2023 FORD EXPLORER wheel

SITTING IN THE CORRECT
POSITION
WARNING: Sitting improperly, outof position or with the seatback reclinedtoo far can take weight off the seatcushion and affect the decision of thepassenger sensing system, resulting inserious injury or death in the event of acrash. Always sit upright against yourseat back, with your feet on the floor.
WARNING: Do not recline the seatbackrest too far as this can cause theoccupant to slide under the seatbelt,resulting in personal injury in the eventof a crash.
WARNING: Do not place objectshigher than the top of the seat backrest.Failure to follow this instruction couldresult in personal injury or death in theevent of a sudden stop or crash.
When you use them properly, the seat,head restraint, seatbelt and airbags willprovide optimum protection in the eventof a crash.
We recommend that you follow theseguidelines:
•Sit in an upright position with the baseof your spine as far back as possible.
•Do not recline the seat backrest so thatyour torso is more than 30 degreesfrom the upright position.
•Adjust the head restraint so that thetop of it is level with the top of yourhead and as far forward as possible.Make sure that you remaincomfortable.
•Keep sufficient distance betweenyourself and the steering wheel. Werecommend a minimum of 10 in(25 cm) between your breastbone andthe airbag cover.
•Hold the steering wheel with your armsslightly bent.
•Bend your legs slightly so that you canpress the pedals fully.
•Position the shoulder strap of theseatbelt over the center of yourshoulder and position the lap straptightly across your hips.
Make sure that your driving position iscomfortable and that you can maintain fullcontrol of your vehicle.
HEAD RESTRAINTS
WARNING: Fully adjust the headrestraint before you sit in or operate yourvehicle. This will help minimize the riskof neck injury in the event of a crash. Donot adjust the head restraint when yourvehicle is moving.
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AUTO-START-STOP (IF EQUIPPED)
The system helps reduce fuel consumptionby automatically stopping and restartingthe engine when your vehicle has stopped.The engine restarts automatically whenyou release the brake pedal.
In some situations, your vehicle may restartautomatically, for example:
•To maintain interior comfort.
•To recharge the battery.
Note:Power assist steering turns off whenthe engine is off.
Note:If your vehicle is flex fuel capable,Auto-Start-Stop will be inhibited for a shorttime after a refuel event while the systemis verifying the fuel type being used.
WARNING: Apply the parkingbrake, shift into park (P), switch theignition off and remove the key beforeyou leave your vehicle. Failure to followthis instruction could result in personalinjury or death.
WARNING: Apply the parkingbrake, shift into park (P), switch theignition off and remove the key beforeyou open the hood or have any serviceor repair work completed. If you do notswitch the ignition off, the engine couldrestart at any time. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: The system mayrequire the engine to automaticallyrestart when the auto-start-stopindicator illuminates green or flashesamber. Failure to follow this instructioncould result in personal injury.
The Auto-Start-Stop system status isavailable at a glance within the informationdisplay. See Information Displays (page110).
Enabling Auto-Start-Stop
The system automatically enables everytime you start your vehicle if:
•You do not press the Auto-Start-Stopbutton (not illuminated).
•Your vehicle exceeds an initial speedof 3 mph (5 km/h) after you haveinitially started your vehicle.
•You have stopped your vehicle.
•Your foot is on the brake pedal.
•The driver door is closed.
•The interior compartment has cooledor warmed to an acceptable level.
•The front windshield defroster is off.
•You have not turned the steering wheelrapidly or you do not have it at a sharpangle.
•The vehicle is not on a steep roadgrade.
•The battery is within optimal operatingconditions (battery state of charge andtemperature in range).
•The engine coolant is near operatingtemperature.
•Elevation is below about 12,000 ft(3,650 m).
•Ambient temperature is moderate.
•The trailer is not connected.
•If you select Normal, Eco, Snow/Wetor Grass/Gravel/Snow modes.
•You are not in 4H or 4L.
•You have not selected Manual shiftmode.
•Hill descent control is not active.
•You have not selected Tow haul, Sport,Sand or Mud/Rut modes.
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingUnique Driving Characteristics

FUEL QUALITY - GASOLINE
Choosing the Right Fuel
Your vehicle is designed to operate onregular unleaded gasoline with a minimumpump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
Some fuel stations, particularly those inhigh altitude areas, offer fuels posted asregular unleaded gasoline with an octanerating below 87. The use of these fuelscould result in engine damage that will notbe covered by the vehicle warranty.
For best overall vehicle and engineperformance, premium fuel with an octanerating of 91 or higher is recommended. Theperformance gained by using premium fuelis most noticeable in hot weather as wellas other conditions, for example whentowing a trailer. See Towing (page 283).
Do not be concerned if the enginesometimes knocks lightly. However, if theengine knocks heavily while using fuel withthe recommended octane rating, contactan authorized dealer to prevent any enginedamage.
We recommend Top Tier detergentgasolines, where available to help minimizeengine deposits and maintain optimalvehicle and engine performance. Foradditional information, refer towww.toptiergas.com.
