•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.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
315
plastic parts ............................288
washing ....................................285
waxing .....................................286
wheels ......................................286
wiper blades ............................288
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......76, 78
Clock ............................................95
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................30
AM/FM/CD .................................23
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............114
Console
overhead ....................................95
Controls
power seat ...............................148
steering column ......................105
Coolant
checking and adding ..............302
refill capacities ................305, 324
specifications ..........................324
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................102
Cupholder(s) .............................153
Customer Assistance ................253
Ford Extended Service Plan...281
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............282
Getting roadside assistance ...253
Getting the service you
need .........................................277
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................283
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................281D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................84
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................320
engine oil .................................296
Driving under special
conditions ..........................248, 250
sand .........................................249
snow and ice ...........................251
through water .................250, 252
DVD system .................................45
E
Electronic message center .......111
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................270
Emission control system ..........316
Engine ........................................326
cleaning ...................................287
coolant .....................................302
fail-safe cooling .......................306
idle speed control ...................299
lubrication specifications .......324
refill capacities ........................324
service points ..................294–295
starting after a collision .........255
Engine block heater .................232
Engine oil ..................................296
change oil soon warning,
message center .......................296
checking and adding ..............296
dipstick ....................................296
filter, specifications ........298, 323
recommendations ...................298
refill capacities ........................324
specifications ..........................324
2009 Taurus(500)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
332
