Ford Taurus Owners Manual: Economical driving

Fuel economy is affected by several things, such as how you drive, the conditions you drive under and how you maintain your vehicle.

There are some things to keep in mind that may improve your fuel economy: • Accelerate and slow down in a smooth, moderate fashion.

• Drive at steady speeds without stopping.

• Anticipate stops; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.

• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.

• Close the windows for high-speed driving.

• Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).

• Keep the tires properly inflated and use only the recommended size.

• Use the recommended engine oil.

• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

There are also some things you may not want to do because they may reduce your fuel economy: • Sudden or hard accelerations.

• Rev the engine before turning it off.

• Idle for periods longer than one minute.

• Warm up your vehicle on cold mornings.

• Use the air conditioner or front defroster.

• Use the speed control in hilly terrain.

• Rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving.

• Drive a heavily loaded vehicle or tow a trailer.

• Carry unnecessary weight (approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 pounds [180 kilograms] of weight carried).

• Add particular accessories to your vehicle (e.g.; bug deflectors, rollbars or light bars, running boards, ski racks).

• Drive with the wheels out of alignment.

    Driving Hints
    BREAKING-IN You need to break in new tires for approximately 300 miles (480 kilometers). During this time, your vehicle may exhibit some unique driving characteristics. Avoid driving too fast durin ...

    Driving through water
    WARNING: Drive through water in an emergency only, and not as part of normal driving. WARNING: Engine damage can occur if water enters the air filter. Note: Driving through deep water may allow wa ...

    Other materials:

    Cleaning leather seats
    • Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner. • Clean spills and stains as quickly as possible. • For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth. For more thorough cleaning, wipe the surface with a mild soap and water solution. Dry the area with a soft cloth. â ...

    Entertainment
    A. AM 1 and AM AST B. FM 1, FM 2 and FM AST C. SIRIUS D. CD E. USB F. Touch this button to scroll down for more options, such as: • SD Card • BT Stereo • A/V In G. These buttons change with the media mode you are in. H. Radio memory presets and CD controls. Note: Some features ...

    Heated windows and mirrors (if equipped)
    Heated Rear Window Note: The ignition must be switched on to use this feature. Press the button to clear the rear window of thin ice and fog. Press the button again within 10 minutes to switch it off. It switches off automatically after 10 minutes, or when you switch the ignition off. Do no ...