fuel Mercury Sable 1997 s Owner's Guide

9. Power steering fluid reservoir
CHECKING AND ADDING ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil
Check the engine oil each time you fuel your
vehicle.
To check the oil:
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground. If the
engine is warm, turn the engine off and wait a few
minutes for the oil to drain into the oil pan.
2. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is
securely latched in P (Park).
3. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
4. Locate and carefully
remove the engine oil
dipstick.
5. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert the dipstick fully,
then remove it again. The oil level should be in the
range shown on the dipstick.
6. If the oil level is below the MIN line or the ADD 1
QUART line, add oil as necessary. If the oil level is
beyond the MAX or FULL line, engine damage or
high engine oil consumption may occur and some oil
must be removed from the engine by a service
technician.
7. Put the dipstick back in and ensure it is fully
seated.
Adding engine oil
1. Check the engine oil. For instructions, refer to
Checking the engine oilin this chapter.
ADD 1 QTFULL
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CHECKING AND ADDING WASHER FLUID
Check the washer fluid
whenever you stop for
fuel. The reservoir is
highlighted with a
washer symbol.
If the level is low, add enough fluid to fill the
reservoir. In very cold weather, do not fill the
reservoir all the way.
Checking and adding washer fluid for the
liftgate (wagon only)
The opening for the reservoir is located on the
passenger side under the tail lamp. Refill this
reservoir with the same fluid you use for your
windshield.
CHECKING AND ADDING ENGINE COOLANT
Check the level of the
coolant in the reservoir
at least once a month.
Be sure to read and
understand
Precautions when
servicing your vehicle
in this chapter.
If the engine coolant has not been checked for a
long period of time, the engine coolant reservoir may
eventually empty. If this occurs, add engine coolant
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²Always dispose of automotive batteries in a
responsible manner. Follow your communities
standards for disposal. Call your local recycling
center to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
CHANGING YOUR AIR FILTER
To replace your air
filter, unclip the two
latches, separate the
housing and remove
the old filter. Wipe the
interior clean before
inserting new air filter.
Lock the two latches.
Do not use oil-impregnated air filters. Filters other
than the ones specified in this owner guide can
cause serious damage. Your warranties may not
apply if your vehicle is damaged because you use
the wrong air filter. Refer toMotorcraft part
numbersin theCapacities and specifications
chapter.
CHECKING AND CHANGING WIPER BLADES
Check the wiper blades at least twice a year or when
they seem less effective than usual. Substances such
as tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes reduce the effectiveness of
wiper blades.
Checking the wiper blades
If the wiper blades do not clean properly, clean the
windshield and wipers. Use an undiluted windshield
washer solution or a mild detergent, then rinse
thoroughly with clear water. Do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner or other solvents to clean
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Replacing the tires
Replace the tires when
the wear band is
visible through the tire
treads.
Failure to follow these precautions may
adversely affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's
original tires may also affect the accuracy of your
speedometer.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to
provide traction in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, you may need to use snow tires and
chains. Follow these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:
²Use only SAE Class S chains.
²Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do
not touch any wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or
bang against your vehicle, stop and re-tighten the
chains. If this does not work, remove the chains
to prevent damage to your vehicle.
²If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
²Do not use tire chains on aluminum wheels.
²Do not use tire chains if your vehicle is equipped
with P225/55VR16 tires.
²Remove the tire chains when they are no longer
needed. Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
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²The suspension insulation and bumpers will help
prevent vehicle damage. Do not remove these
components from your vehicle when using snow
tires and chains.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions
Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in
an overfilled tank may cause leakage and
lead to fuel spray and fire.
If you do not use the proper fuel cap, the
pressure in the fuel tank can damage the
fuel system or cause it to work improperly in a
collision.
The fuel system may be under pressure. If
the fuel cap is venting vapor or if you hear a
hissing sound, wait until it stops before completely
removing the cap.
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or
death if misused or mishandled.
Observe the following guidelines when handling
automotive fuel:
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²Extinguish all
smoking materials
and any open flames
before fueling your
vehicle.
²Always turn off the
vehicle before
fueling.
²Automotive fuels can be harmful or fatal if
swallowed. If fuel is swallowed, call a physician
immediately, even if no symptoms are immediately
apparent. The toxic affects of fuel may not be
visible for hours.
²Fuels can also be harmful if absorbed through the
skin. If fuel is splashed on the skin, promptly
remove contaminated clothing and wash skin
thoroughly with soap and water.
²If fuel is splashed in the eyes, remove contact
lenses, flush with water for 15 minutes and seek
medical attention.