Note:Use of any fuel for which the vehiclewas not designed can impair the emissioncontrol system, cause loss of vehicleperformance, and cause damage to theengine which may not be covered by thevehicle Warranty.
Do not use:
•Diesel fuel.
•Fuels containing kerosene or paraffin.
•Fuel containing more than 15% ethanolor E85 fuel.
•Fuels containing methanol.
•Fuels containing metallic-basedadditives, including manganese-basedcompounds.
•Fuels containing the octane boosteradditive, methylcyclopentadienylmanganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
•Leaded fuel, using leaded fuel isprohibited by law.
The use of fuels with metallic compoundssuch as methylcyclopentadienylmanganese tricarbonyl (commonly knownas MMT), which is a manganese-basedfuel additive, will impair engineperformance and affect the emissioncontrol system.
FUEL FILLER FUNNEL
LOCATION
The fuel filler funnel is in the spare wheelstorage tray.
RUNNING OUT OF FUEL
Running out of fuel can cause damage notcovered by the vehicle Warranty.
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Note:The transmission must be in park (P)or neutral (N).
When using the manual override lever dothe following:
1.Switch the ignition on.
Note:The manual override lever is in thedriver side rear wheel well area.
2.Pull the manual override lever.
3.Switch the ignition off.
4.Complete the refueling process within20 minutes.
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Advertised Capacity
The advertised capacity is the maximumamount of fuel that you can add to the fueltank when the fuel gauge indicates empty.See Capacities and Specifications(page 384).
In addition, the fuel tank contains an emptyreserve. The empty reserve is anunspecified amount of fuel that remainsin the fuel tank when the fuel gaugeindicates empty.
Note:The amount of fuel in the emptyreserve varies and should not be relied uponto increase driving range.
Calculating Fuel Economy
Your vehicle calculates fuel economyfigures through the trip computer averagefuel function. See Information Displays(page 110).
The first 1,000 mi (1,600 km) of driving isthe break-in period of the vehicle.Resetting average fuel in your tripcomputer after 2,000–3,000 mi(3,200–4,800 km) provides a moreaccurate measurement.
Conditions Influencing Fuel Efficiency
See Driving Economically (page 288).
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingFuel and RefuelingE297793

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING: Apply the parking brakeand make sure your vehicle is in park (P).Power the vehicle off and remove thekeys or remote control whenever youleave your vehicle. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
WARNING: Do not apply the brakepedal and accelerator pedalsimultaneously. Applying both pedalssimultaneously for more than a fewseconds limits vehicle performance,which may result in difficulty maintainingspeed in traffic and could lead to seriousinjury.
Note:You may not be able to shift out ofpark (P) unless the intelligent access key isinside your vehicle.
Automatic Transmission PositionIndicators
The instrument cluster displays the currentposition.
Note:The position may illuminate on thetransmission selector.
Understanding Your TransmissionSelector Positions
Your vehicle has an electronic transmissionshifter. The transmission selector is on thecenter console.
Park.P
Reverse.R
Neutral.N
Drive.D
Manual.M
Low.L
The instrument cluster displays the currentgear.
Note:Your vehicle may come with low (L)or manual (M) in the center of the selectordepending on trim level.
Park (P)
With the transmission in park (P), yourvehicle locks the transmission andprevents the wheels from turning. Alwayscome to a complete stop before puttingyour vehicle into and out of park (P).
When you switch the ignition off, yourvehicle shifts into park (P). If you switchthe ignition off while your vehicle is moving,the transmission first shifts into neutral (N)until it reaches a speed less than 3 mph(5 km/h) and then shifts into park (P).
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2.Bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
3.Press and hold the brake pedal.
4.Shift into neutral (N).
Note:A instructional message appears.
5.Press the manual (M), or low (L)button.
Note:A confirmation message appearswhen your vehicle enters the mode.
6.Release the brake pedal.
Note:Your vehicle is free to roll.
7.Switch your vehicle off.
Note:Do not tow your vehicle in this mode.
Note:The neutral (N) indicator on thetransmission selector may flash in thismode.
Exiting Temporary Neutral Mode
1.Press the brake pedal.
2.Shift into park (P), or switch yourvehicle on and shift into drive (D), orreverse (R).
Drive (D)
Drive (D) is the normal driving position forthe best fuel economy and smoothness.Shift the transmission selector to drive (D)to allow your vehicle to move forward andshift automatically through the forwardgears.
The transmission shifts to the appropriategear for optimum performance based onambient temperature, road slope, vehicleload and your input.
Manual Mode (M) - Vehicles withPaddle Shifters
With the transmission selector in manual(M), the driver can change gears up ordown. After selecting the Manual (M)button while the transmission rangeselector is in the Drive (D) position, younow have control of selecting the gear youdesire using shift buttons on the steeringwheel.
To exit manual mode, push the manual(M) button on your transmission selector.
