fuel Mercury Sable 1999 s Owner's Guide

2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of
fuel added (in liters or gallons).
3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the
fuel tank and record the current kilometer (mileage)
reading.
4. Follow one of the simple calculations in order to
determine fuel economy:
Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total
kilometers traveled.
Divide total miles traveled by total gallons
used.
Keep a record for at least one month and record the
type of driving (city or highway). This will provide
an accurate estimate of the vehicle's fuel economy.
Additionally, keeping records during summer and
winter will show how temperature impacts fuel
economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower
fuel economy.
Driving style Ð good driving and fuel economy
habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you
may be able to change a number of variables and
improve your fuel economy.
Habits
²Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10%
savings in fuel.
²Steady speeds without stopping will usually give
the best fuel economy.
²Idling for long periods of time (greater than one
minute) may waste fuel.
²Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate
the need to stop.
²Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel
economy.
²Slow down gradually.
Maintenance and care
164

²Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 105 km/h
[65 mph] uses 15% more fuel than traveling at
88 km/h [55 mph]).
²Revving the engine before turning it off may
reduce fuel economy.
²Use of the air conditioner or defroster may reduce
fuel economy.
²Use of speed control (if equipped) may improve
fuel economy. Speed control can help maintain a
constant speed and reduce speed changes. You
may want to turn off the speed control in hilly
terrain as unnecessary shifting between third and
fourth gears may occur and could result in
reduced fuel economy.
²Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not
required and may reduce fuel economy.
²Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving
may reduce fuel economy.
²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go
driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only
recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of
alignment will reduce fuel economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant
Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance
items. Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule and owner maintenance checks found in
your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may
reduce fuel economy at any speed.
Maintenance and care
165

²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel
economy (approximately 2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost
for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for
example bug deflectors, rollover/light bars,
running boards, ski/luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
²Use of fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel
economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 12±16 km
(8±10 miles) of driving.
²Flat terrain driving improves fuel economy over
hilly roads.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when
operated in the top cruise gear and with steady
pressure on the gas pedal.
²Close 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 Km/L (MPG) expected on
the vehicle, depending upon the driver's method of
operation and conditions.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with various emission
control components and a catalytic converter which
will enable your vehicle to comply with applicable
exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the
catalytic converter and other emission control
components continue to work properly:
Maintenance and care
166

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 items listed in your Scheduled
Maintenance Guide performed according to the
specified schedule.
The scheduled maintenance items listed in the
Scheduled Maintenance Guide are essential to the
life and performance of your vehicle and to its
emissions system.
If other than Ford, Motorcraft or Ford-authorized
parts are used for maintenance replacements or for
service of components affecting emission control,
such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine
Ford Motor Company parts in performance and
durability.
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.
Illumination of the charging system warning light,
ªService Engine Soonº light or the temperature
warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or
loss of oil pressure, could indicate that the emission
control system is not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful
and potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases,
trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from working.
Maintenance and care
167

Waxing your vehicle
Wax when water stops beading on the surface. This
could be every three or four months, depending on
operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to remove
any bugs and tar before waxing vehicle. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.
Avoid getting wax on the windshield. If you have
wax applied at a commercial car wash, it is
recommended that you clean the wiper blades and
windshield as described inCleaning the wiper
blades and windshield.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with touch-up paint, repair foil or
aerosol paint spray from the Ford Car Care
Chemicals line. Observe the application instructions
on the products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash with the same detergent as the body of your
vehicle. Do not use acid-based or alcohol-based
wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will damage the finish of
special wheel surfaces. Use a tar remover to remove
grease and tar.
The brushes used in some automatic car washes may
damage the finish on your wheels. Before going to a
car wash, find out if the brushes are abrasive.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup keep the engine
warmer than normal. When washing:
Maintenance and care
176

²Never wash or rinse the engine while it is
running; water in the running engine may cause
internal damage.
Cleaning plastic exterior parts
Use vinyl cleaner for routine cleaning. Clean with a
tar remover if necessary. Do not clean plastic parts
with thinners, solvents or petroleum-based cleaners.
Cleaning the exterior lamps
Wash with the same detergent as the exterior of
your vehicle. Use glass cleaner or tar remover if
necessary.
To avoid scratching the lamps, do not use a dry
paper towel, chemical solvents or abrasive cleaners.
Cleaning the wiper blades and windshield
If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean the
wiper blade rubber element with undiluted
windshield washer solution or a mild detergent. To
avoid damaging the blades, do not use fuel,
kerosene, paint thinner or other solvents.
If the wiper still does not wipe properly, this could
be caused by substances on the windshield such as
tree sap and some hot wax treatments used by
commercial car washes. Clean the outside of the
windshield with a non-abrasive cleanser such as the
non-abrasive Bon-Amitpowder. Rinse thoroughly
with clean water.Do notuse abrasive cleansers on
glass as they may cause scratches. The windshield is
clean if beads do not form when you rinse it with
water. The windshield and wiper blades should be
cleaned on a regular basis, and blades or rubber
elements replaced when worn.
Cleaning the instrument panel
Clean with a damp cloth, then dry with a dry cloth.
Avoid cleaner or polish that increases the gloss of
the upper portion of the instrument panel. The dull
Maintenance and care
178

