Get Maintenance and Specifications -> FUEL FILTER Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

Maintenance and Specifications

Along with the

(engine coolant temperature) indicator, the engine

coolant temperature gauge will read in the H (Hot) area.

Oil overheat can be triggered in severe driving conditions, such as

towing heavy loads over mountainous terrain in extreme hot

temperatures. As oil temperature increases, engine and vehicle speed

will be limited. The transmission will also shift differently.

When the engine oil has cooled, the vehicle will perform normally.

When fail-safe cooling mode is activated

You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the

vehicle with caution. Remember that the engine is capable of completely

shutting down automatically to prevent engine damage, therefore:

1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.

2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to an authorized dealer.

3. If this is not possible, wait approximately 15 minutes for the engine to

cool.

4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low. Look for coolant leakage

in the engine compartment and under the vehicle.

WARNING: Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the

engine is running or hot.

5. Restart the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer.

Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem

increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to an

authorized dealer as soon as possible.

FUEL FILTER

For fuel filter replacement, see your authorized dealer. Refer to

scheduled maintenance information for the appropriate intervals for

changing the fuel filter.

Replace the fuel filter with an authorized Motorcraft௡ part. The

customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel system

if an authorized Motorcraft௡ fuel filter is not used.

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS

Important safety precautions

WARNING: Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an

overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and fire.

WARNING: The fuel system may be under pressure. If you hear

a hissing sound near the fuel filler door (Easy Fuel™ “no cap”

fuel system), do not refuel until the sound stops. Otherwise, fuel may

spray out, which could cause serious personal injury.

WARNING: Automotive fuels can cause serious injury or death

if misused or mishandled.

WARNING: Gasoline may contain benzene, which is a

cancer-causing agent.

Observe the following guidelines when handling automotive fuel:

• Extinguish all smoking materials

and any open flames before

refueling your vehicle.

• Always turn off the vehicle before

refueling.

• Automotive fuels can be harmful

or fatal if swallowed. Fuel such as gasoline is highly toxic and if

swallowed can cause death or permanent injury. If fuel is swallowed,

call a physician immediately, even if no symptoms are immediately

apparent. The toxic effects of fuel may not be visible for hours.

• Avoid inhaling fuel vapors. Inhaling too much fuel vapor of any kind

can lead to eye and respiratory tract irritation. In severe cases,

excessive or prolonged breathing of fuel vapor can cause serious

illness and permanent injury.

• Avoid getting fuel liquid in your eyes. If fuel is splashed in the eyes,

remove contact lenses (if worn), flush with water for 15 minutes and

seek medical attention. Failure to seek proper medical attention could

lead to permanent injury.

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• Fuels can also be harmful if absorbed through the skin. If fuel is

splashed on the skin and/or clothing, promptly remove contaminated

clothing and wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. Repeated or

prolonged skin contact with fuel liquid or vapor causes skin irritation.

• Be particularly careful if you are taking “Antabuse” or other forms of

disulfiram for the treatment of alcoholism. Breathing gasoline vapors,

or skin contact could cause an adverse reaction. In sensitive

individuals, serious personal injury or sickness may result. If fuel is

splashed on the skin, promptly wash skin thoroughly with soap and

water. Consult a physician immediately if you experience an adverse

reaction.

WARNING: When refueling always shut the engine off and

never allow sparks or open flames near the filler neck. Never

smoke while refueling. Fuel vapor is extremely hazardous under certain

conditions. Care should be taken to avoid inhaling excess fumes.

WARNING: The flow of fuel through a fuel pump nozzle can

produce static electricity, which can cause a fire if fuel is

pumped into an ungrounded fuel container.

Refueling

WARNING: Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause

severe injuries. To help avoid injuries to you and others:

• Read and follow all the instructions on the pump island;

• Turn off your engine when you are refueling;

• Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle;

• Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from fuel;

• Stay outside your vehicle and do not leave the fuel pump unattended

when refueling your vehicle — this is against the law in some places;

• Keep children away from the fuel pump; never let children pump

fuel.

Use the following guidelines to avoid electrostatic charge build-up when

filling an ungrounded fuel container:

• Place approved fuel container on the ground.

• DO NOT fill a fuel container while it is in the vehicle (including the

cargo area).

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• Keep the fuel pump nozzle in contact with the fuel container while

filling.

• DO NOT use a device that would hold the fuel pump handle in the fill

position.

Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system

Your fuel tank is equipped with an Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel filler

system. This allows you to simply open the fuel filler door and insert the

fuel filler nozzle into the fuel system. The Easy Fuel™ system is

self-sealing and protected against dust, dirt, water and snow/ice.

When fueling your vehicle:

1. Turn the engine off.

2. Open the fuel filler door.

3. Slowly insert the fuel filler nozzle fully into the fuel system. Pump fuel

as normal.

4. After you are done pumping fuel, slowly remove the fuel filler

nozzle—allow about five seconds after pumping fuel before removing the

fuel filler nozzle. This allows residual fuel to drain back into the fuel tank

and not spill onto the vehicle.

Note: A fuel spillage concern may occur if overfilling the fuel tank. Do

not overfill the tank to the point that the fuel is able to bypass the fuel

filler nozzle. The overfilled fuel may run down the drain located within

the fuel filler housing and to the ground.

If the Check Fuel Fill Inlet lamp or Check Fuel Fill Inlet message comes

on, the fuel fill inlet may not have properly closed. The inlet may have

stuck open or debris may be preventing the inlet from fully closing. At

the next opportunity, safely pull off the road, turn off the engine, open

the fuel filler door and remove any visible debris from the fuel fill

opening. Insert either the fuel fill nozzle or the fuel fill funnel (see

Refilling with a portable fuel container for funnel location) provided

with the vehicle several times to dislodge any debris and/or allow the

inlet to close properly. If this action corrects the problem, the Check

Fuel Fill Inlet lamp or Check Fuel Fill Inlet message may not reset

immediately. It may take several driving cycles for the Check Fuel Fill

Inlet lamp or Check Fuel Fill Inlet message to turn off. A driving cycle

consists of an engine start-up (after four or more hours with the engine

off) followed by city/highway driving. Continuing to drive with the Check

Fuel Fill Inlet lamp or Check Fuel Fill Inlet message on may cause the

Service Engine Soon lamp to turn on as well.

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WARNING: The fuel system may be under pressure. If you hear

a hissing sound near the fuel filler door (Easy Fuel™ “no cap”

fuel system), do not refuel until the sound stops. Otherwise, fuel may

spray out, which could cause serious personal injury.

Choosing the right fuel

Use only UNLEADED fuel or UNLEADED fuel blended with a maximum

of 10% ethanol. Do not use fuel ethanol (E85), diesel, methanol, leaded

fuel or any other fuel. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law and

could damage your vehicle.

Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic

compounds, including manganese-based additives.

Note: Use of any fuel other than those recommended may cause

powertrain damage, a loss of vehicle performance, and repairs may not

be covered under warranty.

Octane recommendations

Your vehicle is designed to use

“Regular” unleaded gasoline with a

pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.

87

Some stations offer fuels posted as

(R+M)/2 METHOD

“Regular” with an octane rating

below 87, particularly in high altitude areas. Fuels with octane levels

below 87 are not recommended.

Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if

it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel

with the recommended octane rating, see your authorized dealer to

prevent any engine damage.

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Fuel quality

If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability

problems, try a different brand of unleaded gasoline. If the problems

persist, see your authorized dealer.

Do not add aftermarket fuel additive products to your fuel tank. It

should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel

tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane

rating. These products have not been approved for your engine and

could cause damage to the fuel system. Repairs to correct the effects of

using an aftermarket product in your fuel may not be covered by your

warranty.

Many of the world’s automakers approved the World-Wide Fuel Charter

that recommends gasoline specifications to provide improved

performance and emission control system protection for your vehicle.

Gasolines that meet the World-Wide Fuel Charter should be used when

available. Ask your fuel supplier about gasolines that meet the

World-Wide Fuel Charter.

Cleaner air

Ford endorses the use of reformulated “cleaner-burning” gasolines to

improve air quality, per the recommendations in the Choosing the right

fuel section.

Running out of fuel

Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse

effect on powertrain components.

If you have run out of fuel:

• You may need to cycle the ignition from off to on several times after

refueling to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to

the engine. On restarting, cranking time will take a few seconds longer

than normal.

• Normally, adding 1 gallon (3.8L) of fuel is enough to restart the

engine. If the vehicle is out of fuel and on a steep grade, more than

1 gallon (3.8L) may be required.

• The service engine soon

indicator may come on. For more

information on the service engine soon indicator, refer to Warning

lights and chimes in the Instrument Cluster chapter.

