2000 Ford Taurus Powertrain

See also:

• 2000 Ford Taurus Overview
• 2000 Ford Taurus Specifications
• 2000 Ford Taurus Chassis
• 2000 Ford Taurus Powertrain
• 2000 Ford Taurus Exterior/Interior
• 2000 Ford Taurus Safety
• 2000 Ford Taurus Features & Options
• Ford Taurus Photos

POWERTRAIN

"Our objective for the 2000 Ford Taurus engine line-up was to increase horsepower and mid-range torque, improving the feeling of performance. Our customers see "power-on-demand" not only as a performance characteristic, but as a safety feature, which gives them confidence to accelerate safely while merging into traffic." - Kurt Achenbach, Taurus Vehicle Dynamics Engineering, Ford Motor Company

• More power and torque for both 3.0-liter V6 engines
• Improved powertrain NVH
• Refined shift feel for both automatic transaxles

Among Taurus' powertrain enhancements for the 2000 model:

Vulcan 3.0-liter V-6

• 155 horsepower @ 4,900 rpm - 10 more than 1999
• 185 ft.-lbs. of torque @ 3,950 rpm - 15 more than 1999

Duratec 3.0-liter V-6

• 200 horsepower @ 5,650 rpm - 15 more than 1999
• 200 ft.-lbs. of torque @ 4,400 rpm - 15 more than 1999

Both the Vulcan and Duratec engines meet Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) standards in California and the 13 Northeast states.

A new, low back-pressure, single-exhaust system is used for both engines. This system is designed to create less back-pressure than the single and equal back-pressure to the previous models optional dual exhaust system.

Vulcan 3.0L 2V SEFI V6 Base Engine

Customers should easily notice the Taurus' added midrange torque and improved "part-throttle" acceleration. The car is designed to feel like it packs more power, with more pickup and reduced engine noise. Drivers also should appreciate improved throttle-response during initial acceleration, which is useful when merging quickly into traffic.

Improvements in mid-range torque were achieved by tuning the upper intake manifold. A revised camshaft profile reduces overlap and, along with lighter weight valves, improves idle stability.

The Vulcan engine is offered as a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV), allowing it to run on gasoline or ethanol (E85) or any mixture of the two. The Vulcan engine is modified with an electronic therm-air emission system, different spark plugs and larger fuel injectors to compensate for ethanol use.

The Vulcan V6 is standard on the LX and SE models.

Duratec 3.0L 4V SEFI V-6 Optional Engine

The driver should notice less NVH and increased performance feel with the improved Duratec engine. Peak horsepower and torque are increased to 200 thanks to a tuning and recalibrations.

The engine also is 30 pounds lighter thanks to use of composite camshaft covers and a composite intake manifold, as well as a new fabricated steel exhaust manifold and the single exhaust system.

Other improvements include:

• A tumble port combustion system provides a more even burn-rate and reduces noise.
• Coil-on-plug ignition system eliminates spark plug wires and provides a stronger spark to the plug for improved reliability and durability.
• A modified exhaust gas recirculation system improves flow control.
• Airflow for improved cooling is provided by the larger grille opening and a new engine air pickup for cold air.
• Engine mounts and engine structure are revised to reduce NVH.

The Duratec engine is available with the SE sedan and SE wagon.

Exhaust System

A new equal-length, low back-pressure single exhaust system is used for both engines. The system is designed to create less back pressure than the single and optional dual exhaust system it replaces and results in cost savings to the customer in initial purchase and future maintenance. With fewer bends, welds, mounts and other stress-points, the system is more durable and less expensive to replace.

Transaxles

One of the most notable powertrain improvements for 2000 is improved shift quality in both Taurus transaxles. The AX4S is a synchronous design with a double-wrap band clutch and gear synchronizers. The AX4N is a non-synchronous design that uses a one-way overrunning clutch to provide non-synchronous shifting.

Numerous transaxle enhancements -- including adaptive shift control programming and a new digital range selector switch -- combine to provide smoother shifts across a wide range of driving conditions. The digital range selector switch works by recognizing an individual signal output for each gear. The transmission, therefore, senses gears more accurately improving shift performance and shift quality over the life of the car. Other improvements include:

• Improved shift quality for upshifts and downshifts provided by minimizing shift duration.
• Refined shift scheduling is better matched to engine torque and load characteristics, providing smoother shifts.
• Adaptive shift control programming in the powertrain control module (PCM) allows the car to "learn" how the car is shifted and helps maintain the same shift quality. The adaptive strategy monitors shift pressures and times and adjusts for mechanical wear to maintain design intent event mapping and shift performance over the life of the car.
• The AX4N has a new digital range selector switch that senses the gears selected more accurately and maintains shift quality over the life of the car.
• The AX4S incorporates a new chain and sprocket assembly, improving NVH characteristics.
• Hardened pump shafts help improve high mileage durability on the AX4N.