Ford Escape Quiz

Storing Your Vehicle

In this manual: Storing Your Vehicle
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
~3min read

Preparing Your Vehicle for Storage

If you plan to store your vehicle for 30 days or more, the following maintenance recommendations help ensure your vehicle remains in good operating condition.

Under various conditions, long-term storage may cause engine performance deterioration or malfunction if you do not take special precautions to preserve the vehicle.

General

  • Store all vehicles in a dry, well-ventilated place.
  • If vehicles are stored outdoors, they require regular maintenance to protect against rust and weather effects.
  • Make sure all connections, cables, levers, and pins under your vehicle are coated with lubricant to prevent rust.
  • Move the vehicle at least 25 ft (7.5 m) every 15 days to lubricate moving parts and prevent corrosion.
  • Fill the fuel tank with quality fuel until the fuel pump nozzle automatically shuts off.

Engine

  • Replace the engine oil and filter before storage, as used engine oil contains contaminants that may cause engine damage.
  • Start the engine every 15 days and let it run for at least 15 minutes. Run it at fast idle with the climate control set to defrost until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
  • With your foot on the brake, shift through all gear positions while the engine is running.

Body

  • Thoroughly wash the vehicle to remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or road grime from the exterior surfaces, rear wheel housings and underside of the front fenders.
  • Wash the vehicle periodically if it is stored outdoors.
  • Paint any exposed or primed metal to prevent rust.
  • Cover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of automotive wax to prevent discoloration. Re-wax as necessary when you wash your vehicle.
  • Lubricate all hood, door and tailgate hinges and latches with light-grade oil.
  • Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
  • Do not allow oil and solvents to come into contact with any rubber parts.

Hybrid Battery Systems

We recommend the following actions for your vehicle:

  • When storing the vehicle for more than 30 days, the state of charge should be approximately 50%. In addition, we recommend disconnecting the 12V battery, which will reduce system loads on the HV battery.

12-Volt Battery

  • Check and recharge as necessary. Keep the connections clean.

Brakes

Make sure the brakes and parking brake are fully released.

Tires

  • Maintain the recommended tire pressure.

Removing the Vehicle from Storage

When your vehicle is ready to come out of storage, perform the following actions:

  • We recommend that you change the engine oil before using the vehicle again.
  • Wash the vehicle to remove dirt or greasy film from the glass surfaces.
  • Check the wiper blades for deterioration.
  • Check under the hood for foreign material that may have collected during storage, such as mice or squirrel nests.
  • Check the exhaust for foreign material that may have collected during storage.
  • Check the tire pressure and inflate the tires to the pressure specified on the tire placard.
  • Check the operation of the brake pedal. Drive the vehicle 15 ft (4.5 m) forward and backward to remove any rust buildup.
  • Check fluid levels (including coolant, engine oil and brake fluid) to make sure there are no leaks and that the fluids are at the recommended levels.
  • If you removed the battery, clean the battery cable terminals and check for damage.

Contact an authorized dealer if you have

any problems or concerns.

Test yourself

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