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Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Maintenance & Repair

143 messages,  Last post on Mar 08, 2013 at 12:24 AM

You are in the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Auto Repair, Sedan

    
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Messages Page 14 of 15

#126 of 143 Realization about tire sizes. by pod

Oct 16, 2012 (9:44 am)

I am not too bright. When I have heard about people going to wider tires I always assumed the difference was considerable. Then I thought about it. The width difference between a 215/17 tire and a 225/17 tire is 10 mm! That is one centimeter. That is approximately 1/3 of an inch.
 
In retrospect I now realize that adding 10 mm to the base of 215mm isn't even increasing the width by 5%. I did not appreciate the very small steps that tire width increments provide.
Yet, presumably, the gain in grip is considerable. Surprising.

#127 of 143 Re: Realization about tire sizes. [pod] by akirby

Oct 16, 2012 (10:09 am)

Replying to: pod (Oct 16, 2012 9:44 am)
If you consider that only a tiny portion of the tire itself is actually in contact with the road at any given point in time, an increase of 10 mm is a bigger increase in contact patch percentage wise.

#128 of 143 Re: Realization about tire sizes. [akirby] by pod

Oct 17, 2012 (6:13 am)

Replying to: akirby (Oct 16, 2012 10:09 am)
Whatever the area of the contact patch, increasing it's width by 5% would result in a 5% areal change (Area=L xW). In any case, I find it remarkable that the increase in width is so small from one size to the next. I guess my notion stems from my long history of cars with 16" wheels and narrow tires where 225s wouldn't fit in the wheel well or they would chide against the sheet metal on extreme turns. I always pictured them as being very much wider than my "little, thin" tires. I guess not so.-----

#129 of 143 Re: Realization about tire sizes. [pod] by akirby

Oct 17, 2012 (2:27 pm)

Replying to: pod (Oct 17, 2012 6:13 am)
I was thinking there would be a larger percentage increase in the contact patch since it's way smaller than the circumference of the tire but you're correct - a 5% change in one dimension is a 5% difference in area regardless of the overall area. Although in terms of cornering ability I bet a 10 mm increase in width is more effictive than a 10 mm increase in length of the contact patch. Won't matter for acceleration though.

#130 of 143 heater w/ or w/o AC by pod

Nov 09, 2012 (6:15 pm)

I feel like I should know this but I don't. At what times does the AC come on and mix dry cool air with the heater air. Does it come on every time you turn on the heat? Or does it come on only when you are in the windshield defrost mode and have selected the windshield defrost button. I have a 2010 Milan/Fusion I4.
 
I assume that when you select heat you get warmed air from the fan without AC activation but I wonder if my assumption is correct.

#131 of 143 Re: heater w/ or w/o AC [pod] by bdyment

Nov 10, 2012 (5:57 am)

Replying to: pod (Nov 09, 2012 6:15 pm)
You are right. It comes on in the defrost mode, not in the heat mode.

#132 of 143 Re: heater w/ or w/o AC [pod] by akirby

Nov 10, 2012 (6:48 am)

Replying to: pod (Nov 09, 2012 6:15 pm)
If you have auto climate control the A/C will come on most of the time until temp goes below 40 or so. It helps dehumidify the air whether it's warm or cool.

#133 of 143 Re: heater w/ or w/o AC [akirby] by pod

Nov 12, 2012 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Nov 10, 2012 6:48 am)
I should have specified that my car does NOT have automatic climate control and I understand that this feature assumes control of the AC and heater when active. Thanks.

#134 of 143 Re: heater w/ or w/o AC [pod] by akirby

Nov 12, 2012 (5:49 pm)

Replying to: pod (Nov 12, 2012 4:10 pm)
That's what I assumed but wanted to let others know in case they did have EATC.

#135 of 143 Ford advises against towing. ?small trailer or platform by pod

Nov 20, 2012 (12:01 pm)

As mentioned earlier I have located a class one trailer hitch (200# tongue load/2000# overall) that is custom drilled for attachment to the 2010 Fusion/Milan. It is an easy installation that requires only a ratchet set and a strap for the exhaust (which is temporarily lowered from the rear hangers). The receiver sits nicely under the bumper with no need to cut or modify anything.
Then I read and discovered that Ford "does not recomment towing with the vehicle". I discovered that many 4 cylinder cars have similar disclaimers.
 
Speculation is that liability concerns make it prudent for the manufacturer to be very conservative in endorsing trailer load since driving at too high a speed could outrun the braking capacity or, with too big a load, over heat the transmission. And so on.
I understand that caution by Ford.
 
However I doubt that a small trailer (4' x4') with a small load (e.g. a recently purchased generator which weights 230# would pose a problem. There are folding platforms that attach to the hitch receiver and extend outward from the rear of the car which are rated at <300# load (and weigh 50# themselves). What do people think. Is towing a llight load (total<500#) a likely source of strain or damage to the I4 Fusion?

Messages Page 14 of 15

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