Octane Recommendation; Fuel Quality; Cleaner Air - Mercury Tracer 1997 Owner's Manual

Maintenance and care

Octane Recommendation

Your vehicle 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.
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 quality
fuels that optimize the
performance of your vehicle. We
recommend the use of gasolines
that meet the AAMA specification
if they are available.
It should not be necessary to add
any aftermarket products to your
fuel tank if you continue to use a
high-quality fuel.

Cleaner Air

Ford approves the use of gasolines
to improve air quality, including
reformulated gasolines, that
contain oxygenates such as a
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