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:

    Adding Engine Oil
    Note: Do not remove the filler cap when the engine is running. Note: Do not add engine oil further than the MAX mark. Oil levels above the MAX mark may cause engine damage. Only use oils certified for gasoline engines by the American Petroleum Institute (API). An oil with this trademark sym ...

    Audible warnings and indicators
    Key In Ignition Warning Chime Sounds when the key is left in the ignition in the off or accessory position and the driver’s door is opened. Keyless Warning Alert (If Equipped) Sounds the horn twice when you exit your vehicle with the intelligent access key, after the last door is closed and y ...

    Opening and closing the hood
    1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood release handle located under the bottom of the instrument panel near the steering column. 2. Go to the front of the vehicle and release the auxiliary latch that is located under the front center of the hood. 3. Lift the hood. ...