1999 Ford Explorer Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 234

Maintenance and care 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. • Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than two-wheel-drive operation. • 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 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: • Use only unleaded fuel. • Avoid running out of fuel. 234