Page 383 of 407

•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.
2009 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
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Page 389 of 407

3. Add only enough fluid through
the filler opening so that the fluid
level is at the bottom of the
opening.
Use only fluid that meets Ford specifications. Refer to theMaintenance
product specifications and capacitiessection in this chapter.
DRIVELINE UNIVERSAL JOINT, DRIVESHAFT AND SLIP YOKE
WARNING:Turn off the power running boards, if equipped,
before working under the vehicle, jacking or placing any object
under the vehicle. Never place your hand between the extended
running board and the vehicle. A moving running board may cause
injury.
If the original universal joints are replaced with universal joints equipped
with grease fittings, lubrication will be necessary.
Note:Your vehicle’s driveshaft is balanced. If undercoating the vehicle,
protect the driveshaft and universal joints to prevent overspray of any
undercoating material. If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, your vehicle
has two driveshafts, one connected to the rear axle and one connected
to the front axle.
AIR FILTER
Refer toscheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for changing the air filter element.
When changing the air filter element, use only the Motorcraft air filter
element listed. Refer toMotorcraft part numbersin this chapter.
WARNING:To reduce the risk of vehicle damage and/or
personal burn injuries do not start your engine with the air
cleaner removed and do not remove it while the engine is running.
2009 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
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Page 403 of 407

lubrication specifications .......392
refill capacities ........................392
service points ..................357–358
starting after a collision .........312
Engine block heater .................278
Engine oil ..................................361
checking and adding ..............361
dipstick ....................................361
filter, specifications ........364, 391
recommendations ...................364
refill capacities ........................392
specifications ..........................392
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................277
F
Fail safe cooling ........................373
Family entertainment system ....49
Floor mats .................................150
Fluid capacities .........................392
Fog lamps ....................................90
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......299
driving off road .......................302
indicator light .........................299
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................288
Fuel ............................................375
calculating fuel
economy ..................124, 137, 381
cap ...........................................377
capacity ...................................392
choosing the right fuel ...........378
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................384
detergent in fuel .....................379
filler funnel .............................379
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................375, 377, 381filter, specifications ........374, 391
fuel pump shut-off switch .....312
improving fuel economy ........381
octane rating ...................378, 396
quality ......................................379
running out of fuel .........331, 379
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................375
Fuses ..................................313–314
G
Garage door opener ..................103
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............377
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................381
Gauges .........................................18
GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................266
GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
calculating ...............................266
H
Hazard flashers .........................311
Headlamps ...................................89
aiming ........................................91
bulb specifications ....................94
daytime running lights .............90
flash to pass ..............................91
high beam .................................90
turning on and off ....................89
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................82, 84
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................117
2009 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
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