²Be particularly careful if you are taking
ªAntabuseº or other forms of disulfiram for the
treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline vapors
or skin contact could cause an adverse reaction.
Consult a physician immediately.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel
is prohibited by law and could damage your vehicle.
The damage may not be covered by your warranty.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel containing
manganese-based additives such as MMT.
Additionally, vehicles certified to California emission
standards (indicated on the underhood Vehicle
Emissions Control Information label) are designed to
operate on California reformulated gasolines. If
California reformulated gasoline is not available
when you refuel, your vehicle can be operated on
non-California fuels. However, even though your
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engine will perform adequately on other gasolines,
the performance of the emission control devices and
systems may be adversely affected. Repair of
damage caused by using a fuel that your vehicle was
not designed for may not be covered by your
warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is
designed to use regular
gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating
of 87. We do not
recommend gasolines
labeled as ªregularº in
high altitude areas that
are sold with octane
ratings of 86 or even less.
Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes
knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under
most driving conditions on the recommended octane
fuel, see your dealer or a qualified service technician
to prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or
hesitation problems try a different brand of fuel. If
the condition persists, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician.
The American Automobile Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) issued a gasoline specification to provide
information on high quality fuels that optimize the
performance of your vehicle. We recommend the use
of gasolines that meet the AAMA specification if
they are available.
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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Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air
quality, including reformulated gasolines, that
contain oxygenates such as a maximum of 10%
ethanol or 15% MTBE. There should be no more
than 5% methanol with cosolvents and additives to
protect the fuel system.
Calculating fuel economy
To accurately calculate your vehicle's fuel economy:
1. Fill the tank completely and record the initial
odometer reading.
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of
fuel added (in liters or gallons).
3. After at least three to five fuel tank fill-ups, fill
the fuel tank and record the current mileage
reading.
4. Use one of the following equations to calculate
fuel economy.
Liters used x 1004Total kilometers traveled
Total miles traveled4Total gallons used
Keep a record for at least one month. This will
provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle's fuel
economy.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with catalytic converters
which enable your vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission requirements.
Exhaust leaks may result in the entry of
harmful and potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment. Under extreme conditions
excessive exhaust temperatures could damage the
fuel system, the interior floor covering, or other
vehicle components, possibly causing a fire.
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To make sure that the catalytic converter and the
other emission control parts continue to work
properly:
²Use only unleaded fuel.
²Avoid running out of fuel.
²Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is
moving, especially at high speeds.
²Have the services listed in yourService Guide
performed according to the specified schedule.
The Scheduled Maintenance Services listed in the
Service Guideare required because they are
considered essential to the life and performance of
your vehicle and to its emissions system.
Ford strongly recommends the use of genuine Ford
replacement parts. If other than Ford or Motorcraft
parts or Ford authorized parts are used for
maintenance replacements or for the service of
components affecting emission control, such
non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine Ford
Motor Company parts in performance and durability.
It is the owner's responsibility to determine the
equivalency of such parts. Please consult your
Warranty Information Booklet for complete warranty
information.
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine compartment
and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Watch for fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke, loss of
oil pressure, the charging system warning light, the
service engine soon light or the temperature warning
light. These sometimes indicate that the emissions
system is not working properly.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. Changes that cause more
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unburned fuel to reach the exhaust system can
increase the temperature of the engine or exhaust
system.
By law, anyone who manufactures, repairs, services,
sells, leases, trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles is not permitted to intentionally remove an
emission control device or prevent it from working.
In some of the United States and Canada, vehicle
owners may be liable if their emission control device
is removed or prevented from working.
Never use a metal exhaust collector when you
service your vehicle. If the metal collector contacts
any of your vehicle's plastic trim or bumper parts
they could melt or deform.
Do not drive your vehicle if it does not operate
properly. See your dealer if the engine runs on for
more than five seconds after you shut it off or if it
misfires, surged, stalls or backfires.
Information about your vehicle's emission system is
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information decal
located on or near the engine. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Readiness for inspection/maintenance testing
In some localities, it may become a legal
requirement to pass an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
test of the On-board Diagnostic (OBD) II system. If
the vehicle's powertrain system or its battery has
just been serviced, the OBD II system is reset to a
not ready for I/M testing condition. To prepare for
I/M testing, the law specifies that additional mixed
city and highway driving is required to complete the
check of the OBD II system.
The driving modes required to reach the ready
condition consist of a minimum of 30 minutes of city
and highway driving as described below:
²At least twenty minutes driving in stop and go,
city type traffic with at least four idle periods.
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