FORD ASPIRE 1996 1.G Owners Manual

182 %
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[SV08750(ALL)04/95]
Octane recommendations
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[SV08800(ALL)06/95]
Your vehicle is designed to use regular
unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 87.At
service stations, the octane rating is displayed in
a label on the pumps.
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[SV08900(ALL)06/95]
one inch art:0060001-C
Typical octane rating label
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[SV08950(ALL)07/95]
In some parts of the country, ªregularº grade
fuels are sold with octane ratings of 86 or even
less, especially in high altitude areas. We
recommend that you do not use these fuels.
Always use a fuel with an octane rating of 87,
even if it is sold as a ªmidgradeº or ªpremium.º
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[SV09200(ALL)06/95]
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes
knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when
you accelerate. However, see your dealer or a
qualified service technician if persistent, heavy
knocking occurs because this can damage the
engine.
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[SV09250(ALL)05/95]
Fuel quality
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[SV09475(ALL)06/95]
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or
hesitation problems when the engine is cold, it
may be caused by fuel with low volatility. Try a
different brand of fuel. If the condition persists,
see your dealer or a qualified service technician.
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[SV09477(ALL)06/95]
Using a high-quality fuel makes your vehicle
more responsive and maintains its good fuel
economy and emissions by:
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[SV09479(ALL)06/95]
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protecting your fuel system from rusting.
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[SV09481(ALL)06/95]
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preventing the fuel lines from freezing.
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183
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[SV09485(ALL)06/95]
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protecting the fuel system from vapor lock in
very hot weather, which causes the engine to
hesitate or stall and makes restarts difficult.
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[SV09487(ALL)06/95]
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minimizing deposits in fuel injectors,
combustion chambers, and on intake valves.
[SV09489(ALL)04/95]
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preventing your fuel system from ªgumming
upº when your vehicle is not used for long
periods of time.
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[SV09491(ALL)06/95]
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preventing your engine from knocking and
pinging.
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[SV09495(ALL)06/95]
It should not be necessary to add any
aftermarket products to your fuel tank if you
continue to use a high-quality fuel.
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[SV09600(ALL)04/95]
Gasolines for clean air
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[SV09900(ALL)06/95]
Fuels in certain areas of the country are required
to contain oxygenates to improve air quality.
Common oxygenates are ethanol or grain alcohol
(blended at no more than 10%), methanol or
wood alcohol (blended at no more than 5% with
cosolvents and additives), and MTBE or methyl
tertiary butyl ether (blended at no more than
15%).
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[SV09950(ALL)06/95]
Reformulated fuel is also required in certain
areas of the U.S. These fuels are designed to
further reduce the emissions from your vehicle.
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[SV10000(ALL)06/95]
Generally, you should not experience difficulties
operating your vehicle on fuels containing
oxygenates. We encourage you to use these
fuels.
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184
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Safety Information Relating to Automotive
Fuels
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RWARNING
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury
or death if misused or mishandled.
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[SV10200(ALL)07/95]
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Turn vehicle off when refueling
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[SV10210(ALL)07/95]
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Do not smoke when refueling. Fuels are
extremely flammable.
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[SV10220(ALL)07/95]
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Do not siphon any fuel by mouth.
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[SV10230(ALL)07/95]
RWARNING
Gasoline or gasoline blended with
methanol can cause blindness and
possible death when swallowed. If any
fuel is swallowed, call a physician or
poison control center immediately.
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[SV10240(ALL)07/95]
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Avoid breathing vapors while refueling.
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[SV10250(ALL)07/95]
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If fuel is splashed on the skin, wash with
soap and water.
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[SV10260(ALL)07/95]
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If fuel is splashed in the eyes, remove contact
lenses (if worn), flush with water for 15
minutes, and seek medical attention.
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[SV10270(ALL)07/95]
Gasoline and gasoline blends may contain small
amounts of carcinogens, such as benzene.
Long-term exposure to unleaded gasoline vapors
has caused cancer in laboratory animals.
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[SV10280(ALL)07/95]
If you are taking the medication ªAntabuseº or
other forms of disulfiram for the treatment of
alcoholism, vapor or skin contact with a
gasoline-methanol blend may cause the same
kind of adverse reaction as drinking an alcoholic
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185
beverage. In sensitive individuals, serious
personal injury or sickness could result. Consult
a physician promptly if you experience an
adverse reaction.
