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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 15 of 15

#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?

#136 of 143 fusionand towing by pod

Nov 22, 2012 (1:26 pm)

No takers on the original question so I will elaborate. Many manufacturers of 4 cylinder cars advise against towing without citing any specific reason. I think it is obvious that a small engine is not able to move a huge load without overheating the transmission and straining other parts. I am talking about towing small loads (total weight of trailer and goods less than 500 pounds). There are trailer hitches that bolt into the chassis holes in the Fusion without need to drill or reroute anything. The receiver sits just under the bumper cover and is nearly out of sight. I maintain that a small trailer and load should be no problem provided the car is not also hauling four adults. That is my point: the car is designed to accomodate five adult passengers. Assuming that none are obese that load may weigh 5 x 160#=800#. A single driver and a 500# load on the hitch should represent a lesser load and strain.
I suspect that Ford and other manufacturers are concerned that if they give advisories on trailer loads, etc. that they may be liable for issues that arise from overloading. My concern is that if I put a hitch on then subsequent warranty issues may be incorrectly attributed to the fact that I occasionally put a trailer on the car.
I wish to have the traileer for the 3 or 4 times a year when I want to haul a large item or a messy item or one that just won't fit in the car or the trunk. A generator comes to mind as a good example. Typically portble generators weigh in the 200-300# range and should present not overload problems. Agree?

#137 of 143 Fuel filter change interval-- by pod

Dec 26, 2012 (6:22 pm)

I recently visited a Ford official site regarding maintenance intervals for the various fluids and filters in their vehicles. I was good with all the information except the recommended 15,000 mile change recommended for the fuel filter. My experience suggests that this is a ridiculously short interval and it raises questions about the credibility of the site. My extreme example is my prior 2000 Mercury Sable in which I did not change the filter until over 150,000 miles (through ignorance). The car ran well throughout my ownership and the change, even at this extremely long interval, did not result in any discernable change in dynamics or power. Obviously one swallow does not a summer make but 15,000 miles! This has to be driven by profit motive or a desire to get them into the shop (most folks won't try this filter change by themselves). Can anyone defend this citation? I think Ford are very well engineered cars and can't help but think that the engineers are embarassed by this suggested interval.

#138 of 143 Re: Fuel filter change interval-- [pod] by akirby

Dec 26, 2012 (9:59 pm)

Replying to: pod (Dec 26, 2012 6:22 pm)
Not sure what you were looking at but the 2013 Fusion does not list any required replacement interval for the fuel filter - it's a lifetime filter. Maybe you were looking at the diesel truck recommendations.

#139 of 143 Re: Fuel filter change interval-- [akirby] by pod

Dec 26, 2012 (10:55 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Dec 26, 2012 9:59 pm)
No, it wasn't in reference to the Fusion or any particular model or year. It made the general statement that the Ford Motor Copmapny recommends replacement of the fuel filter every fifteen thousand miles and at a shorter interval for heavy duty service
 
It was in a Ford Motor Cop. owners site with this link
 
----http://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1251117147717&pagename=Owner- %2FPage%2FArticleDetail&recid=1251387049862&parentheadlineimageid=1234280151966&- parentrightrecid=1239636411265
 
under a section called "care and maintenance tips"
 
It seems an official Ford site and asks for sign in and password and/or VIN. Seems legit thats why I was so puzzled. It has to be a misprint. I agree with a very long service interval (half way to never).

#140 of 143 correction to ford site link by pod

Dec 27, 2012 (7:18 am)

The three dashes (---) before the http:// donot belong there. Sorry for the bad copy and paste. Leave them out and you will get to the Ford site which is currently down for maintenance but will open again.

#141 of 143 Re: correction to ford site link [pod] by akirby

Dec 27, 2012 (11:58 am)

Replying to: pod (Dec 27, 2012 7:18 am)
That's just a generic recommendation and probably an old one that hasn't been updated. The actual maintenance schedules for each vehicle are correct.

#142 of 143 Re: correction to ford site link [akirby] by pod

Dec 27, 2012 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Dec 27, 2012 11:58 am)
Agreed. I can't imagine any time in the past thirty years when it would be a proper reference. Gremlins in the site I guess. Maybe they should edit the site each spring and clean out the archaic references. I am pleased that Ford has simpified the recommended maintenance schedule. I am almost three years and 30,000 miles into my warranty and except for oil changes. tire rotations and multipoint inspections every 5-6 thousand miles and a change of air filter, I have done nothing because nothing needs be done. That good design. I smile when the good folks at XYZ motors say that they will provide all necessary maintenance for free for the first year. I guess that translates into about $50 dollars worth of "free".

#143 of 143 Re: 2010 Milan: ideas about minor noise sources [pod] by talontsidude

Mar 08, 2013 (12:24 am)

Replying to: pod (Nov 12, 2010 9:12 pm)
I just purchased a 2011 Milan V6 with 12,000 miles and have also noticed the low pitched "moan". I am also noise sensitive on vehicles as well and my fiance can't hear the low moan but then again she's not very observant : ). To me it sounds like a minor wheel bearing howl/ groan or differential/ gear moan. Did you ever track down the "moan"?

Messages Page 15 of 15

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