towing FORD ESCAPE 2006 1.G Owner's Manual

Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of MPG (L/100 km)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
261

checking the pressure ............144
inspecting and inflating .........144
label .........................................151
replacing ..................................146
rotating ....................................154
safety practices .......................153
sidewall information ...............147
snow tires and chains ............155
spare tire .................................204
terminology .............................143
tire grades ...............................142
treadwear ........................142, 152
Towing .......................................163
recreational towing .................168
trailer towing ..........................163
wrecker ....................................220
Transaxle
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................267
manual operation ....................181
Transmission
automatic operation ...............176
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....176
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................265
fluid, refill capacities ..............270
lubricant specifications ..272, 274Turn signal ..................................46
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................274
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................277
Vehicle loading ..........................156
Ventilating your vehicle ...........172
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................241
Water, Driving through .............193
Windows
power .........................................57
rear wiper/washer .....................53
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....241
liftgate reservoir .....................241
operation ...................................52
replacing wiper blades ...........242
Wrecker towing .........................220
2006 Escape(204)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
287