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Running Out of Fuel
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[SV11310(ALL)07/95]
NOTE: Avoid running out of fuel because this
situation may have an adverse effect on
modern powertrain components.
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[SV11320(ALL)07/95]
You may need to crank the engine several times
before the fuel system starts to pump fuel from
the tank to the engine.
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[SV11600(ALL)05/95]
Fuel Economy
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[SV11700(ALL)06/95]
Fuel economy is an estimate of the efficiency of
your vehicle and can be calculated as Miles Per
Gallon (MPG) or Liters Per 100 Kilometers
(L/100K).
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[SV11800(ALL)05/95]
To calculate fuel economy:
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[SV11900(ALL)06/95]
1. Fill the tank completely and record the
initial odometer reading.
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2. Every time you buy fuel record the
amount (in gallons or liters) purchased.
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3. After at least three to five tankfuls, fill the
fuel tank and record the final odometer
reading.
[SV12200(ALL)07/95]
4. Divide the total number of miles that you
have driven by the total number of gallons
that your vehicle has used. In metric,
multiply the number of liters used by 100
and divide the answer by the number of
kilometers traveled. This will give you the
number of liters used per 100 km.
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186 %
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Comparisons With Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Transport
Canada (TC) Fuel Economy Estimates
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[SV12400(ALL)05/95]
EPA fuel economy figures are obtained from
laboratory tests under simulated road conditions
and may not reflect the actual conditions you
experience or your style of driving. The EPA
fuel economy estimate is not a guarantee that
you will achieve the fuel economy shown.
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[SV12500(ALL)06/95]
Improving Fuel Economy
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Fuel economy is affected by a number of
variables which can reduce efficiency. You can
improve fuel economy by understanding these
variables and minimizing their effect.
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[SV12525(ALL)05/95]
The following decrease fuel economy:
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[SV12550(ALL)05/95]
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Lack of regular, scheduled maintenance
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[SV12575(ALL)05/95]
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Excessive speed
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[SV12625(ALL)05/95]
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Rapid acceleration and excessive speed
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[SV12650(ALL)05/95]
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Driving with your foot on the brake
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Sudden stops
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Using speed control in hilly terrain
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Extended use of the A/C, defroster, rear
window defroster and other accessories
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Underinflated tires
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Heavy loads
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Aftermarket add-ons such as bike, ski or
luggage racks, bug deflectors, etc.
[SV13550(ALL)05/95]
NOTE: During extended periods of vehicle
storage (60 days or more) fuel may
deteriorate due to oxidation. This can
damage rubber and other polymers in
the fuel system and may also clog
small orifices.
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187
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Engine Oil Recommendations
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[SV13610(ALL)09/95]
We recommend using Motorcraft oil or an
equivalent oil meeting Ford Specification
WSS-MZC153-F and displaying the American
Petroleum Institute CERTIFICATION MARK on
the front of the container.
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[SV13650(ALL)03/95]
one third page art:0060021-E
The API Certification Mark
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Neveruse:
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[SV13680(ALL)01/95]
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ªNon-Detergentº oils
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[SV13690(ALL)04/95]
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Oils labeled API SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF or SG
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[SV13700(ALL)01/95]
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Additional engine oil additives, oil treatments
or engine treatments
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[SV13710(ALL)03/95]
Engine oils with anSAE 5W-30viscosity are
PREFERREDfor your vehicle. They provide the
best engine performance, fuel economy and
engine protection for all climates down to-15ÊF
(-25ÊC).
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[SV13750(ALL)03/95]
Synthetic engine oils which are CERTIFIED and
of the preferred viscosity may be used in your
engine. The engine oil and oil filter must still be
changed according to the maintenance schedule.
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188
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[SV13775(ALL)01/95]
Checking and Adding Engine Oil
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[SV13800(ALL)03/95]
Since the proper amount of engine oil is
important for safe engine operation, check the oil
using the dipstick each time you put fuel in
your vehicle. Remember the engine must be off,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
parked on level ground.
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[SV13900(ALL)04/95]
Checking the engine oil level:
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[SV14000(ALL)02/95]
1. Turn the engine off after it has warmed up
and allow a few minutes for the engine oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
[SV14050(ALL)04/95]
2. Set the parking brake fully and make sure
the gearshift is securely latched in P (Park)
or 1 (First).
