Ford Escape (2018 year). Manual — part 66

Note: Do not use razor blades or other
sharp objects to clean or remove decals
from the inside of the heated rear window.
The vehicle warranty does not cover
damage caused to the heated rear window
grid lines.

CLEANING THE INTERIOR

WARNINGS

Do not use cleaning solvents, bleach
or dye on the vehicle's seatbelts, as
these actions may weaken the belt

webbing.

On vehicles equipped with
seat-mounted airbags, do not use
chemical solvents or strong

detergents. Such products could
contaminate the side airbag system and
affect performance of the side airbag in a
crash.

For fabric, carpets, cloth seats 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.

•

If grease or tar is present on the
material, spot-clean the area first with
Motorcraft Spot and Stain Remover. In
Canada, use Motorcraft Multi-Purpose
Cleaner.

•

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.

CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL AND INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER LENS

WARNING

Do not use chemical solvents or
strong detergents when cleaning the
steering wheel or instrument panel

to avoid contamination of the airbag
system.

Note: Follow the same procedure as
cleaning leather seats for cleaning leather
instrument panels and leather interior trim
surfaces. See Cleaning Leather Seats
(page 268).

Clean the instrument panel and cluster
lens with a clean, damp and soft cloth,
then use a clean, dry and soft cloth to dry
these areas.

•

Avoid cleaners or polishes that increase
the gloss of the upper portion of the
instrument panel. The dull finish in this
area helps protect you from
undesirable windshield reflection.

•

Do not use any household cleaning
products or glass cleaners as these
may damage the finish of the
instrument panel, interior trim and
cluster lens.

•

Wash or wipe your hands clean if you
have been in contact with certain
products such as insect repellent and
suntan lotion to avoid possible damage
to the interior painted surfaces.

•

Do not allow air fresheners and hand
sanitizers to spill onto interior surfaces.
If a spill occurs, wipe off immediately.
Your warranty may not cover these
damages.

If a staining liquid like coffee or juice has
been spilled on the instrument panel or on
interior trim surfaces:

1.

Wipe up spilled liquid using a clean,
soft cloth as quickly as possible.

2. Use Motorcraft Premium Leather and

Vinyl Cleaner or a commercially
available leather cleaning product for
automotive interiors. Test any cleaner
or stain remover on an inconspicuous
area.

3. Alternatively, wipe the surface with a

clean, soft cloth and a mild soap and
water solution. Dry the area with a
clean, soft cloth.

4. If necessary, apply more soap and

water solution or cleaning product to
a clean, soft cloth and press it onto the
soiled area. Allow this to set at room
temperature for 30 minutes.

5. Remove the soaked cloth, then with a

clean, damp cloth, use a rubbing
motion for 60 seconds on the soiled
area.

6. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

CLEANING LEATHER SEATS

(If

Equipped)

Note: Follow the same procedure as
cleaning leather seats for cleaning leather
instrument panels and leather interior trim
surfaces.

For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with
a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and
water solution. Dry the area with a clean,
soft cloth.

For cleaning and removing stains such as
dye transfer, use Motorcraft Premium
Leather and Vinyl Cleaner or a
commercially available leather cleaning
product for automotive interiors.

Note: Test any cleaner or stain remover on
an inconspicuous area.

You should:
•

Remove dust and loose dirt with a
vacuum cleaner.

•

Clean and treat spills and stains as
soon as possible.

Do not use the following products as these
may damage the leather:
•

Oil and petroleum or silicone-based
leather conditioners.

•

Household cleaners.

•

Alcohol solutions.

•

Solvents or cleaners intended
specifically for rubber, vinyl and
plastics.

REPAIRING MINOR PAINT
DAMAGE

Always read the instructions before using
cleaning products.

CLEANING THE WHEELS

(If

Equipped)

Note: Do not apply a cleaning chemical to
warm or hot wheel rims and covers.

Note: Some automatic car washes may
cause damage to the finish on your wheel
rims and covers.

Note: Industrial-strength or heavy-duty
cleaners in combination with brush agitation
to remove brake dust and dirt, could wear
away the clear coat finish over a period time.

Note: Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based
or high caustic-based wheel cleaners, steel
wool, fuels or strong household detergents.

Note: 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.

Alloy wheels and wheel covers are coated
with a clear coat paint finish. To maintain
their condition we recommend that you:

•

Clean the wheels weekly using
Motorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner.
Apply using manufacturer's
instructions.

•

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.

VEHICLE STORAGE

If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30
days or more, read the following
maintenance recommendations to make
sure your vehicle stays in good operating
condition.

We engineer and test all motor vehicles
and their components for reliable, regular
driving. Under various conditions,
long-term storage may lead to degraded
engine performance or failure unless you
use specific precautions to preserve engine
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.

Body

•

Wash your vehicle thoroughly to
remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing
and the underside of front fenders.

•

Periodically wash your vehicle if it is
stored in exposed locations.

•

Touch-up exposed 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 you wash your vehicle.

•

Lubricate all hood, door and luggage
compartment hinges and latches with
a light grade oil.

•

Cover interior trim to prevent fading.

•

Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents.

Engine

•

Change the engine oil and filter prior to
storage because used engine oil
contains contaminates which may
cause engine damage.

•

Start the engine every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idle
with the climate controls set to defrost
until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.

•

With your foot on the brake, shift
through all the gears while the engine
is running.

•

We recommend that you change the
engine oil before you use your vehicle
again.

Fuel system

•

Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the
fuel pump nozzle.

Cooling system

•

Protect against freezing temperatures.

•

When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.

Battery

•

Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.

•

If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting.

Note: It is necessary to reset memory
features if battery cables are disconnected.

Brakes

•

Make sure the brakes and parking brake
release fully.

Tires

•

Maintain recommended air pressure.

Miscellaneous

•

Make sure all linkages, cables, levers
and pins under your vehicle are covered
with grease to prevent rust.

•

Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)
every 15 days to lubricate working parts
and prevent corrosion.

Removing Vehicle From Storage

When your vehicle is ready to come out of
storage, do the following:
•

Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt
or grease film build-up on window
surfaces.

•

Check windshield wipers for any
deterioration.

•

Check under the hood for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage such as mice or squirrel
nests.

•

Check the exhaust for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage.

•

Check tire pressures and set tire
inflation per the Tire Label.

•

Check brake pedal operation. Drive
your vehicle 15 ft (4.5 m) back and
forth to remove rust build-up.

•

Check fluid levels (including coolant,
oil and gas) to make sure there are no
leaks, and fluids are at recommended
levels.

•

If you remove the battery, clean the
battery cable ends and check for
damage.

Contact an authorized dealer if you have
any concerns or issues.