Ford Explorer Quiz
Vehicle Care

Engine Cleaning

In this manual: Vehicle Care
Introduction — 10At a Glance — 3Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 10Personal Safety System™ — 1Supplemental Restraint System — 10Pedestrian Protection — 1911 Assist — 3Keys and Remote Controls — 10MyKey™ — 8Doors & Locks — 9Liftgate — 7Safety — 3Steering Wheel — 11Wipers and Washers — 5Lighting — 13Automatic High Beam Control — 3Windows and Mirrors — 6Instrument Cluster — 4Information Displays — 4Climate Control — 6Cabin Air Quality — 2Seats — 9Garage Door Opener — 2Auxiliary Power Points — 3Storage Compartments — 2Starting and Stopping the Engine — 5Unique Driving Characteristics — 4Fuel and Refueling — 8Engine Emission Control — 3High-Voltage Battery — 1Infection Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive Vehicle — 1Brakes — 5Reverse Brake Assist — 4Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 3Hill Descent Control — 3Park Aid — 8Cruise Control — 4Adaptive Cruise Control — 19Driver Assistance — 12Drive Mode Control — 4Loading — 6Tow/Haul — 6Driving Tips — 5Roadside Emergencies — 8Customer Assistance — 9Fuses — 3Maintenance — 21Vehicle Care — 12Wheels and Tires — 8Capacities and Specifications — 16Connectivity — 3Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 6SYNC™ 3 — 14Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 5Appendices — 4
~1min read

Engines operate more efficiently when they are clean, because grease and dirt build up on them. Keep the engine cleaner than usual.

When cleaning:

  • Use caution when using a high-pressure washer to clean the engine. High-pressure fluid can penetrate sealed components and cause damage.
  • Do not spray a hot engine with cold water to avoid cracking the cylinder block or other engine components.
  • Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser onto all parts requiring cleaning and rinse with pressure. In Canada, use Motorcraft Engine Shampoo.
  • Never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running; water entering a running engine may cause internal damage.
  • Never wash or rinse the ignition coil, spark plug wire, or spark plug well or the area in and around these components.
  • Cover the battery, power distribution box and air filter assembly to prevent water damage when cleaning the engine.

Test yourself

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