Fuel Requirements

SYSTEM OPERATION
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your engine is designed to meet all emissions regulations and provide excellent fuel economy and performance when using high quality unleaded gasoline having an octane rating of 87. The use of premium gasoline is not recommended. The use of premium gasoline will provide no benefit over high quality regular gasoline, and in some circumstances may result in poorer performance.

Light spark knock at low engine speeds is not harmful to your engine. However, continued heavy spark knock at high speeds can cause damage and immediate service is required. Engine damage resulting from operation with a heavy spark knock may not be covered by the new vehicle warranty.

Poor quality gasoline can cause problems such as hard starting, stalling and hesitations. If you experience these symptoms, try another brand of gasoline before considering service for the vehicle.

The American Automobile Manufacturers Association, AAMA, has issued gasoline specifications to define the minimum fuel properties necessary to deliver enhanced performance and durability for your vehicle. Chrysler recommends the use of gasoline that meet the AAMA specifications if they are available.

REFORMULATED GASOLINE
Many areas of the country require the use of cleaner burning gasoline referred to as "reformulated" gasoline. Reformulated gasoline contain oxygenates, and are specifically blended to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.

Chrysler strongly supports the use of reformulated gasoline. Properly blended reformulated gasoline will provide excellent performance and durability for the engine and fuel system components.

GASOLINE/OXYGENATE BLENDS
Some fuel suppliers blend unleaded gasoline with oxygenates such as 10% ethanol, MTBE, and ETBE. Oxygenates are required in some areas of the country during the winter months to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. Fuels blended with these oxygenates may be used in your vehicle.

CAUTION: DO NOT use gasoline containing METHANOL. Gasoline containing methanol may damage critical fuel system components.

MMT
MMT is a manganese-containing metallic additive that is blended into some gasoline to increase octane. Gasoline blended with MMT provide no performance advantage beyond gasoline of the same octane number without MMT. Gasoline blended with MMT reduce spark plug life and reduce emission system performance in some vehicles. Chrysler recommends that gasoline without MMT be used in your vehicle. The MMT content of gasoline may not be indicated on the gasoline pump; therefore, you should ask your gasoline retailer whether or not his/her gasoline contains MMT.

It is even more important to look for gasoline without MMT in Canada because MMT can be used at levels higher than allowed in the United States. MMT is prohibited in Federal and California reformulated gasoline.

SULFUR IN GASOLINE
If you live in the northeast United States, your vehicle may have been designed to meet California low emission standards with clean-burning, low-sulfur, California gasoline. Gasoline sold outside of California is permitted to have higher sulfur levels which may affect the performance of the vehicle's catalytic converter. This may cause the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light to illuminate.

Illumination of either light while operating on high sulfur gasoline does not necessarily mean your emission control system is malfunctioning. Chrysler recommends that you try a different brand of unleaded gasoline having lower sulfur to determine if the problem is fuel related prior to returning your vehicle to an authorized dealer for service.

CAUTION: If the Check Engine or Service Engine Soon light is flashing, immediate service is required; see on-board diagnostics system.

MATERIALS ADDED TO FUEL
All gasoline sold in the United States and Canada are required to contain effective detergent additives. Use of additional detergents or other additives is not needed under normal conditions.

FUEL SYSTEM CAUTIONS

CAUTION: Follow these guidelines to maintain your vehicle's performance:
- The use of leaded gas is prohibited by Federal law. Using leaded gasoline can impair engine performance, damage the emission control system, and could result in loss of warranty coverage.
- An out-of-tune engine, or certain fuel or ignition malfunctions, can cause the catalytic converter to overheat. If you notice a pungent burning odor or some light smoke, your engine may be out of tune or malfunctioning and may require immediate service. Contact your dealer for service assistance.
- When pulling a heavy load or driving a fully loaded vehicle when the humidity is low and the temperature is high, use a premium unleaded fuel to help prevent spark knock. If spark knock persists, lighten the load, or engine piston damage may result.
- The use of fuel additives which are now being sold as octane enhancers is not recommended. Most of these products contain high concentrations of methanol. Fuel system damage or vehicle performance problems resulting from the use of such fuels or additives is not the responsibility of Chrysler Corporation and may not be covered under the new vehicle warranty.

NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control systems can result in civil penalties being assessed against you.

GASOLINE/OXYGENATE BLENDS
Some fuel suppliers blend unleaded gasoline with materials that contain oxygen such as alcohol, MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) and ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether). Oxygenates are required in some areas of the country during winter months to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. The type and amount of oxygenate used in the blend is important.

The following are generally used in gasoline blends:
Ethanol - (Ethyl or Grain Alcohol) properly blended, is used as a mixture of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline. Gasoline blended with ethanol may be used in your vehicle.

MTBE/ETBE - Gasoline and MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) blends are a mixture of unleaded gasoline and up to 15 percent MTBE. Gasoline and ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) are blends of gasoline and up to 17 percent ETBE. Gasoline blended with MTBE or ETBE may be used in your vehicle.

Methanol - Methanol (Methyl or Wood Alcohol) is used in a variety of concentrations blended with unleaded gasoline. You may encounter fuels containing 3 percent or more methanol along with other alcohols called cosolvents.

DO NOT USE GASOLINE CONTAINING METHANOL.
Use of methanol/gasoline blends may result in starting and driveability problems and damage critical fuel system components.

Problems that are the result of using methanol gasoline blends are not the responsibility of Chrysler Corporation and may not be covered by the vehicle warranty.

Reformulated Gasoline
Many areas of the country are requiring the use of cleaner-burning fuel referred to as Reformulated Gasoline. Reformulated gasoline are specially blended to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.

Chrysler Corporation strongly supports the use of reformulated gasoline whenever available. Although your vehicle was designed to provide optimum performance and lowest emissions operating on high quality unleaded gasoline, it will perform equally well and produce even lower emissions when operating on reformulated gasoline.

Materials Added to Fuel
Indiscriminate use of fuel system cleaning agents should be avoided. Many of these materials intended for gum and varnish removal may contain active solvents of similar ingredients that can be harmful to fuel system gasket and diaphragm materials.

E-85 GENERAL INFORMATION
Operation
This information is for Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) only. These vehicles can be identified by the unique Fuel Filler Door Label that states Ethanol (E-85) or Unleaded Gasoline Only. This information only covers those subjects that are unique to these vehicles. Please refer for information on features that are common between Flexible Fuel and gasoline only powered vehicles.

ETHANOL FUEL (E-85)
Operation
E-85 is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline.

WARNING: Ethanol vapors are extremely flammable and could cause serious personal injury. Never have any smoking materials lit in or near the vehicle when removing the fuel filler tube cap (gas cap) or filling the tank. Do not use E-85 as a cleaning agent and never use it near an open flame.

FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Operation
Your vehicle will operate on both unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87, or E-85 fuel, or any mixture of these two.

For best results, a refueling pattern that alternates between E-85 and unleaded gasoline should be avoided. When you do switch fuels, it is recommended that
- you do not switch when the fuel gauge indicates less than 1/4 full
- you do not add less than 5 gallons when refueling
- you operate the vehicle immediately after refueling for a period of at least 5 minutes

Observing these precautions will avoid possible hard starting and/or significant deterioration in driveablity during warm up.

FFV STARTING
Operation
The characteristics of E-85 fuel make it unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0°F. In the range of 0°F to 32°F, you may experience an increase in the time it takes for your engine to start, and a deterioration in driveablity (sags and/or hesitations) until the engine is fully warmed up.

CRUISING RANGE
Operation
Because E-85 fuel contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, you will experience an increase in fuel consumption. You can expect your MPG and your driving range to decrease by about 30% compared to gasoline operation.

FFV REPLACEMENT PARTS
Operation
Many components in your Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) are designed to be compatible with ethanol. Always be sure that your vehicle is serviced with correct ethanol compatible parts.

CAUTION: Replacing fuel system components with non-ethanol compatible components can damage your vehicle and may void the warranty.