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[SV14100(ALL)02/95]
3. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine
heat.
[SV14200(ALL)03/95]
4. Locate the dipstick (highlighted in yellow)
and carefully pull it out of the engine.
[SV14300(ALL)05/93]
5. Wipe the dipstick clean and put it back into
position, making sure it is fully seated.
[SV14400(ALL)07/93]
quarter page art:0032227-B
Engine oil dipstick
[SV14500(ALL)02/95]
6. Carefully pull the dipstick out again. If the
oil level is at or below the ªLº line, add
engine oil as necessary. If the oil level is
beyond the letter ªFº, engine damage or
high oil consumption may occur and some
oil must be removed from the engine.
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189 [SV14550(ALL)12/93]
NOTE: The distance between the L (low) and
F (full) marks on the dipstick
represents 1.0 liter (1.06 U.S. qts and
0.88 Imp. qts).
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[SV14600(ALL)01/95]
7. Put the dipstick back in and make sure it is
fully seated.
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[SV14800(ALL)01/95]
It may be necessary to add some oil between oil
changes. Make sure you use a CERTIFIED
engine oil of the preferred viscosity. Your
vehicle's warranty coverage may not apply if
engine damage is caused by the use of improper
engine oil.
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[SV15000(ALL)03/95]
Add engine oil through the oil filler cap
highlighted in yellow. To add oil, remove the
filler cap and use a funnel to pour oil into the
opening. Be careful not to overfill the engine.
Recheck the oil level after you finish adding oil.
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[SV16300(ALL)06/95]
Changing the Engine Oil and the Oil Filter
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[SV16400(ALL)04/95]
Change the engine oil and oil filterper the
following, whichever occurs first.
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[SV16500(ALL)04/95]
one third page art:0060618-C
Oil change intervals
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[SV16600(ALL)06/95]
Refer to theMaintenance Schedule and Record
booklet for additional information.
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190 [SV17250(ALL)05/95]NOTE: Always dispose of used automotive
fluids in a responsible manner. Follow
your community's standards for
disposing of these types of fluids. Call
your local recycling center to find out
about recycling automotive fluids.
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[SV17275(ALL)06/95]
RWARNING
Continuous contact with USED motor oil
has caused cancer in laboratory mice.
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[SV17280(ALL)07/95]
Protect your skin by washing with soap and
water.
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[SV17300(ALL)03/95]
Engine Coolant
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[SV17500(ALL)02/95]
Checking the engine coolant
[SV17550(ALL)05/95]
NOTE: Be sure to read and understand
Precautions When Servicing Your
Vehicleat the beginning of this chapter.
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[SV17600(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
The cooling fan is automatic and may
come on at any time. Always disconnect
the negative terminal of the battery before
working near the fan.
%*
[SV17800(ALL)02/95]
Your vehicle's coolant protects your engine from
overheating in the summer and from freezing in
the winter. Check the level of the coolant at least
once a month. Simply look at the engine coolant
reservoir located in the engine compartment. To
locate the reservoir, see the diagram of your
vehicle's engine underEngine Type,in this
chapter.
[SV18000(ALL)04/89]
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If the engine is hot, the reservoir should be
filled with engine coolant to the FULL mark,
and the radiator should be full.
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191 [SV18100(ALL)04/89]
q
If the engine is cold, the reservoir should be
filled with engine coolant to just above the
LOW mark, and the radiator should be full.
[SV18400(ALL)07/93]
one third page art:0032226-A
Engine coolant recovery reservoir
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[SV18500(ALL)01/95]
Adding engine coolant
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[SV18600(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Do not put engine coolant in the container
for the windshield washer fluid.
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[SV18610(ALL)07/95]
If sprayed to clean the glass, engine coolant or
antifreeze could make it difficult to see through
the windshield.
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[SV18650(ALL)06/95]
Add engine coolant only to the coolant
reservoir.If the coolant level is low, add to the
reservoir a 50/50 mixture of water and the type
of engine coolant that Ford specifies. You may
add water by itself only in an emergency, but
you should replace it with a 50/50 mixture as
soon as possible. Check the engine coolant again
the next few times you drive your vehicle.
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[SV18700(ALL)05/95]
RWARNING
Never remove the coolant recovery cap
while the engine is running or hot.
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