2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC oil temperature

Vehicle Symbol Glossary
Power Windows
Front/Rear
Power Window Lockout
Child Safety Door
Lock/UnlockInterior Luggage
Compartment Release
Panic AlarmEngine Oil
Engine CoolantEngine Coolant
Temperature
Do Not Open When HotBattery
Avoid Smoking, Flames,
or SparksBattery Acid
Explosive GasFan Warning
Power Steering FluidMaintain Correct Fluid
LevelMAX
MIN
Service Engine SoonEngine Air Filter
Passenger Compartment
Air FilterJack
Check Fuel CapLow Tire Pressure
Warning
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Introduction
11

Safety belt:Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A Belt-Minder

chime will also sound to remind you
to fasten your safety belt. Refer to
theSeating and safety restraints
chapter to activate/deactivate the Belt-Minder
chime feature,
Charging system:Illuminates when the battery is not charging properly.
•Standard instrument cluster
•Optional instrument cluster
Engine oil pressure:Illuminates
when the oil pressure falls below the
normal range. Check the oil level
and add oil if needed. Refer to
Engine oilin theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
If the light remains ON while driving, the temperature of the engine may
be too high, refer toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter.
Engine coolant temperature:Illuminates when the engine coolant
temperature is high. Stop the vehicle as soon as possible, switch off the
engine and let cool. Refer toEngine coolantin theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter.
•Standard instrument cluster
•Optional instrument cluster
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Instrument Cluster
15

If a staining liquid like coffee/juice has been spilled on the instrument
panel or on interior trim surfaces, clean as follows:
1. Wipe up spilled liquid using a clean, white, cotton cloth.
2. Apply Motorcraft Deluxe Leather and Vinyl Cleaner (ZC-11-A) [In
Canada use Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Cleaner (CXC-101)] to the wiped
area and spread around evenly.
3. Apply more Motorcraft cleaner to a clean, white, cotton cloth and
press the cloth onto the soiled area–allow this to set at room
temperature for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the soaked cloth, and if it is not soiled badly, use this cloth to
clean the area by using a rubbing motion for 60 seconds.
5. Following this, wipe area dry with a clean, white, cotton cloth.
INTERIOR
For fabric, carpets, cloth seats, safety belts and seats equipped with side
airbags:
•Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
•Remove light stains and soil with Motorcraft Professional Strength
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (ZC-54).
•If grease or tar is present on the material, spot-clean the area first
with Motorcraft Spot and Stain Remover (ZC-14).
•If a ring forms on the fabric after spot cleaning, clean the entire area
immediately (but do not oversaturate) or the ring will set.
•Do not use household cleaning products or glass cleaners, which can
stain and discolor the fabric and affect the flame retardant abilities of
the seat materials.
Do not use cleaning solvents, bleach or dye on the vehicle’s
safety belts, as these actions may weaken the belt webbing.
Do not use chemical solvents or strong detergents when cleaning
the seat-mounted side airbag (vehicles equipped with
seat-mounted side airbags only). Such products could contaminate the
side airbag system and affect performance of the side airbag in a
collision.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Cleaning
318

•Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage.
•Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
protection at the temperatures in which you drive.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system
and engine protection.
What you should know about fail-safe cooling (4.6L V8 engine only)
If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.
Fail-safe cooling and engine oil overheat mode (4.6L V8 only)
If the engine coolant and/or engine oil overheat, the vehicle’s fail-safe
modes will reduce engine power to limit engine damage, even with a
total loss of coolant. The vehicle’s range and/or speed will be reduced,
depending on vehicle load, terrain, and outside temperatures.
The instrument cluster provides warnings for each mode.
•Fail-Safe Cooling Mode:The
(Service engine
soon),
(Engine oil pressure), and(Engine coolant
temperature) indicators will be on.
Along with these warning indicators, the engine coolant temperature
gauge will read in the Hot (H) area.
If the engine coolant reaches even hotter temperatures, fail-safe
cooling mode limits engine power more and disables air conditioning.
The engine will switch to alternating cylinder operation to help cool
the engine. The engine will run rough in this mode.
If continued operation increases the engine coolant temperature to a
critical range, the engine will shut down. Steering and braking effort
will increase. Once engine coolant temperature cools, the engine can
be restarted.
•Engine Oil Overheat Mode:The
(Engine coolant temperature)
indicator will be on. The instrument cluster has no separate oil
temperature indicator.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
338

Along with the(Engine coolant temperature) indicator, the engine
coolant temperature gauge will read in the Hot (H) 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.
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 informationfor 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.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
339

•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 toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled 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.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
authorized dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle.
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
347

plastic parts ............................316
washing ....................................313
waxing .....................................314
wheels ......................................314
wiper blades ............................316
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ............80
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................36
AM/FM/CD .................................28
Compass, electronic ..................118
calibration ...............................120
set zone adjustment .......119, 131
Console ......................................100
overhead ....................................97
Controls
power seat ...............................163
steering column ......................109
Coolant
checking and adding ..............333
refill capacities ................337, 355
specifications ..........................355
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................107
Customer Assistance ................280
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................309
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............310
Getting roadside assistance ...280
Getting the service you
need .........................................305
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................311
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................309D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................86
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................351
engine oil .................................326
Driveline universal joint and
slip yoke ....................................352
Driving under special
conditions ..................269, 274, 277
sand .........................................276
snow and ice ...........................278
through water .................276, 279
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) ...........................80
DVD system .................................50
E
Electronic message center ......113,
124
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................299
Emergency Flashers .................281
Emission control system ..........348
Engine ........................................358
cleaning ...................................315
coolant .....................................333
fail-safe cooling .......................338
idle speed control ...................331
lubrication specifications .......355
refill capacities ........................355
service points ..................323–324
starting after a collision .........282
Engine block heater .................252
2008 07+ Explorer Sport Trac(esp)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
364