1999 FORD TAURUS fuel

blades, do not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner or
other solvents.
Changing the wiper blades
To replace the wiper blades:
1. Pull the wiper arm
away from the
windshield and lock
into the service
position.
2. Turn the blade at an
angle from the wiper
arm. Push the lock pin
manually to release the
blade and pull the
wiper blade down
toward the windshield
to remove it from the arm.
3. Attach the new wiper to the wiper arm and press
it into place until a click is heard.
INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE QUALITY GRADES
New vehicles are fitted
with tires that have
their Tire Quality
Grade (described
below) molded into the
tire's sidewall. These
Tire Quality Grades are
determined by
standards that the
United States Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for
use on passenger cars. They do not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or
temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104(c)(2).
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Failure to follow these precautions may
adversely affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier for the driver to lose control
and roll over.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's
original tires may also affect the accuracy of your
speedometer.
SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the same size and grade
as the tires you currently have on your
vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to
provide traction in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, you may need to use snow tires and
chains. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the
same size and specifications as those originally
installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and
chains:
²Use only SAE Class S chains.
²Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do
not touch any wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
²Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or
bang against your vehicle, stop and re-tighten the
chains. If this does not work, remove the chains
to prevent damage to your vehicle.
²If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
²Do not use tire chains if your vehicle is equipped
with P225/55ZR16 or P215/6OR16 tires.
²Remove the tire chains when they are no longer
needed. Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
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164

²The suspension insulation and bumpers will help
prevent vehicle damage. Do not remove these
components from your vehicle when using snow
tires and chains.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions
Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in
an overfilled tank may cause leakage and
lead to fuel spray and fire.
The fuel system may be under pressure. If
the fuel filler cap is venting vapor or if you
hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops before
completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise,
fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap,
excessive pressure or vacuum in the fuel
tank may damage the fuel system or cause the fuel
system to work improperly in a collision, which
may result in possible personal injury.
Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or
death if misused or mishandled.
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165

Observe the following guidelines when handling
automotive fuel:
²Extinguish all
smoking materials
and any open flames
before fueling your
vehicle.
²Always turn off the
vehicle before
fueling.
²Automotive fuels can be harmful or fatal if
swallowed. Fuel such as gasoline is highly toxic
and if swallowed can cause death or permanent
injury. If fuel is swallowed, call a physician
immediately, even if no symptoms are immediately
apparent. The toxic effects of fuel may not be
visible for hours.
²Avoid inhaling fuel vapors. Inhaling too much fuel
vapor of any kind can lead to eye and respiratory
tract irritation. In severe cases, excessive or
prolonged breathing of fuel vapor can cause
serious illness and permanent injury.
²Avoid getting fuel liquid in your eyes. If fuel is
splashed in the eyes, remove contact lenses (if
worn), flush with water for 15 minutes and seek
medical attention. Failure to seek proper medical
attention could lead to permanent injury.
²Fuels can also be harmful if absorbed through the
skin. If fuel is splashed on the skin and/or
clothing, promptly remove contaminated clothing
and wash skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Repeated or prolonged skin contact with fuel
liquid or vapor causes skin irritation.
²Be particularly careful if you are taking
ªAntabuseº or other forms of disulfiram for the
treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline
vapors, or skin contact could cause an adverse
reaction. In sensitive individuals, serious personal
injury or sickness may result. If fuel is splashed
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166

on the skin, promptly wash skin thoroughly with
soap and water. Consult a physician immediately
if you experience an adverse reaction.
When refueling always shut the engine off
and never allow sparks or open flames near
the filler neck. Never smoke while refueling. Fuel
vapor is extremely hazardous under certain
conditions. Care should be taken to avoid inhaling
excess fumes.
The flow of fuel through a fuel pump nozzle
can produce static electricity, which can
cause a fire if fuel is pumped into an ungrounded
fuel container.
Use the following guidelines to avoid static build-up
when filling an ungrounded fuel container:
²Place approved fuel container on the ground.
²DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the
vehicle.
²Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the
fuel container while filling.
²DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel
pump handle in the fill position.
Fuel Filler Cap
Your fuel tank filler cap has an indexed design with
a 1/8 turn on/off feature.
When fueling your vehicle:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Carefully turn the filler cap counterclockwise 1/8
of a turn until it stops.
3. Pull to remove the cap from the fuel filler pipe.
4. To install the cap, align the tabs on the cap with
the notches on the filler pipe.
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167

5. Turn the filler cap clockwise 1/8 of a turn until it
stops.
If the ªService Engine Soon/Check Engineº indicator
comes on and stays on when you start the engine,
the fuel filler cap may not be properly installed.
Turn off the engine, remove the fuel filler cap, align
the cap properly and reinstall it.
If you must replace the fuel filler cap, replace
it with a fuel filler cap that is designed for
your vehicle. The customer warranty may be
void for any damage to the fuel tank or fuel
system if the correct genuine Ford or
Motorcraft fuel filler cap is not used.
The fuel system may be under pressure. If
the fuel filler cap is venting vapor or if you
hear a hissing sound, wait until it stops before
completely removing the fuel filler cap. Otherwise,
fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap,
excessive pressure or vacuum in the fuel
tank may damage the fuel system or cause the fuel
system to work improperly in a collision, which
may result in possible personal injury.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel
is prohibited by law and could damage your vehicle.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage
critical fuel system components.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel
additives with metallic compounds, including
manganese-based compounds containing MMT.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for
which your vehicle was not designed may not be
covered by your warranty.
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168

Octane recommendations
3.0L V6 Vulcan and 3.0L DOHC V6 Duratec
engines
Your vehicle is
designed to use
ªRegularº unleaded
gasoline with an
(R+M)/2 octane rating of 87. We do not recommend
the use of gasolines labeled as ªRegularº that are
sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high
altitude areas.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes
knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under
most driving conditions while you are using fuel with
the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or
a qualified service technician to prevent any engine
damage.
3.4L-32V V8 SHO engine
Your vehicle is
designed to use
ªPremiumº gasoline
with an (R+M)/2
octane rating of 91 or higher for optimum
performance. The use of gasolines with lower octane
ratings may degrade performance. We do not
recommend the use of gasolines labeled as
ªPremiumº in high altitude areas that are sold with
octane ratings of less than 91.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes
knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily under
most driving conditions while you are using fuel with
the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or
a qualified service technician to prevent any engine
damage.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
91(R+M)/2 METHOD
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169

Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or
hesitation driveability problems during a cold start, try
a different brand of gasoline. ªPremiumº unleaded
gasoline should not be used (particularly in the United
States) if ªRegularº unleaded gasoline is recommended
because it may cause these problems to become more
pronounced. If the problems persist, see your dealer or
a qualified service technician.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket
products to your fuel tank if you continue to use a
high quality fuel.
Cleaner air
Ford approves the use of gasolines to improve air
quality, including reformulated gasolines that contain
oxygenates up to 10% ethanol or 15% MTBE.
Running out of fuel
Avoid running out fuel because this situation may
have an adverse affect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
²You may need to crank the engine several times
after refueling before the system starts to pump
the fuel from the tank to the engine.
²Your ªService Engine Soonº indicator may come
on. For more information on the ªService Engine
Soonº indicator, refer to theInstrumentation
chapter.
Fuel Filter
For fuel filter replacement, see your dealer or a
qualified service technician. Refer to the Scheduled
Maintenance Guide for the appropriate intervals for
changing the fuel filter.
Replace the fuel filter with an authorized
Motorcraft part. The customer warranty may
be void for any damage to the fuel system if an
authorized Motorcraft fuel filter is not used.
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