2000 Ford Ranger Owner's Manual - Page 187

Maintenance and care death or permanent injury. If fuel is swallowed, call a physician immediately, even if no symptoms are immediately apparent. The toxic effects of fuel may not be visible for hours. • Avoid inhaling fuel vapors. Inhaling too much fuel vapor of any kind can lead to eye and respiratory tract irritation. In severe cases, excessive or prolonged breathing of fuel vapor can cause serious illness and permanent injury. • Avoid getting fuel liquid in your eyes. If fuel is splashed in the eyes, remove contact lenses (if worn), flush with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention. Failure to seek proper medical attention could lead to permanent injury. • Fuels can also be harmful if absorbed through the skin. If fuel is splashed on the skin and/or clothing, promptly remove contaminated clothing and wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. Repeated or prolonged skin contact with fuel liquid or vapor causes skin irritation. • Be particularly careful if you are taking "Antabuse" or other forms of disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline and/or ethanol vapors, or skin contact could cause an adverse reaction. In sensitive individuals, serious personal injury or sickness may result. If fuel is splashed on the skin, promptly wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. Consult a physician immediately if you experience an adverse reaction. • FFV fuel tanks may contain zero to 85 percent or more of ethanol. Any fuel blends containing gasoline and ethanol should be treated the same as "Fuel Ethanol (E85)". Pure ethanol is the alcohol which is the intoxicating agent in liquor, beer and wine. It is distilled from the fermentation of plants such as field corn and sugar cane. When ethanol is used in the making of motor fuels, a small amount of a bad tasting chemical is added to discourage beverage use. The resulting fuel is called Ed 100 meaning 100% pure ethanol diluted by 2% to 5% gasoline as the "denaturant." Fuel ethanol (Ed 85) is then made by adding 15% more unleaded gasoline. The resulting fuel also has a higher octane rating than unleaded regular gasoline and other properties which allow engine designs with greater efficiency and power. Winter blends may contain up to 30% unleaded gasoline (25% plus the denaturant) to enhance cold engine starts. Severely cold weather may require additional measures for reliable starting. Refer to Cold Weather Starting in the Starting chapter. 187