Ford Taurus 2010 Owners Manual
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What you should know about fail-safe cooling If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred. The “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load and terrain. How fail-safe cooling works If the engine begins to overheat: •The engine coolant temperature gauge will move to the red (hot) area. •The service engine soon indicator will illuminate. If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine. When this occurs the vehicle will still operate. However: •The engine power will be limited. •The air conditioning system will be disabled. Continued operation will increase the engine temperature and the engine will completely shut down, causing steering and braking effort to increase. Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take your vehicle to a service facility as soon as possible to minimize engine damage. When fail-safe mode is activated You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high-speed operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine damage, therefore: 1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine. 2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to a service facility. 3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool. 4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low. WARNING:Fail-safe mode is for use during emergencies only. Operate the vehicle in fail-safe mode only as long as necessary to bring the vehicle to rest in a safe location and seek immediate repairs. When in fail-safe mode, the vehicle will have limited power, will not be able to maintain high-speed operation, and may completely shut down without warning, potentially losing engine power, power steering assist, and power brake assist, which may increase the possibility of a crash resulting in serious injury. Maintenance and Specifications 341 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
WARNING:Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the engine is running or hot. The hot coolant is under pressure and may cause serious burns. 5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to a service facility. Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to a service facility as soon as possible. FUEL FILTER Your vehicle is equipped with a lifetime fuel filter that is integrated with the fuel tank. Regular maintenance or replacement is not needed. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS Important safety precautions WARNING:Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire. WARNING:The fuel system may be under pressure. If you hear a hissing sound near the fuel filler door (Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system), do not refuel until the sound stops. Otherwise, fuel may spray out, which could cause serious personal injury. WARNING:Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death if misused or mishandled. WARNING:Gasoline may contain benzene, which is a cancer-causing agent. Observe the following guidelines when handling automotive fuel: •Extinguish all smoking materials and any open flames before refueling your vehicle. •Always turn off the vehicle before refueling. Maintenance and Specifications 342 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
•Automotive 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. •Avoid 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. •Avoid 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. •Fuels 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. •Be particularly careful if you are taking “Antabuse” 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 on the skin, promptly wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. Consult a physician immediately if you experience an adverse reaction. WARNING: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. WARNING: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. Maintenance and Specifications 343 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
Refueling WARNING:Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause severe injuries. To help avoid injuries to you and others: •Read and follow all the instructions on the pump island; •Turn off your engine when you are refueling; •Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle; •Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from fuel; •Stay outside your vehicle and do not leave the fuel pump unattended when refueling your vehicle — this is against the law in some places; •Keep children away from the fuel pump; never let children pump fuel. Use the following guidelines to avoid electrostatic charge build-up when filling an ungrounded fuel container: •Place approved fuel container on the ground. •DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the vehicle (including the cargo area). •Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container while filling. •DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel pump handle in the fill position. Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system Your fuel tank is equipped with an Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel filler system. This allows you to simply open the fuel filler door and insert the fuel filler nozzle into the fuel system. The Easy Fuel™ system is self-sealing and protected against dust, dirt, water and snow/ice. When fueling your vehicle: 1. Turn the engine off. 2. Open the fuel filler door. 3. Slowly insert the fuel filler nozzle fully into the fuel system. Pump fuel as normal. 4. After you are done pumping fuel, wait about five seconds before slowly removing the fuel filler nozzle. This allows residual fuel to drain back into the fuel tank and not spill onto the vehicle. Maintenance and Specifications 344 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
Note:A fuel spillage concern may occur if overfilling the fuel tank. Do not overfill the tank to the point that the fuel is able to bypass the fuel filler nozzle. The overfilled fuel may run down the drain located within the fuel filler housing and to the ground. If the Check Fuel Fill Inlet message comes on, the fuel fill inlet may not have properly closed. The inlet may have stuck open or debris may be preventing the inlet from fully closing. At the next opportunity, safely pull off the road, turn off the engine, open the fuel filler door and remove any visible debris from the fuel fill opening. Insert either the fuel fill nozzle or the fuel fill funnel (seeRefilling with a portable fuel containerfor funnel location) provided with the vehicle several times to dislodge any debris and/or allow the inlet to close properly. If this action corrects the problem, the Check Fuel Fill Inlet message may not reset immediately. It may take several driving cycles for the Check Fuel Fill Inlet message to turn off. A driving cycle consists of an engine start-up (after four or more hours with the engine off) followed by city/highway driving. Continuing to drive with the Check Fuel Fill Inlet message on may cause the service engine soon lamp to turn on as well. WARNING:The fuel system may be under pressure. If you hear a hissing sound near the fuel filler door (Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system), do not refuel until the sound stops. Otherwise, fuel may spray out, which could cause serious personal injury. Choosing the right fuel Use only UNLEADED fuel or UNLEADED fuel blended with a maximum of 10% ethanol. Do not use fuel ethanol (E85), diesel, methanol, leaded fuel or any other fuel. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law and could damage your vehicle. Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic compounds, including manganese-based additives. Maintenance and Specifications 345 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
