear maximizesengine and transmission cooling capability.
Avoid excessive speed because vehiclemomentum can work against you andcause the vehicle to become stuck to thepoint that assistance may be required fromanother vehicle. Remember, you may beable to back out the way you came if youproceed with caution.
Note:You may be able to reverse out theway you came if you proceed with caution.
Do not drive your vehicle in deep sand foran extended period of time. This couldcause the system to overheat and defaultto front-wheel drive only mode. If thisoccurs a message appears in theinformation display. To resume normalall-wheel drive function as soon aspossible, stop the vehicle in a safe locationand switch the engine off for at least 10minutes. After the all-wheel drive system
has adequately cooled and the engine hasbeen restarted, the message turns off andnormal all-wheel drive function returns. Ifyou do not switch the engine off, themessage only turns off, when the systemadequately cools and the normal all-wheeldrive function returns.
Note:Under severe operating conditions,the air conditioning may turn on and off toprotect the engine from overheating.
Mud and Water
If you must drive through water, driveslowly. Traction or brake capability maybe limited. See Driving Through Water(page 23).
Once through water, always try the brakes.Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle aseffectively as dry brakes. Drying can beimproved by moving your vehicle slowlywhile applying light pressure on the brakepedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehiclespeed or direction when you are driving inmud. Even all-wheel drive vehicles can losetraction in slick mud. Apply the acceleratorslowly and avoid spinning the wheels.
After driving through mud, clean offexcessive mud that has become stuck torotating drive shafts, wheels and tires.Excessive mud stuck on these componentsmay result in an imbalance that couldcause damage not covered by the vehicleWarranty.
If the transmission, power transfer unit orrear drive unit is submerged in water haveyour vehicle checked as soon as possible.
152018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingAll-Wheel Drive
We recommend that you only operate yourvehicle at high speeds at locationsdesigned to do so safely. Your vehicle haselectronic controls that may reduce poweror limit engine speed to help reducepowertrain temperatures if required.
Note:When using your vehicle on a track,have the vehicle serviced more frequently.This recommendation may not necessarilyprotect your vehicle or engine from damagein competition conditions. Increased wearand noise to certain parts of your vehiclemay also occur, for example brakes andtires. The vehicle Warranty may not covermechanical failure or damage caused toyour vehicle as a result of track use.
Steering Assistance
Steering assistance reduces andrequires more steering effortwhen you select sport or trackfrom the drive modes menu. See DriveControl (page 20).
Prolonged track driving can result in highsteering gear temperatures. If the steeringgear overheats, you will notice a furtherincrease in steering effort being required.
High steering gear temperatures can bereduced by doing any of the following:
•Reducing vehicle speed.
•Reducing steering input.
Normal track mode steering assistancereturns when the system cools down.
Note:Steering gear cooling time can bereduced if you leave the ignition switchedon while taking a pit stop.
Before Track Use
Before operating your vehicle on a track,check the following:
•Tire pressures. See Tire Pressures(page 35). Do not exceed a cold tirepressure of 50 psi (3.4 bar) for trackuse.
•Wheels and tires for wear and damage.
•Engine coolant, engine oil and brakefluid levels.
Do not operate your vehicle on a trackwhile:
•Carrying more than two peopleincluding the driver.
•Carrying cargo in the luggagecompartment.
•Carrying cargo or loose objects insideyour vehicle.
After Track Use
After track use, leave the engine runningfor a short time to allow it to reach thenormal operating temperature. Ifconditions allow, complete a cool downlap prior to taking a pit stop. Failure toallow the engine to sufficiently cool mayresult in a high coolant temperaturewarning message appearing in theinformation display.
You must replace the rear drive unit fluidafter 500 mi (800 km) of track use, or ifthe following message appears in theinformation display, whichever occurs first.
AWD System Oil Change Due
See All-Wheel Drive (page 13).
302018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingTrack Use
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
INFORMATION
Protecting Your Investment
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligentoil life monitoring system. Under normaloperating conditions, a message appearsin the information display to indicate theregular oil change interval. Highperformance vehicles tend to be driven insuch a way that the engine experienceshigh speed and high load. As a result, someoil consumption could occur and themessage appears earlier than the regularoil change interval. If you drive your vehiclethis way, we recommend that you checkthe engine oil level every 2,000 mi(3,000 km) and fill the engine to themaximum mark on the engine oil dipstick.
Note:Do not add oil further than themaximum mark.
442018 Focus RS (CEW) RS, Canada/United States of America, JM5J 19A285 LAA enUSA, Edition date: 201706, First PrintingScheduled Maintenance