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 PRODUCTS
For best results, use the following products or products of equivalent quality:
| Name | Specification |
|---|---|
| Motorcraft® Bug and Tar Remover, ZC-42 (U.S. & Canada) | – |
| Motorcraft® Custom Bright Metal Cleaner, ZC-15 (U.S. & Canada) | ESR-M5B194-B |
| Motorcraft® Detail Wash, ZC-3-A (U.S. & Canada) | ESR-M14P4-A |
| Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo and Degreaser, ZC-20 (U.S.) | ESR-M14P3-A |
| Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo, CXC-66-A (Canada) | – |
| Motorcraft® Premium Leather and Vinyl Cleaner, ZC-56 (U.S. & Canada) | – |
| Motorcraft® Multi-Purpose Cleaner, CXC-101 (Canada) | – |
| Motorcraft® Premium Windshield Wash Concentrate with Bitterant, ZC-32-B2 (U.S.) | WSS-M14P19-A |
| Motorcraft® Premium Quality Windshield Washer Fluid, CXC-37-F/M (Canada) | WSS-M14P19-A |
| Motorcraft® Professional Strength Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, ZC-54 (U.S. & Canada) | – |
| Motorcraft® Premium Glass Cleaner, CXC-100 (Canada) | ESR-M14P5-A |
| Motorcraft® Spot and Stain Remover, ZC-14 (U.S.) | – |
| Motorcraft® Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner, ZC-23 (U.S.) | ESR-M14P5-A |
| Motorcraft® Wheel and Tire Cleaner, ZC-37-A (U.S. & Canada) | – |
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.
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.
- Use a sponge to remove heavy deposits of dirt and brake dust.
- 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 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 40° wide spray angle pattern.
- Keep the nozzle at a 12 in (30 cm) distance and 90° angle to your vehicle’s surface.
- Do not use water pressure higher than 1450 psi (10,000 kPa).
- Do not use water hotter than 167°F (75°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 from the vehicle’s surface.
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.
WAXING
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. 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.
REPAIRING MINOR PAINT DAMAGE
Authorized dealers have touch-up paint to match your vehicle’s color.Your vehicle color code is printed on a sticker on the front, left-hand side door jamb.Take the color code to an authorized dealer to make sure you get the correct color.
Before repairing minor paint damage, use a cleaner such as Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover to remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar spots, road salt and industrial fallout.
Make sure to read the instructions before using cleaning products.