2014 FORD FLEX engine

2. Lift the passenger’s side of the cover and push
the cover toward the passenger’s side. Release the
three tabs on the cover from the three slots in the
driver’s side of the housing.
3. Carefully separate the cover from the housing.
4. Remove the air filter element from the housing.
5. Wipe the cover and the housing clean to remove
any dirt or debris and to make sure the cover seals
to the housing.
6. Install a new air filter element. Be careful not to crimp the filter
element edges between the housing and the cover. This could cause filter
damage and allow unfiltered air to enter the engine if not properly
seated.
7. Lower the driver’s side of the cover and slide the three tabs on the
cover into the three slots in the housing.
8. Lower the passenger’s side of the cover. Engage the two clamps to
secure the cover to the housing.
ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident, the alignment of your headlamps
should be checked by your authorized dealer.
Vertical Aim Adjustment
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) away.
308Maintenance
2014 Flex(471)
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USA(fus)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Your Ford or Lincoln authorized dealer has many quality products
available to clean your vehicle and protect its finishes.
CLEANING PRODUCTS
For best results, use the following products or products of equivalent
quality:
Motorcraft® Bug and Tar Remover (ZC-42)
Motorcraft® Custom Bright Metal Cleaner (ZC-15)
Motorcraft® Detail Wash (ZC-3-A)
Motorcraft® Dusting Cloth (ZC-24)
Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo and Degreaser (U.S. only) (ZC-20)
Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo (Canada only) (CXC-66-A)
Motorcraft® Multi-Purpose Cleaner (Canada only) (CXC-101)
Motorcraft® Premium Glass Cleaner (Canada only) (CXC-100)
Motorcraft® Premium Quality Windshield Washer Fluid (Canada only)
[CXC-37-(A, B, D or F)]
Motorcraft® Premium Windshield Washer Concentrate (U.S. only)
(ZC-32-A1or ZC-32-B1)
Motorcraft® Professional Strength Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner (ZC-54)
Motorcraft® Spot and Stain Remover (U.S. only) (ZC-14)
Motorcraft® Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner (ZC-23)
Motorcraft® Vinyl Cleaner (Canada only) (CXC-93)
Motorcraft® Wheel and Tire Cleaner (ZC-37-A)
CLEANING THE EXTERIOR
Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral
pH shampoo, such as Motorcraft® Detail Wash.
•Do not use a commercial or high-pressure wand on the surface or
edge of stripes and graphics. This can cause damage to the film and
cause the edge of the film to peel away from the vehicle surface.
•Never use strong household detergents or soap, such as dish washing
or laundry liquid. These products can discolor and spot painted
surfaces.
•Never wash a vehicle that is hot to the touch or during exposure to
strong, direct sunlight.
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WAXING
Regular waxing is necessary to protect your car’s paint from the
elements. We recommend that you wash and wax the painted surface
once or twice a year.
When washing and waxing, park your vehicle in a shaded area out of
direct sunlight. Always wash your vehicle before applying wax.
•Use a quality wax that does not contain abrasives.
•Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply and remove the wax.
•Apply a small amount of wax in a back-and-forth motion, not in
circles.
•Do not allow wax to come in contact with any non-body (low-gloss
black) colored trim. The wax will discolor or stain the parts over
time, such as:
•Bumpers
•Grained door handles
•Side mouldings
•Mirror housings
•Windshield cowl area.
•Do not apply wax to glass areas.
•After waxing, your car’s paint should feel smooth, and be free of
streaks and smudges.
REPAIRING MINOR PAINT DAMAGE
Your authorized dealer has touch-up paint to match your vehicle’s color.
Take your color code (printed on a sticker in the driver’s door jamb) to
your authorized dealer to make sure you get the correct color.
•Remove particles, such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout, before repairing paint chips.
•Always read the instructions before using the products.
CLEANING THE ENGINE
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal.
When washing:
•Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The
high-pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause
damage.
•Do not spray a hot engine with cold water to avoid cracking the
engine block or other engine components.
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•Spray Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo and Degreaser on all parts that
require cleaning and pressure rinse clean. In Canada, use Motorcraft®
Engine Shampoo.
•Never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running; water in the
running engine may cause internal damage.
•Never wash or rinse any ignition coil, spark plug wire or spark plug
well, or the area in and around these locations.
•Cover the battery, power distribution box, and air filter assembly to
prevent water damage when cleaning the engine.
CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND WIPER BLADES
The windows and wiper blades should be cleaned regularly. If the wipers
do not wipe properly, substances on the vehicle’s glass or the wiper
blades may cause squeaking or chatter noise from the blades, and
streaking and smearing of the windshield. To clean these items, follow
these tips:
•The windows may be cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaner such as
Motorcraft Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner.
•The wiper blades can be cleaned with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol or
Motorcraft Premium Windshield Washer Concentrate with Bitterant
in the U.S., or Premium Quality Windshield Washer Fluid in Canada.
Be sure to replace wiper blades when they appear worn or do not
function properly.
•Do not use abrasives, as they may cause scratches.
•Do not use fuel, kerosene, or paint thinner to clean any parts.
If you cannot remove those streaks after cleaning with the glass cleaner
or if the wipers chatter and move in a jerky motion, clean the outer
surface of the windshield and the wiper blades using a sponge or soft
cloth with a neutral detergent or mild-abrasive cleaning solution. After
cleaning, rinse the windshield and wiper blades with clean water. The
windshield is clean if beads do not form when you rinse the windshield
with water.
Note:Do not use sharp objects, such as a razor blade, to clean the
inside of the rear window or to remove decals, as it may cause damage
to the rear window defroster’s heated grid lines.
318Vehicle Care
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USA(fus)