Note:Use of any fuel other than those recommended may cause powertrain damage, a loss of vehicle performance, and repairs may not be covered under warranty. Octane recommendations 3.5L V6 engine Your vehicle will run normally on 87 octane regular fuel. Premium fuel will provide improved performance. 3.5L V6 SHO engine Your vehicle is designed to run on regular fuel with an octane rating of 87 or higher. For best overall performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel will be most noticeable in hot weather or in severe duty applications such as towing a trailer. Some stations offer fuels posted as Regularwith an octane rating below 87, particularly in high altitude areas. Fuels with octane levels below 87 are not recommended for either engine. Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if it knocks heavily while you are using fuel with the recommended octane rating, see your authorized dealer to prevent any engine damage. Fuel quality If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability problems during a cold start, try a different brand of gasoline. “Premium” unleaded gasoline should not be used if “Regular” unleaded gasoline is recommended because it may cause these problems to become more pronounced. If the problems persist, see your authorized dealer. It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane rating. Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system. Repairs to correct the effects of using an aftermarket product in your fuel may not be covered by your warranty. Cleaner air Ford endorses the use of reformulated “cleaner-burning” gasolines to improve air quality, per the recommendations in theChoosing the right fuelsection. 87(R+M)/2 METHOD Maintenance and Specifications 346 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
Running out of fuel Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse effect on powertrain components. If you have run out of fuel: •You may need to cycle the ignition from off to on several times after refueling to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to the engine. On restarting, cranking time will take a few seconds longer than normal. •Normally, adding 1 gallon (3.8L) of fuel is enough to restart the engine. If the vehicle is out of fuel and on a steep grade, more than 1 gallon (3.8L) may be required. •The service engine soon indicator may come on. For more information on the service engine soon indicator, refer toWarning lights and chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter. Refilling with a portable fuel container With the Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system, use the following directions when filling from a portable fuel container: WARNING:Do not insert the nozzle of portable fuel containers or aftermarket funnels into the Easy Fuel™ system. This could damage the fuel system and its seal, and may cause fuel to run onto the ground instead of filling the tank, which could result in serious personal injury. WARNING:Do not try to pry open or push open the Easy Fuel™ system with foreign objects. This could damage the fuel system and its seal and cause injury to you or others. When filling the vehicle’s fuel tank from a portable fuel container, use the funnel included with the vehicle. Maintenance and Specifications 347 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
1. After lifting the trunk cargo cover, locate the white plastic funnel. It is attached to the rear, lower edge of the spare tire compartment. 2. Slowly insert the funnel into the Easy Fuel™ system. 3. Fill the vehicle with fuel from the portable fuel container. 4. When done, clean the funnel or properly dispose of it. Extra funnels can be purchased from your authorized dealer if you choose to dispose of the funnel.Do notuse aftermarket funnels; they will not work with the Easy Fuel™ system and can damage it. The included funnel has been specially designed to work safely with your vehicle. ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY Measuring techniques Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate measurement after 2,000 miles–3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000 km). Filling the tank The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theMaintenance product specifications and capacitiessection of this chapter. Maintenance and Specifications 348 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty. The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank. For consistent results when filling the fuel tank: •Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling, an error in the reading will result if the engine is left running. •Use the same filling rate setting (low — medium — high) each time the tank is filled. •Allow no more than two automatic click-offs when filling. •Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating. •Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand. •Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the same direction each time you fill up. •Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time. Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent. Calculating fuel economy 1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading (in miles or kilometers). 2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in gallons or liters). 3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and record the current odometer reading. 4. Subtract your initial odometer reading from the current odometer reading. 5. Follow one of the simple calculations in order to determine fuel economy: Calculation 1:Divide total miles traveled by total gallons used. Calculation 2:Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total kilometers traveled. Maintenance and Specifications 349 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)
Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle’s fuel economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy. Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change a number of variables and improve your fuel economy. Habits •Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel. •Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel economy. •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. Maintenance and Specifications 350 2010 Taurus(500) Owners Guide(own2002), 1st Printing USA(fus)