Ford Taurus 1997 Owner's Manual page 152

Maintenance and care
exterior accessories, such as antennas, before
entering a car wash.
• After washing, apply the brakes several times to
dry them.
Waxing your vehicle
The best way to determine when the paintwork
needs waxing is by noting when water stops beading
on the surface. This could be every three or four
months, depending on operating conditions.
Use only carnauba or synthetic-based waxes.
Remove any bugs and tar before waxing vehicle. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a clean cloth to
remove. Use tar remover to remove any tar spots.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage from road debris
may be repaired with touch-up paint, paint repair
foil or aerosol paint spray from the Ford accessory
line. Observe the application instructions on the
products.
Remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap,
insect remains, tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash the wheels with
the same detergent you
use to clean the body
of your vehicle. Do not
use acid-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuel or
strong detergents. Never use abrasives that will
damage the finish of special wheel surfaces. Use a
tar remover to remove grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean
because grease and dirt buildup act as insulators and
keep the engine warmer than normal. Follow these
guidelines to clean your engine:
152