1997 Ford Probe Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 220

refuel, your vehicle can be operated on non-California fuels. However, even though your 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 2.0L engine is designed to use regular gasoline with an (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recommend gasolines labeled as "regular" in high altitude areas that are sold with octane ratings of 86 or even less. Your 2.5L engine is designed to use premium gasoline for optimum performance with an (R+M)/2 octane rating of 91 or higher. Gasolines with lower octane ratings can be used, but performance may decrease. We do not recommend gasolines labeled as "premium" in high altitude areas that are sold with octane ratings less than 91. 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 218