CLEANING THE ALLOY WHEELS
Note:Do not use chrome cleaner, metal cleaner or polish on wheels and
wheel covers.
Aluminum wheels and wheel covers are coated with a clearcoat paint
finish. In order to maintain their condition:
•Clean weekly with Motorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner. Use a sponge to
remove heavy deposits of dirt and brake dust accumulation. Rinse
thoroughly with a strong stream of water when you have completed
the cleaning process.
•To remove tar and grease, use Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover.
•Never apply any cleaning chemical to hot or warm wheel rims or
covers.
•Some automatic car washes may cause damage to the finish on your
wheel rims or covers. Industrial-strength (heavy-duty) cleaners, or
cleaning chemicals, in combination with brush agitation to remove
brake dust and dirt, could wear away the clearcoat finish over time.
•Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based or high caustic-based wheel
cleaners, steel wool, fuels or strong household detergent.
•If you intend parking your vehicle for an extended period after
cleaning the wheels with a wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle for a few
minutes before doing so. This will reduce the risk of increased
corrosion of the brake discs.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you plan on storing your vehicle for an extended period of time
(30 days or more), read the following maintenance recommendations to
make sure your vehicle stays in good operating condition.
All motor vehicles and their components were engineered and tested for
reliable, regular driving. Long-term storage under various conditions may
lead to component degradation or failure unless specific precautions are
taken to preserve the components.
General
•Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated place.
•Protect from sunlight, if possible.
•If vehicles are stored outside, they require regular maintenance to
protect against rust and damage.
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Body
•Wash vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing and underside of front fenders.
•Periodically wash vehicles stored in exposed locations.
•Touch up raw or primed metal to prevent rust.
•Cover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of auto wax
to prevent discoloration. Re-wax as necessary when the vehicle is
washed.
•Lubricate hood latch, all door latches and trunk lid hinges with a light
grade oil.
•Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
•Keep all rubber parts free from oil and solvents.
Engine
•The engine oil and filter should be changed prior to storage, as used
engine oil contains contaminates that may cause engine damage.
•Start the engine every 15 days. Run at fast idle until it reaches normal
operating temperature.
•With your foot on the brake, shift through all the gears while the
engine is running.
Fuel system
•Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel until the first automatic shutoff
of the fuel pump nozzle.
Note:During extended periods of vehicle storage (30 days or more),
fuel may deteriorate due to oxidation. Add a quality gas stabilizer
product to the vehicle fuel system whenever actual or expected storage
periods exceed 30 days. Follow the instructions on the additive label.
The vehicle should then be operated at idle speed to circulate the
additive throughout the fuel system.
Cooling system
•Protect against freezing temperatures.
•When removing vehicle from storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm there are no cooling system leaks, and fluid is at the
recommended level.
322Vehicle Care
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USA(fus)

WARNING:Always use the jack provided as original equipment
with your vehicle. If using a jack other than the one provided as
original equipment with your vehicle, make sure the jack capacity is
adequate for the vehicle weight, including any vehicle cargo or
modifications.
Note:Passengers should not remain in the vehicle when the vehicle is
being jacked.
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake and activate hazard
flashers.
2. Place the transmission selector lever in positionPand turn the engine
off.
If the third row seat is stowed in the floor, you will need to unstow it to
access the spare tire and jack.
3. Remove the carpeted floor panel
located in the rear of the vehicle, then
remove the wing nut that secures the
spare tire by turning it counterclockwise.
4. Lift and remove the spare tire from
the trunk.
5. Remove the second wing nut that
secures the jack retention bracket by
turning it counterclockwise, then remove
the jack kit from the vehicle.
6. Remove the jack, L-shaped bolt, and
the wrench from the felt bag. Fold down
the wrench socket to use to loosen the
lug nuts and to operate the jack.
7. Block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
350Wheels and Tires
2014 Flex(471)
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USA(fus)

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Engine 3.5L V6 engine 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine
Cubic inches 214 214
FuelSeeOctane
recommendationsin
the Fuel and Refueling
chapter.SeeOctane
recommendationsin the
Fuel and Refueling chapter.
Firing order 1–4–2–5–3–6 1–4–2–5–3–6
Spark plug gap0.049-0.053 inch
(1.25-1.35 mm).0.0031–0.0038 inch
(.081– .097 mm)
Ignition system Coil on plug Coil on plug
Compression
ratio10.8:1 10.0:1
Engine Drivebelt Routing
Capacities and Specifications355
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USA(fus)