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Maintenance and Specifications

Refilling with a portable fuel container

With the Easy Fuel™ “no cap” fuel system, use the following directions

when filling from a portable fuel container:

WARNING: Do not insert the nozzle of portable fuel containers

or aftermarket funnels into the Easy Fuel™ system. This could

damage the fuel system and its seal, and may cause fuel to run onto

the ground instead of filling the tank, which could result in serious

personal injury.

WARNING: Do not try to pry open or push open the Easy

Fuel™ system with foreign objects. This could damage the fuel

system and its seal and cause injury to you or others.

When filling the vehicle’s fuel tank from a portable fuel container, use the

included funnel.

1. Locate the white plastic funnel. It

is attached to the underside of the

spare tire cover or is included with

the tire changing tools.

2. Slowly insert the funnel into the Easy Fuel™ system.

3. Fill the vehicle with fuel from the portable fuel container.

4. When done, clean the funnel or properly dispose of it. Extra funnels

can be purchased from your authorized dealer if you choose to dispose

of the funnel. Do not use aftermarket funnels; they will not work with

the Easy Fuel™ system and can damage it. The included funnel has

been specially designed to work safely with your vehicle.

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ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY

Measuring techniques

Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the

driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as

possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are

NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend

taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles

(1,600 km) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more

accurate measurement after 2,000 miles–3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000

km).

Filling the tank

The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to

the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in the Maintenance

product specifications and capacities section of this chapter.

The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the

empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the

amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates

empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel

tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty.

The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should

not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your

vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be

able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the

fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.

For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:

• Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling,

an error in the reading will result if the engine is left running.

• Use the same filling rate setting (low — medium — high) each time

the tank is filled.

• Allow no more than two automatic click-offs when filling.

• Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.

• Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.

• Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the

same direction each time you fill up.

• Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.

Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.

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Calculating fuel economy

1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading

(in miles or kilometers).

2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in

gallons or liters).

3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and record

the current odometer reading.

4. Subtract your initial odometer reading from the current odometer

reading.

5. Follow one of the simple calculations in order to determine fuel

economy:

Calculation 1: Divide total miles traveled by total gallons used.

Calculation 2: Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total

kilometers traveled.

Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city

or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle’s fuel

economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records

during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel

economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy.

Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits

Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change

a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.

Habits

• Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.

• Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel

economy.

• Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste

fuel.

• Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.

• Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.

• Slow down gradually.

• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%

less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).

• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.

• Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.

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• You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if

unnecessary shifting between the top gears occurs. Unnecessary

shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel economy.

• Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may

reduce fuel economy.

• Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel

economy.

• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.

Maintenance

• Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.

• Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel

economy.

• Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Maintenance product

specifications and capacities in this chapter.

• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the

recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks

found in scheduled maintenance information.

Conditions

• Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy

at any speed.

• Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately

1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).

• Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example; bug

deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may

reduce fuel economy.

• Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first

8–10 miles (12–16 km) of driving.

• Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to

driving on hilly terrain.

• Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top

cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.

• Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than

two-wheel-drive operation.

• Close windows for high speed driving.

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EPA fuel economy estimates

Every new vehicle should have a sticker on the window called the

Monroney Label which contains EPA fuel economy estimates. Contact

your authorized dealer if the Monroney Label is not supplied with your

vehicle. The EPA fuel economy estimates should be your guide for the

fuel economy comparisons with other vehicles. Your fuel economy may

vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM

Your vehicle is equipped with various emission control components and a

catalytic converter which will enable your vehicle to comply with

applicable exhaust emission standards. To make sure that the catalytic

converter and other emission control components continue to work

properly:

• Use only the specified fuel listed.

• Avoid running out of fuel.

• Do not turn off the ignition while your vehicle is moving, especially at

high speeds.

• Have the items listed in scheduled maintenance information

performed according to the specified schedule.

The scheduled maintenance items listed in scheduled maintenance

information are essential to the life and performance of your vehicle

and to its emissions system.

If other than Ford, Motorcraft௡ or Ford-authorized parts are used for

maintenance replacements or for service of components affecting

emission control, such non-Ford parts should be equivalent to genuine

Ford Motor Company parts in performance and durability.

WARNING: Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass

or other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up the

engine compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.

Illumination of the service engine soon

indicator, charging system

warning light or the temperature warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors,

smoke or loss of engine power could indicate that the emission control

system is not working properly.

An improperly operating or damaged exhaust system may allow exhaust

to enter the vehicle. Have a damaged or improperly operating exhaust

system inspected and repaired immediately.

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Maintenance and Specifications -> FUEL FILTER for Your Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

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