1998 Ford Mustang Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 162

Maintenance and care • Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving. 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 to Lubricant Specifications. • Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide. Conditions • Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy at any speed. • Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately 2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried). • Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug deflectors, rollover/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may reduce fuel economy. • Use of fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy. • Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first 12-16 km (8-10 miles) of driving. • Flat terrain driving improves fuel economy over hilly roads. • 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. 162