1996 Lincoln Continental Owner's Manual - Page 69

Speedometer The speedometer tells you how many miles (kilometers) per hour your vehicle is moving. Tachometer The tachometer displays the approximate engine revolutions per minute (rpm), or how fast the engine is running. You can drive your vehicle at most rpm points on the tachometer but you must stay out of the red zone. If you drive with the tachometer in the red zone, you may damage the engine. The pointer moves from the C (cold) mark into the NORMAL band as the engine coolant warms up. It is acceptable for the pointer to fluctuate within the NORMAL band under normal driving conditions. Under certain driving conditions such as, heavy stop and go traffic, or driving up hills in hot weather, the pointer may indicate at the top of the NORMAL band. If, under any circumstances, the pointer moves above the NORMAL band, the engine coolant is overheating and continued operation may cause engine damage. If your engine coolant overheats: 1. 2. 3. Pull off the road as soon as it is safely possible. Turn off the engine. Let the engine cool. DO NOT REMOVE COOLANT SYSTEM FILL CAP UNTIL THE ENGINE IS COOL. Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant, not the coolant level. If the coolant is not at its proper level or mixture, the gauge indication will not be accurate. 66