2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT maintenance

Replacing tires
Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible. Due to exposure to
the elements and exhaust you
should replace the spare tire when
you replace the other tires.
Never mix radial bias-belted
tires, or bias-type tires. Use
only the tire sizes that are listed
on the Certification Label. Make
sure that all tires are the same
size, speed rating, and load
carrying capacity. Use only the tire
combinations recommended on
the label. If you do not follow
these precautions, your vehicle
handling may be effected which
can lead to loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal
injury.
Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design as originally offered by
Ford.
Do not replace your tires with “high performance” tires or larger
size tires.
Failure to follow these precautions, your vehicle handling may be
adversely effected which can lead to loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle’s original tires may
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
183

SNOW TIRES AND TRACTION DEVICES
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the original tires.
Your tires have all-weather treads to provide traction in the rain and
snow. In some climate, using snow tires or traction devices may be
necessary. For Motor Company offers tire cables as a Ford approved
accessory and recommends use of these or SAE class “S” cables. See
your dealer for more information.
Follow these guidelines:
•Do not use tire cables or chains with P255/70R16 size tires.
•Cables or chains should only be used on the rear wheels.
•If you need to use chains, it is recommended that steel wheels (of the
same size and specification) be used, as chains may chip aluminum
wheels.
•Install cables or chains securely, verifying that they do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Avoid overloading your vehicle.
•Do not use cables or chains on dry roads.
•Do not exceed 48 km/h (30 mph).
•Drive cautiously.
Remove the cables or chains when they are no longer needed.
MOTORCRAFT PART NUMBERS
Component 4.0L SOHC V6 engine
Air filter element FA-1744
Fuel filter FG-1036
Battery BXT-65-650
Oil filter FL-820S
PCV valve EV-243
Spark plugs* AGSF-22PP
* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) decal for spark
plug gap information.
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
184

REFILL CAPACITIES
Fluid Ford Part Name Application Capacity
Brake and clutch
fluidMotorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Engine oil
(including filter
change)Motorcraft SAE
5W-30 Super
Premium Motor
OilAll 4.7L
(5.0 quarts)
Fuel tank N/A All 63.6 L
(16.8 gallons)
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FAll Fill to line on
reservoir
Transmission
fluid
1Motorcraft
MERCONAT F4-speed manual 2.6L
(5.6 pints)8
Motorcraft
MERCONVATF5R55E Automatic
(4x2)9.5L
(10.0 quarts)2
5R55E Automatic
(4x4)9.8L
(10.3 quarts)2
Transfer case Motorcraft
MERCONAT F4WD 1.2L
(1.3 quarts)3
Engine coolant4Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)4.0L SOHC V6
engine13.2L
(14.0 quarts)
Front axle
lubricantMotorcraft SAE
80W-90 Premium
Rear Axle
Lubricant4x4 vehicles 1.7L (1.8 quarts)
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
185

Fluid Ford Part Name Application Capacity
Rear axle
lubricant
5Motorcraft SAE
80W-90 Premium
Rear Axle
LubricantRefer to
Footnote 62.9-3.1L
(5.5-5.8 pints)
Motorcraft SAE
75W-140 High
Performance
Synthetic Rear
Axle LubricantRefer to
Footnote 7
Windshield
washer fluidMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateAll 2.6L
(2.7 quarts)
1Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. MERCONand
MERCONV are not interchangeable. DO NOT MIX MERCONand
MERCONV. Refer to the scheduled maintenance guide to determine
the correct service interval.
2Indicates only approximate dry-fill capacity. Some applications may vary
based on cooler size and if equipped with an in-tank cooler. The amount
of transmission fluid and fluid level should be set by the indication on
the dipstick’s normal operating range.
3Fill to bottom of filler plug hole.4Add the coolant type originally equipped in your vehicle.5Fill to 6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 9/16 inch) below bottom of filler
plug hole.
6For vehicles equipped with a conventional rear axle, refer to your
scheduled maintenance guide for axle fluid change intervals.
7Vehicles equipped with Traction-Lok axle require synthetic rear axle
lubricant. Rear axles containing synthetic lubricant are lubricated for life.
These lubricants are not to be checked or changed unless a leak is
suspected or service is required. The axle lubricant should be changed
any time the axle has been submerged in water.
Add 118 ml (4 oz.) of Additive Friction Modifier XL-3 or equivalent
meeting Ford specification EST-M2C118–A for complete refill of
Traction-Lok axles.
8Service refill capacity for the manual transmission is determined by
filling the transmission to the bottom of the filler hole with the vehicle
on a level surface.
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
186

LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
ItemFord Part Name
or equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Body hinges,
latches, door
striker plates and
rotors, seat
tracks, fuel filler
door hinge and
spring, hood
latch, auxiliary
latch, seat tracksMulti-Purpose
GreaseD0AZ-19584-AA
or XL-5ESB-M1C93-B or
ESR-M1C159-A
Hydraulic clutch
fluid and brake
fluidMotorcraft High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidPM-1ESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Driveshaft, slip
spline, universal
jointsPremium Long
Life GreaseXG-1-C or
XG-1-T or
XG-1-KESA-M1C75-B
Engine coolant Motorcraft
Premium Gold
Engine Coolant
(yellow-colored)VC-7–A WSS-M97B51-A1
Engine oilMotorcraft SAE
5W-30 Super
Premium Motor
Oil (US)
Motorcraft SAE
5W-20 Super
Premium Motor
Oil (Canada)XO-5W30-QSP
(US)
CXO-5W20–LSP12
(Canada)WSS-M2C205-A
with API
Certification
Mark
Automatic
transmission
(5R55E)
1
Motorcraft
MERCONVATFXT-5-QM MERCONV
4–speed manual
transmissionMotorcraft
MERCON
Multi-Purpose
AT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
187

ItemFord Part Name
or equivalentFord Part
NumberFord
Specification
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCON
Multi-Purpose
AT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
Ford
conventional and
Traction-Lok rear
axles
2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4
Front axle (4X4)Motorcraft SAE
80W-90 Premium
Rear Axle
LubricantXY-80W90-QL WSP-M2C197-A
Transfer case
(4X4)Motorcraft
MERCON
Multi-Purpose
AT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
Transfer case
Front Output Slip
ShaftPremium
Long-Life GreaseXG-1-C or
XG-1-T or
XG-1-KESA-M1C75-B
Windshield
washer fluidMotorcraft
Premium
Windshield
Washer
ConcentrateZC-32–A WSB-M8B16–A2
1Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. Transmission
fluid requirements are indicated on the dipstick or on the dipstick
handle. MERCONand MERCONV are not interchangeable. DO NOT
mix MERCONand MERCONV. Refer to your scheduled maintenance
guide to determine the correct service interval.
2Conventional rear axles are filled with Motorcraft SAE 80W-90 Premium
Rear Axle Lubricant, part number XY-80W90-QL, Ford specification
WSP-M2C197-A.
3Traction-Lok rear axles are filled with Motorcraft SAE 75W-140 High
Performance Synthetic Rear Axle Lubricant, part number
XY-75W140–QL, Ford specification WSL-M2C192-A.
4Add 118 ml (4 oz) of Additive Friction Modifier XL-3 or equivalent
meeting Ford specification EST-M2C118–A to Traction-Lok rear axles
whenever the axle has been serviced.
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
188

ENGINE DATA
Engine 4.0L SOHC V6 engine
Cubic inches 245
Required fuel 87 octane
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark plug gap 1.3-1.4 mm (0.052-0.056 inch)
Ignition system EDIS
Compression ratio 9.7:1
VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Dimensions 2 Door 4x2 XL model
mm (in.)2 Door 4x4 Sport
model mm (in.)
(1) Overall length 4608 (181.4) 4608 (181.4)
(2) Overall width 1783 (70.2) 1783 (70.2)
(3) Maximum
height*1704 (67.1) 1779 (70.0)*
(4) Wheelbase 2585 (101.8) 2585 (101.8)
(5) Front track /
rear1486 (58.5)/1486 (58.5) 1486 (58.5)/1486 (58.5)
* Height includes roof rack & P255 tire
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
189

3
5
2
4
1
2003 U207 Explorer Sport(u27)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
190