2008 FORD EXPLORER octane

The fuel system may be under pressure. Remove fuel filler cap
slowly. Otherwise, fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive vacuum in
the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause the fuel cap
to disengage in a collision, which may result in personal injury.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED fuel or UNLEADED fuel blended with a maximum
of 10% ethanol. Your vehicle was not designed to run on E85 fuels that
are blended with a maximum of 85% ethanol. The use of leaded fuel is
prohibited by law and could damage your vehicle. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system components.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based additives. Studies indicate that
these additives can cause your vehicle’s emission control system to
deteriorate more rapidly.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular” unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as “Regular” that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
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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.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems, try a different brand of unleaded gasoline. “Premium” unleaded
gasoline is not recommended for vehicles designed to use “Regular”
unleaded gasoline because it may cause these problems to become more
pronounced. 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 theChoosing the Right
Fuelsection.
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.
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Maintenance and Specifications
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•TheService engine soonindicator may come on. For more
information on theService engine soon
indicator, refer to
Warning lights and chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
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 theMaintenance
product specifications and capacitiessection 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.
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Maintenance and Specifications
359

ENGINE DATA
Engine 4.0L SOHC V6
engine4.6L 3V V8
engine
Cubic inches 245 281
Required fuel 87 octane 87 octane
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Ignition system EDIS Coil on Plug
Spark plug gap 0.052–0.056 inch
(1.32–1.42 mm)0.040–0.050 inch
(1.02–1.27 mm)
1
Compression ratio 9.7:1 9.8:11Spark plug gap is not adjustable
Engine drivebelt routing
•4.0L V6 Engine
•4.6L V8 Engine
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
374

Engine oil ..................................340
checking and adding ..............340
dipstick ....................................340
filter, specifications ........343, 369
recommendations ...................343
refill capacities ........................370
specifications ..........................370
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................259
F
Fail safe cooling ........................352
Family entertainment system ....51
Floor mats .................................142
Fluid capacities .........................370
Foglamps .....................................87
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......280
driving off road .......................281
indicator light .........................280
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................268
Fuel ............................................354
calculating fuel
economy ..................117, 129, 359
cap ...........................................356
capacity ...................................370
choosing the right fuel ...........357
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................362
detergent in fuel .....................358
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................354, 356, 359
filter, specifications ........353, 369
fuel pump shut-off switch .....291
improving fuel economy ........359
octane rating ...................357, 374
quality ......................................358
running out of fuel .................358safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................354
Fuses ..................................292, 294
G
Garage door opener ..................100
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............356
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................359
Gauges .........................................19
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................248
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
calculating ...............................248
H
Hazard flashers .........................291
Head restraints .........................163
Headlamps ...................................87
aiming ........................................89
bulb specifications ....................92
daytime running lights .............88
flash to pass ..............................88
high beam .................................88
turning on and off ....................87
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................79, 81
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................112
Hood ..........................................335
How to get going ........................22
I
Ignition ...............................256, 374
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Index
381

Illuminated visor mirror .............98
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................211
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................364
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................330
cluster ........................................12
J
Jack ....................................301, 304
positioning .......................301, 306
storage .............................301, 304
Jump-starting your vehicle ......311
K
Keyless entry system ...............157
autolock ...........................146, 148
keypad .....................................158
locking and unlocking doors ..159
programming entry code .......158
Keys ...........................................160
positions of the ignition .........256
L
Lamps
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................92
daytime running light ...............88
fog lamps ...................................87
headlamps .................................87
interior lamps ...........................91
Liftgate ......................................144
remote release ........................153
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........262
Load limits .................................242Loading instructions .................248
Locks
autolock ...........................146, 148
childproof ................................151
doors ........................................146
Lubricant specifications ...........370
Lug nuts ....................................310
Luggage rack .............................145
Lumbar support, seats .....165, 167
M
Message center .................115, 127
english/metric button .....118, 131
system check button ......118, 131
warning messages ...........123, 137
Mirrors ...............................103–104
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................103
fold away .................................105
heated ......................................105
side view mirrors (power) .....104
Moon roof ..................................111
Motorcraft parts ........332, 353, 369
N
Navigation system .......................78
O
Octane rating ............................357
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................340
P
Parking brake ............................263
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....369
2008 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
382