Low (L) - Vehicles without PaddleShifters
With the transmission selector in low (L),your vehicle provides maximum enginebraking. You can shift the transmission intolow (L) at any vehicle speed. Do not useunder extended or normal drivingconditions as it results in lower fueleconomy.
Manually Shifting Gears
Shifting Using Paddle Shifters
The instrument cluster displays the currentgear. The current gear flashes when yourvehicle cannot shift into the requestedgear. Your vehicle will not shift if therequested gear raises or lowers the enginespeed beyond the limit.
Your vehicle may shift when you fully pressthe accelerator or brake pedal.
Note:Prolonged driving with high enginespeed could cause vehicle damage notcovered by vehicle warranty.
Note:When the vehicle shifts into therequested gear, it could affect drive modes.
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingTransmission

Manually Shifting Gears in Drive (D)
Use this feature when overtaking anothervehicle, or to temporarily change gear.
•Pull any paddle to switch the featureon.
•Pull the right (+) paddle to upshift.
•Pull the left (-) paddle to downshift.
•Hold the (+) paddle for a few secondsto switch the feature off.
Note:If you do not pull either paddle, thefeature switches off after a short period oftime.
Manually Shifting Gears in Manual (M)
Use this feature for engine braking on hillyor mountainous roads, or to select aspecific gear.
•Shift to manual (M) to switch thefeature on.
•Pull the right (+) paddle to upshift.
•Pull the left (-) paddle to downshift.
•Shift to drive (D) to switch the featureoff.
Tow Mode (If Equipped)
To activate tow mode, use thedrive mode switch on the centerconsole. See Selecting a DriveMode (page 273).
The indicator light illuminates and amessage displays in the instrument clusterwhen the system becomes active. Selecta different mode to switch the system off.
The Tow Mode Feature:
•Moves upshifts to higher engine speedsto reduce the frequency oftransmission shifting.
•Provides engine braking in all forwardgears, which slows your vehicle andassists you in controlling your vehiclewhen descending a slope.
•Depending on driving conditions andload conditions, it may downshift thetransmission, slow your vehicle andcontrol your vehicle speed whendescending a hill, without pressing theaccelerator pedal. The amount ofdownshift braking provided variesbased upon the amount you press thebrake pedal.
The tow mode feature improvestransmission operation when towing atrailer or a heavy load. All transmissiongear ranges are available when using towmode.
Transmission Not in Park (P)Audible Warning
Sounds if you open the driver door beforeshifting into park (P).
Manual Park Release (MPR)
WARNING: When doing thisprocedure, you need to take thetransmission out of park (P) whichmeans your vehicle can roll freely. Toavoid unwanted vehicle movement,apply the parking brake prior to doingthis procedure. Use wheel chocks ifappropriate.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
This system is a proactive system. It hasthe ability to anticipate wheel slip andtransfer torque to the front wheels beforeslip occurs. Even when wheel slip is notpresent, the system is continuouslyadjusting to the torque distribution, in anattempt to improve straight line andcornering behavior, both on and off road.
The system automatically turns on everytime you switch the ignition on.
If any component requires maintenance,a message appears in the informationdisplay.
USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
WARNING: Vehicles with a highercenter of gravity (utility and four-wheeldrive vehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death.
The intelligent 4WD system continuouslymonitors vehicle conditions and adjuststhe power distribution between the frontand rear wheels. It combines transparentall-surface operation with highly capablefour-wheel drive.
The 4WD system is always active andrequires no driver input. It is capable ofhandling all road conditions includingstreet and highway driving as well asoff-road and winter driving. You canoptimize more 4WD control by selectingdifferent drive modes. See Selecting aDrive Mode (page 273).
Note:A warning message displays in theinformation display when a 4WD systemfault is present. See InformationMessages (page 119). A 4WD system faultcauses the 4WD system to default torear-wheel drive only mode. When thiswarning message is displayed, have yourvehicle serviced at an authorized dealer.
Note:A warning message displays in theinformation display if the 4WD systemoverheats. See Information Messages(page 119). This condition could occur if thevehicle is operated in extreme conditionswith excessive wheel slip, such as deepsand. To resume normal 4WD function assoon as possible, stop the vehicle in a safelocation and stop the engine for at least 10minutes. After the engine is restarted andthe 4WD system is adequately cooled, thewarning message turns off and normal 4WDfunction returns.
Operating Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)Vehicles With Spare Tires
Do not use a different size spare tire otherthan the tire provided. If the mini-spare tireis installed, the 4WD system will disableand enter rear-wheel drive only mode toprotect driveline components. Somelimited 4WD traction could be provided ifthe mini-spare is installed on one of thefront wheels. If you are in driving conditionswhere limited 4WD traction is neededwhile the mini-spare is installed, it isrecommended the mini-spare be installedon the front axle. See InformationMessages (page 119).
If the mini-spare is installed, this conditionis indicated by a warning in the informationdisplay. If there is a warning message inthe information display from using thespare tire, this indicator should turn offafter reinstalling or replacing the normalroad tire and cycling the ignition off andon. We recommended reinstalling or
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2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingFour-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)