•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
2006 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
211
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ........................80, 84–88
Safety defects, reporting ..........182
Safety restraints ..............80, 84–88
belt minder ...............................90
extension assembly ..................94
for adults .............................85–87
for children .....................104–105
lap belt ......................................89
Occupant Classification
Sensor ........................................82
safety belt maintenance ...........94
warning light and chime ....89–90
Safety seats for children ..........107
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................222
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............80
Seats ............................................77
child safety seats ....................107
front seats .................................78
Servicing your vehicle ..............189
Setting the clock
AM/FM/Cassette ........................15
AM/FM/CD .................................18
Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........162
Spark plugs,
specifications .............217, 220–221
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................219–220
Speed control ..............................45
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......143
Starting your
vehicle ........................140–141, 143
jump starting ..........................168Steering wheel
tilting .........................................41
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................41
Tires ...........................116–117, 162
alignment ................................128
care ..........................................126
changing ..........................162, 164
checking the pressure ............119
inspecting and inflating .........118
label .........................................126
replacing ..................................121
rotating ....................................128
safety practices .......................127
sidewall information ...............121
snow tires and chains ............130
spare tire .................................163
terminology .............................117
tire grades ...............................117
treadwear ........................116, 126
Towing .......................................136
recreational towing .................139
trailer towing ..........................136
wrecker ....................................173
Traction control ........................147
Transaxle
fluid, refill capacities ..............218
lubricant specifications ..........220
Transmission .............................148
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....148
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................215
lubricant specifications ..........219
Trunk .....................................62, 64
remote release ....................62, 67
Turn signal ..................................32
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................221
2006 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
231
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................223
Vehicle loading ..........................130
Ventilating your vehicle ...........144
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................192Water, Driving through .............153
Windows
power
.........................................43
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
..........................................41
checking and adding fluid
.....192
replacing wiper blades
...........193
Wrecker towing
.........................173
2006 Taurus(tau)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
232
