Ford Escape Quiz
Vehicle Care

Exterior Cleaning

In this manual: Vehicle Care
Introduction — 1Symbol Glossary — 1Data Privacy — 7At a Glance — 1Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 9Personal Safety System™ — 1Airbags — 8Pedestrian Warning System. 911 Assist — 1Keys and Remote Controls — 8MyKey™ — 5Doors & Locks — 5Keyless Entry — 6Easy Entry and Exit — 1Liftgate - Vehicles With: Manual Liftgate — 3Liftgate - Vehicles With: Power Liftgate — 6Safety — 4Steering Wheel — 1Wipers and Washers — 7Exterior Lighting — 8Interior Lighting — 4Windows — 3Interior Mirror — 1Exterior Mirrors — 1Sunroof (if equipped) — 4Instrument Cluster — 16Instrument Cluster Display — 14Trip Computer — 3Head-Up Display (If Equipped) — 1Remote Start — 5Climate Control — 7Cabin Air Quality — 1Front Seats — 5Rear Seats — 1Rear Seat Reminder — 1Memory Function — 1Garage Door Opener — 7USB Ports — 3Power Point - Vehicles With: 12V Outlet — 1Wireless Accessory Charger — 1Storage — 1Starting and Stopping the Engine — 9Hybrid Electric Vehicle Information — 6Auto Start-Stop — 1Fuel and Refueling — 10Catalytic Converter — 1High-Voltage Battery — 1Charging Your Vehicle – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) — 7Automatic Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive — 1Brakes — 4Electric parking brake — 1Hill Start Assist — 1Auto Hold — 1Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 1Steering — 1Park Aid — 7Rearview Camera — 1Active Park Assist — 5Cruise Control — 1Adaptive Cruise Control — 10Drive Mode Control — 5Lane Keeping System — 6Blind Spot Information System — 5Cross-Traffic Alert — 5Pre-Collision Assist — 9Driver Alert — 4Traffic Sign Recognition — 4Loading — 6Cargo Area — 1Trailer Hitch Connection — 3Towing a Trailer — 4Trailer Sway Control — 1Driving Tips — 4Breakdown and Emergency Information — 7Towing Your Vehicle — 4Fuses — 4Maintenance — 14Vehicle Care — 5Body Styling Kits — 1Storing Your Vehicle — 1Wheels and Tires Information — 6Tire Care — 4Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit — 8Tire Pressure Monitoring System — 4Road Wheel Replacement — 1Capacities and Specifications — 16Vehicle Identification — 1Connected Vehicle — 4Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 8SYNC™ (if equipped) — 9SYNC™ 3 (if equipped) — 41Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 4Customer Information — 23Appendices — 3
2steps
~12min
1/5difficulty
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Exterior Cleaning Precautions

Immediately remove spilled fuel, AdBlue residue, bird droppings, insect deposits and road tar. Over time, these can damage the paint or finish of your vehicle.

Remove all external accessories, such as antennas, before washing the vehicle.

Headlamp and Taillamp Cleaning

We recommend using only cool or warm water with automotive shampoo to clean the headlamps and taillamp lenses.

Do not scratch the lamps.

Do not wipe the lamps when they are dry.

Window and Wiper Blade Cleaning

To clean the windshield and wiper blades:

  • Clean the windshield with a non-abrasive glass cleaner.
  • Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid or water applied with a soft sponge or cloth.

Chrome, Aluminum or Stainless Steel Cleaning

We recommend using only vehicle shampoo, a soft cloth and water on bumpers and other chrome, aluminum or stainless steel components.

Wheel Cleaning

Use only recommended wheel and tire cleaner to clean the wheels weekly. For additional information and assistance, we recommend contacting an authorized dealer.

  1. Use a sponge to remove heavy deposits of dirt and brake dust.
  2. Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.

If you plan to leave your vehicle parked for an extended period after cleaning the wheels with wheel cleaner, drive the vehicle for a few minutes before parking. This reduces the risk of corrosion on brake rotors, brake pads and linings.

Do not wash the wheels when they are hot.

Engine Compartment Cleaning

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove debris from the area under the windshield cowl screen.

When washing the engine compartment:

  • Never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running.
  • Never wash or rinse the ignition coils, spark plug wires or spark plug wells.
  • Cover the battery, power distribution box and air filter assembly to prevent water damage.
  • Spray an approved engine shampoo and degreaser on all parts requiring cleaning, then rinse with water.

Stripe or Graphics Cleaning

Washing the vehicle is recommended. However, pressure washing may be used under the following conditions:

  • Use a 40° fan-pattern spray nozzle.
  • Hold the nozzle at a distance of 12 in (305 mm) and at a 90° angle to the vehicle surface.
  • Do not use water pressure above 2000 psi (14000 kPa).
  • Do not use water hotter than 179°F (82°C).

Camera Lens and Sensor Cleaning

We recommend using only warm or cool water and a soft cloth to clean the camera lens and sensors.

Underbody Cleaning

Wash the entire underbody of your vehicle frequently. Keep the body and door drain holes free of caked-on dirt.

Rear suspension components may require regular cleaning with a car wash or thorough rinsing with a strong water stream if the vehicle is operated in dusty or muddy environments. Rear springs or other suspension components may squeak or rattle during vehicle operation if particles such as dirt, stones or other debris are present in the components.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Escape quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.