1996 Ford Escort Owner's Manual - Page 231

For cruising, you should upshift at the following speeds: Upshift indicator light (If equipped) After the engine warms up, the upshift light will come on if you could get better fuel economy by shifting to the next higher gear. The vehicle will not be harmed if the transaxle is not shifted when the light comes on, but the vehicle will use more fuel. The shift indicator light can be ignored when you are downshifting, on steep hills, using the engine to "brake" the vehicle, or need more power for a difficult acceleration. Downshifting When you slow down or climb a steep hill, always downshift before the engine starts to lose power. Downshifting reduces the chance of stalling and gives your vehicle better acceleration to increase speed again. When you drive down steep hills, downshifting helps you keep a safe speed and helps prevent unnecessary wear on the brakes. 231