2022 Ford Escape Owners Manual - Vehicle Care

Vehicle Care

CLEANING PRODUCTS



Materials

For best results, use the following products or products of equivalent quality:

CLEANING THE EXTERIOR PRECAUTIONS



Immediately remove fuel spillages, additive residuals, bird droppings, insect deposits and road tar. These may cause damage to your vehicle’s paintwork or trim over time. Remove any exterior accessories, for example antennas, before entering a car wash.

CLEANING HEADLAMPS AND REAR LAMPS



We recommend that you only use cold or lukewarm water containing car shampoo to clean the headlamps and the rear lamps.

Do not scrape the lamps.

Do not wipe lamps when they are dry.

CLEANING WINDOWS AND WIPER BLADES

To clean the windshield and wiper blades:

• Clean the windshield with a non-abrasive glass cleaner.

Note:   When cleaning the interior of the windshield, avoid getting any glass cleaner on the instrument panel or door panels. Wipe any glass cleaner off these surfaces immediately.

• Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid or water applied with a soft sponge or cloth.

Note:   Do not use razor blades or other sharp objects to clean or remove decals from the inside of the heated rear window.This can cause damage not covered by the vehicle Warranty.

Note:   We recommend cleaning the power sliding rear window at regular intervals to avoid dust and debris accumulation to deliver appropriate function.

CLEANING CHROME, ALUMINIUM OR STAINLESS STEEL



We recommend that you only use a car shampoo, a soft cloth and water on bumpers and other chrome, aluminium or stainless steel parts.

Note:   For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

Note:   Rinse the area well after cleaning.

Note:   Do not use abrasive materials, for example steel wool or plastic pads, as they can scratch these surfaces.

Note:   Do not use chrome cleaner, metal cleaner or polish on wheels or wheel covers.

CLEANING WHEELS



Only use a recommended wheel and tire cleaner to clean the wheels weekly. For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

1. Use a sponge to remove heavy deposits of dirt and brake dust.

1. Rinse well after cleaning.

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

If you intend on parking your vehicle for an extended period after cleaning the wheels with a wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle for a few minutes before parking your vehicle. This reduces the risk of corrosion of the brake discs, brake pads and linings.

Do not clean the wheels when they are hot.

Note:   Some car washes could damage wheel rims and covers.

Note:   Using non-recommended cleaners, harsh cleaning products, chrome wheel cleaners or abrasive materials could damage wheel rims and covers.

CLEANING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT



Use a vacuum cleaner to remove debris from the screen area below the windshield.

Note:   If you are not familiar with the parts around the engine do not wash the engine compartment. Avoid frequent engine washes.

When washing the engine compartment:

• Never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running.
• Never wash or rinse any ignition coil, spark plug wire or spark plug well.
• Cover the battery, power distribution box, and air filter assembly to prevent water damage.

Note:   If your vehicle has an engine cover remove the cover before application of shampoo and degreaser.

• Spray an approved engine shampoo and degreaser on all parts that require cleaning and rinse with water.

Note:   Follow the manufacturer's instructions for using engine shampoo and degreaser.

CLEANING STRIPES OR GRAPHICS



It is recommended to wash your vehicle by hand however, pressure washing may be used under the following conditions:

• Use a spray with a minimum of 40 ° wide spray angle pattern.
• Keep the nozzle 12 in (30 cm) and at a 90 ° angle to your vehicle.
• Do not use water pressure higher than 1,000 psi (6,895 kPa).
• Do not use water hotter than 73 °F (23 °C).

Note:   Holding the pressure washer nozzle at an angle to the vehicle's surface may damage graphics and cause the edges to peel away.

CLEANING CAMERA LENSES AND SENSORS



We recommend that you only use lukewarm or cold water and a soft cloth to clean the camera lens and sensors.

Note:   Do not pressure wash camera lens and sensors.

CLEANING THE UNDERBODY



Flush the complete underside of your vehicle frequently. Keep body and door drain holes free from packed dirt.

Rear suspension components may require regular cleaning with a power washer or a thorough rinse with a strong stream of water if the vehicle is operated in dusty or muddy environments. Rear leaf springs or other suspension components may emit squeaking or popping noises while operating the vehicle if particles, such as dirt, rocks, or other debris, are present in the components.

CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL



WARNING:  Do not use chemical solvents or strong detergents when cleaning the steering wheel or instrument panel to avoid contamination of the airbag system.

We recommend that you only clean the instrument panel and cluster lens with a damp soft cloth. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

Note:   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.

CLEANING PLASTIC



We recommend that you only use a mild soap and water solution on a soft cloth. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

CLEANING DISPLAYS AND SCREENS



We recommend that you only use a microfiber cloth in a circular motion to clean off the fingerprint or dust.

If dirt or fingerprints are still on the screen, apply a small amount of alcohol to the cloth and try to clean it again.

Note:   Do not pour or spray alcohol onto the touchscreen.

Note:   Do not use detergent or any type of solvent to clean the touchscreen.

CLEANING LEATHER AND VINYL



We recommend that you only clean the leather and vinyl surfaces in the following way:

1. Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.

1. Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution.Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

1. Make sure the leather is dry, then apply a small amount of conditioner to a clean, dry cloth.

1. Rub the conditioner into the leather until it disappears. Allow the conditioner to dry, then repeat the process for the entire interior. If a film appears, wipe it off with a dry, clean cloth.

1. For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

CLEANING FABRIC SEATS AND HEADLINERS



WARNING:  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.

We recommend that you only clean the fabric seats and headliners in the following way:

1. Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.

1. Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution.Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

1. For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

For heavy stains, spot clean the area. If a ring forms on the fabric, clean the entire area immediately, but do not oversaturate or the ring could set.

CLEANING CARPETS AND FLOOR MATS



We recommend that you only clean your carpets in the following way:

1. Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.

1. Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution.Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

1. For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

For heavy stains, spot clean the area. If a ring forms on the fabric, clean the entire area immediately, but do not oversaturate or the ring could set.

We recommend that you only clean your floor mats in the following way:

1. Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.

1. Wash rubber floor mats using mild soap and lukewarm or cold water.

1. Completely dry the floor mat before placing them back in your vehicle.

CLEANING SEATBELTS



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

1. Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution.Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

CLEANING STORAGE COMPARTMENTS



1. Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.

1. Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

CLEANING MOONROOF TRACKS



1. Remove debris from the tracks with a vacuum cleaner.

1. Wipe the bulb seal and mating painted roof metal surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution.

Note:   The moonroof rail tracks are greased to maintain proper functionality. Do not wipe off the grease.

REPAIRING MINOR PAINT DAMAGE



We recommend that you contact an authorized dealer to identify your vehicle color code. Authorized dealers have touch-up paint to match your vehicle's color.

Before repairing minor paint damage, use a cleaner to remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar spots, road salt and industrial fallout.

Read the instructions before using cleaning products.

WAXING YOUR VEHICLE



Wax the high-gloss painted surface of your prewashed vehicle once or twice a year.

We recommend that you only use an approved quality wax that does not contain abrasives. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to apply and remove the wax. For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.

When washing and waxing, park your vehicle in a shaded area out of direct sunlight.

Note:   Avoid waxing unpainted or low-gloss black colored parts, they discolor over time.