2008 FORD TAURUS X brake

•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•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 the top gears 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 toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin 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.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
325

BRAKE FLUID
The fluid level will drop slowly as
the brakes wear, and will rise when
the brake components are replaced.
Fluid levels between the “MIN” and
“MAX” lines are within the normal
operating range; there is no need to
add fluid. If the fluid levels are
outside of the normal operating
range the performance of the
system could be compromised; seek
service from your authorized dealer
immediately.
TRANSAXLE FLUID
Checking automatic transaxle fluid
Refer to yourscheduled maintenance informationfor scheduled
intervals for fluid checks and changes.Your transaxle does not consume
fluid. However, the fluid level should be checked if the transaxle is not
working properly, i.e., if the transaxle slips or shifts slowly or if you
notice some sign of fluid leakage.
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an
accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is warmed up
(approximately 20 miles [30 km]). If your vehicle has been
operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic
during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be
turned off for about 30 minutes to allow fluid to cool before
checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 20 miles (30 km) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
3. With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal,
start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear
ranges. Allow sufficient time for each gear to engage.
4. Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
5. Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag. If
necessary, refer toIdentifying components in the engine compartment
in this chapter for the location of the dipstick.
6. Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
330

MAINTENANCE PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND CAPACITIES
Items CapacityFord Part Name or
equivalentFord Part Number /
Ford Specification
Brake fluidBetween MAX and
MIN on reservoirMotorcraft High
Performance DOT 3
Motor Vehicle Brake
FluidPM-1-C /
WSS-M6C62-A
Door latch, hood latch,
auxiliary hood latch,
seat tracks, trunk and
liftgate latches— Multi-Purpose GreaseXG-4 or XL-5 /
ESA-M1C93-B
Lock cylinders —Motorcraft Penetrating
and Lock LubricantXL-1 /
None
Automatic transmission
fluid10.0 quarts
(9.5L)
1
Motorcraft MERCONV
AT F
2
XT-5-QM /
MERCONV
Rear differential fluid
(AWD)2.4 pints (1.15L)Motorcraft SAE 80W-90
Premium Rear Axle
LubricantXY-80W90-QL /
WSP-M2C197-A
Power Transfer Unit
(PTU) fluid (AWD)
5
18 ounces (0.53L)Motorcraft SAE 75W-140
Synthetic Rear Axle
LubricantXY-75W140-QL /
WSL-M2C192-A
Engine oil 5.5 quarts (5.2L)Motorcraft SAE 5W-20
Premium Synthetic
Blend Motor Oil (US)
Motorcraft SAE 5W-20
Super Premium Motor
Oil (Canada)
4
XO-5W20-QSP (US)
CXO-5W20-LSP12
(Canada) /
WSS-M2C930-A and API
Certification Mark
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
334

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) contains the following
information:
1. World manufacturer identifier
2. Brake system / Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) / Restraint
System
3. Vehicle line, series, body type
4. Engine type
5. Check digit
6. Model year
7. Assembly plant
8. Production sequence number
TRANSMISSION/TRANSAXLE CODE DESIGNATIONS
You can find a
transmission/transaxle code on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label. The following table tells you
which transmission or transaxle
each code represents.
Description Code
6F50 6–Speed Automatic Transaxle J
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
338

A
Accessory delay ........................103
AdvanceTrac ..............................248
Air cleaner filter ...............332–333
Air conditioning ........76, 78, 80, 82
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................180–181, 189, 191
and child safety seats ............182
description ..............181, 189, 191
disposal ....................................194
driver airbag ............183, 190, 192
indicator light .................189, 194
operation .................183, 190, 192
passenger airbag .....183, 190, 192
side airbag ...............................189
All Wheel Drive (AWD),
driving off road .........................258
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................313
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................246
Anti-theft system ..............147, 150
arming the system ..................150
disarming a triggered
system .....................................151
Audio system
(see Radio) ......................16, 20, 28
Automatic transaxle
fluid, adding ............................330
fluid, checking ........................330
fluid, refill capacities ..............334
fluid, specification ..................334
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................253
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....36
B
Battery .......................................311acid, treating emergencies .....311
jumping a disabled battery ....281
maintenance-free ....................311
replacement, specifications ...333
servicing ..................................311
Belt-Minder.............................175
Booster seats .............................195
Brakes ........................................246
anti-lock ...................................246
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................246
fluid, checking and adding ....330
fluid, refill capacities ..............334
fluid, specifications .................334
lubricant specifications ..........334
parking ....................................247
shift interlock ..........................252
Bulbs ............................................91
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....334
Cargo cover ...............................129
Cargo net ...................................129
Cell phone use ..............................7
Changing a tire .........................273
Child safety restraints ..............195
child safety belts ....................195
Child safety seats ......................199
in front seat ............................200
in rear seat ..............................200
tether anchorage hardware ...203
Child safety seats - booster
seats ...........................................195
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............298
instrument panel ....................300
interior .....................................300
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
341

autolock ...................................133
keypad .....................................145
locking and unlocking doors ..146
programming entry code .......145
Keys ...................................131, 148
positions of the ignition .........241
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................87
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................92
daytime running light ...............89
fog lamps ...................................88
headlamps .................................87
headlamps, flash to pass ..........88
instrument panel, dimming .....89
interior lamps .....................91–92
replacing bulbs ...................92, 95
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................91
Liftgate ......................125, 129, 140
Lights, warning and indicator ....10
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........246
Load limits .................................231
Locks
autolock ...................................133
childproof ................................136
doors ........................................132
Lubricant specifications ...........334
Lug nuts ....................................280
Luggage rack .............................130
Lumbar support, seats .............154
M
Message center .........................116
english/metric button .............121system check button ..............120
warning messages ...................123
Mirrors ...............................103–104
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................103
fold away .................................105
heated ......................................105
programmable memory ..........140
side view mirrors (power) .....104
Moon roof ..................................111
Motorcraft parts ........302, 317, 333
N
Navigation system .......................73
O
Octane rating ............................322
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................308
Overdrive ...................................253
P
Parking brake ............................247
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....333
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................168
Power adjustable foot pedals ...105
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................270
Power door locks ......................132
Power liftgate ............................125
Power mirrors ...........................104
Power point ...............................100
Power steering ..........................251
fluid, checking and adding ....329
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
344

alignment ................................220
care ..........................................216
changing ..................273, 276–277
checking the pressure ............216
inflating ...................................213
label .........................................226
replacing ..................................217
rotating ....................................220
safety practices .......................219
sidewall information ...............221
snow tires and chains ............231
spare tire .................................274
terminology .............................213
tire grades ...............................212
treadwear ........................212, 216
Towing .......................................237
recreational towing .................239
trailer towing ..........................237
wrecker ....................................286
Traction control ........................250
Transaxle
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................330
fluid, refill capacities ..............334
lubricant specifications ..........334
Transmission .............................252
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....252Trunk .........................................140
Turn signal ..................................91
U
USB port ......................................38
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................337
Vehicle loading ..........................231
Ventilating your vehicle ...........244
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................306
Water, Driving through .............263
Windows
power .......................................101
rear wiper/washer .....................96
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................96
checking and adding fluid .....306
replacing wiper blades ...........307
Wrecker towing .........................286
2008 Taurus X(219)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
346