1997 FORD EXPLORER oil

2. If the fluid level is not within
the normal range, add only
certified engine oil of the preferred
viscosity. Add engine oil through
the oil filler cap. Remove the filler
cap and use a funnel to pour oil in
the opening.
3. Recheck the oil level. Make sure
the oil level is not above the full
mark on the dipstick.
Your vehicle has an OIL LIFE
LEFT function if you have the
Vehicle Message Center. This
device displays the percent of
useful engine oil life left and when
an oil change is required. Use of a
CERTIFIED oil of the preferred
viscosity is required for this device
to work properly. Change your
engine oil and oil filter when the
Message Center displays CHANGE
OIL SOON or OIL CHANGE
REQUIRED. If the Message Center
malfunctions, you may determine
your oil change interval based on
the following guidelines.
The Vehicle Message Center may
be manually reset by depressing
the Oil Change Reset switch for
five seconds.
Continuous contact with
usedmotor oil has caused
cancer in laboratory mice.
Changing the engine oil and
filter
Change your engine oil and filter
according to the following
com_oil_and_filter_change.01
Maintenance and care
175

kilometers (mileage) and time
requirements, whichever occurs
first:
²Normal Schedule ± 8,000 km
(5,000 miles) or six months.
²Severe Duty Schedule ± 5,000
km (3,000 miles) or three
months. Severe duty operation
would include extensive idling,
trailer towing, driving in severe
dust and police, taxi or delivery
service.
Ford production and aftermarket
(Motorcraft) oil filters are designed
for added engine protection and
long life. If a replacement oil filter
is used that does not meet Ford
material and design specifications,
startup engine noises or knock
may be experienced.
It is recommended you use the
appropriate Motorcraft oil filter (or
another brand meeting Ford
specifications) for your engine
application.
DRIVELINE UNIVERSAL JOINT
AND SLIP YOKE
The universal joints standard with
your vehicle do not require
lubrication. If the original
equipment universal joints are
replaced with universal joints
equipped with grease fittings,
lubrication will be necessary at the
intervals shown in the ªService
Guideº supplement.
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com_checking-adding_fluid.01
Maintenance and care
176

Watch for fluid leaks, strange
odors, smoke, loss of oil pressure,
the charging system warning light,
the ªService Engine Soonº light or
the temperature warning light.
These events could indicate that
the emission control system is not
working properly.
If you smell exhaust fumes
of any kind inside your
vehicle, have the dealer inspect
and fix your vehicle immediately.
Do not drive if you smell exhaust
fumes. These fumes are harmful
and could kill you.
Do not make any unauthorized
changes to your vehicle or engine.
By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs,
services, sells, leases, trades
vehicles, or supervises a fleet of
vehicles are not permitted to
intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from
working. Information about your
vehicle's emission system is on the
Vehicle Emission Control
Information Decal located on or
near the engine. This decal
identifies engine displacement and
gives some tune up specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty
Guideº for complete emission
warranty information.
Readiness for
inspection/maintenance testing
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an I/M test of
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Maintenance and care
208

REPLACING VEHICLE BULBS
Replacing the exterior bulbs
Check the operation of the
following exterior lamps
frequently:
²headlamps
²foglamps (if equipped)
²high-mount brakelamp
²license plate lamp
²tail lamps
²back-up lamps
Do not remove lamp bulbs unless
they will be replaced immediately
with new ones. If a bulb is
removed for an extended period of
time, contaminants may enter the
lamp-housings and affect lamp
performance.
Handle a halogen
headlamp bulb carefully
and keep out of children's reach.
Grasp the bulb only by its plastic
base and do not touch the glass.
The oil from your hand could
cause the bulb to break the next
time the headlamps are
operated.
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Maintenance and care
210

any bugs and tar before waxing
vehicle. Use cleaning fluid or
alcohol with a clean cloth to
remove. Use tar remover to
remove any tar spots.
Repairing paint chips
Minor scratches or paint damage
from road debris may be repaired
with touch-up paint, paint repair
foil or aerosol paint spray from the
Ford accessory line. Observe the
application instructions on the
products.
Remove particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect
remains, tar spots, road salt and
industrial fallout immediately.
Cleaning the wheels
Wash the wheels with the same
detergent you use to clean the
body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based wheel cleaners, steel
wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will
damage the finish of special wheel
surfaces. Use a tar remover to
remove grease and tar.
Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when
they are clean because grease and
dirt buildup act as insulators and
keep the engine warmer than
normal. Follow these guidelines to
clean your engine:
²Take care when using a power
washer to clean the engine. The
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Maintenance and care
216

MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 4.0L EFI
engine4.0L SOHC
engine5.0L engine
Air filter FA-1616 FA-1658 FA-1658
Fuel filter FG-872 FG-872 FG-872
Battery
(standard)BXT-58 BXT-58 BXT-65-650
Battery
(optional)BXT-65-650 BXT-65-650 BXT-65-850
Oil filter FL-1A FL-1A FL-820S
PCV valve EV-225 EV-225 EV-152
Spark plug
1AGSF-22PP2AGSF-22PP2AWSF-32EE3
1
Refer to the Vehicle Emission
Control Information (VECI) decal
in the engine for gap
specifications. If a spark plug must
be replaced, use only spark plugs
with the service number suffix
letter EE as shown on the engine
decal.
2If a spark plug is removed for
inspection, it must be reinstalled in
the same cylinder. Cylinder
numbers 1, 2, 3 have a PG suffix.
Cylinder numbers 4, 5, 6 have a P
suffix.
3If a spark plug is removed for
inspection it must be reinstalled in
the same cylinder. Cylinder
numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 have an EG
suffix. Cylinder numbers 5, 6, 7, 8
have an E suffix.
com_explorer-part-numbers
Capacities and specifications
222

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity-liters
(quarts)
Engine oil
(including filter
change)Motorcraft 5W30
Super Premium
Motor OilAll engines
4.7 (5.0)
Brake fluid Ford High
Performance
DOT 3 Brake
FluidAll
Fill to line in
reservoir
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FAll Fill to line in
reservoir
Transmission
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONtAT F5-speed manual
2.6 (5.6 pints)
Motorcraft
MERCONtV
AT F4R70W
Automatic
(4x2)13.1 (13.9)
5R55E
Automatic with
4.0L SOHC
engine (4 x 2)9.25 (9.75)
5R55E
Automatic with
4.0L SOHC
engine (4 x 4)9.55 (10.0)
Transfer case Motorcraft
MERCONtAT F4WD 1.4 (1.5)
AWD 1.25 (1.3)
Engine coolant Ford Premium
Cooling System
Fluid4.0L engine
7.4 (7.8)
5.0L engine 12.1 (12.8)
Front axle fluid Motorcraft SAE
80W90 Axle
Lubricant4 x 4 vehicles
1.7 (3.5 pints)
com_explorer-refills
Capacities and specifications
223

ItemFord Part
NameFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Hydraulic clutch
master cylinder
and brake
master cylinderHigh
Perfromance
DOT 3 Brake
FluidC6AZ-19542-AB ESZ-M6C25-A
Driveshaft, slip
sline, universal
jointsPremium Long
Life GreaseXG-1-C or K ESA-M1C75-B
Door
weatherstripsSilicone
LubricantsCOAZ-19553-AA ESR-M13P4-A
Engine coolantFord Premium
Cooling System
FluidE2FZ-19549-AA ESE-M97B44-A
ATX shift
linkagePremium Long
Life GreaseXG-1-C ESA-M1C75-B
Engine oilMotorcraft
Motor Oil 5W-30
Super PremiumXO-5W30-QSPWSS-M2C153-F
with API
Certification
Mark
Automatic
transmission
(4R7OW)Motorcraft
MERCONt
Automatic
Transmission
FluidXT-2-QDX MERCONt
Automatic
transmission
(5R55E)Motorcraft
MERCONtV
AT FXT-2-QM MERCONt
Power steering
reservoirMotorcraft
MERCONtAT FXT-2-QDX MERCONt
Speedometer,
parking brake
cableSpeedometer
Cable LubricantE6TZ-19581-A ESF-M1C160-A
Engine oil
lubricantMotorcraft Long
Life Oil FilterFL-1A-4.0L
FL-820-5.0LES-E1ZE-
6714-AA
Capacities and specifications
226