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 3.0L V6 Vulcan
engine3.0L V6
Duratec engine
Air filter
elementFA-1630 FA-1630
Fuel filter FG-800-A FG-800-A
Battery
(standard)BXT-58R BXT-36R
Battery
(optional)BXT-36R N/A
Oil filter FL-400-S FL-820-S
PCV valve EV-228 EV-152
Spark plugs* AWSF-32PP** AWSF-32F
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information
(VECI) decal for spark plug gap information.
** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it must
be reinstalled in the same cylinder. Cylinders No. 1,
2 and 3 have a ªPGº suffix. Cylinders No. 4, 5 and 6
have a ªPº suffix. If a spark plug needs to be
replaced, use only spark plugs with the service part
number suffix letter9PP9as shown on the engine
decal.
Capacities and specifications
180

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameAppli-
cationCapacity
Brake fluid High Per-
formance
DOT 3
Motor
Vehicle
Brake
FluidAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Engine
coolant
1Premium
Engine
Coolant3.0L V6
Vulcan
engine11.0L
(11.6 quarts)
3.0L V6
Duratec
engine10.0L
(10.6 quarts)
Engine oil
(includes
filter
change)Motorcraft
5W-30
Super
Premium
Motor Oil3.0 V6
Vulcan
engine4.25L
(4.5 quarts)
3.0L V6
Duratec
engine5.2L
(5.5 quarts)
Fuel tank
capacityN/A All
vehicles60.6L
(16.0 gallons)
Power
steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT F3.0L V6
Vulcan
engineKeep in FULL
range on
dipstick
3.0L V6
Duratec
engineFill to line on
reservoir
Capacities and specifications
181

ItemsFord Part
Name or
equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specifi-
cation
Engine
coolantFord
Premium
Engine
CoolantE2FZ-
19549-AA
(in Oregon,
F5FZ-
19549-CC,
in Canada,
Motorcraft
CXC-10)ESE-
M97B44-A
Power
steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONt
AT FXT-2-QDX MERCONt
Windshield
washer
fluidUltra-Clear
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateC9AZ-
19550-ACESR-
M17P5-A
ENGINE DATA
Engine 3.0L V6
Vulcan engine3.0L V6
Duratec
engine
Cubic inches 182 183
Horsepower 145 @
5250 rpm200 @
5750 rpm
Torque 170 lb.-ft. @
3250 rpm200 lb.-ft. @
4500 rpm
Recommended
fuel87 octane 87 octane
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6 1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark plug gap 1.07-1.17 mm
(0.042-
0.046 inch)1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-
00.056 inch)
Ignition system EDIS EDIS
Compression
ratio9.3:1 10:1
Capacities and specifications
184

GETTING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
To fully assist you should you have a vehicle
concern, Ford offers a complimentary roadside
assistance program. This program is separate from
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The service is
available:
²24±hours, seven days a week
²for the Basic warranty period (Canada) or New
Vehicle Limited Warranty period (U.S.) of three
years or 60,000 km (36,000 miles), whichever
comes first on Ford and Mercury vehicles, and
four years or 80,000 km (50,000 miles) on Lincoln
vehicles
In the United States, you may purchase additional
roadside assistance coverage beyond this period
through the Ford Auto Club by contacting your Ford
or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
Roadside assistance will cover:
²changing a flat tire
²jump-starts
²lock-out assistance
²fuel delivery
²towing to the nearest Ford of Canada or Ford
Motor Company dealership, or towing to your
selling dealership if within 56 km (35 miles). Even
non-warranty related tows, like accidents or
getting stuck in the mud or snow, are covered
(some exclusions apply, such as impound towing
or repossession).
Using roadside assistance
Complete the roadside assistance identification card
and place it in your wallet for quick reference. In the
United States, this card is found in the Owner Guide
portfolio in the glove compartment in Ford vehicles
and is mailed to you if you own a Mercury or
Lincoln. In Canada, it's found in the Roadside
Assistance book in the glove compartment.
Customer assistance
189