Ford Escape: Aluminum wheels and wheel covers - Cleaning - Ford Escape Owner's ManualFord Escape: Aluminum wheels and wheel covers

Aluminum wheels and wheel covers are coated with a clear coat paint finish. In order to maintain their shine:

• Clean weekly with Motorcraft Wheel and Tire Cleaner, which is available from your authorized dealer. Heavy dirt and brake dust accumulation may require agitation with a sponge. Rinse thoroughly with a strong stream of water.
• 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 clear coat finish over time.
• Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based or high caustic-based wheel cleaners, steel wool, fuels or strong household detergent.
• To remove tar and grease, use Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover , available from your authorized dealer.

    Paint chips
    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 ensure you get the c ...

    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 h ...

    See also:

    Defensive Driving
    Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to wear the safety belt. See Safety Belts on page 3‑12. ○ Assume that other road use ...

    Recommended clutch fluid
    Refer to “Fluids”. Never use different brands of clutch fluid together. Also, avoid mixing DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluids even if they are the same brand. ...

    To Load a Disc
    The in-dash disc player is behind the navigation screen. To use the disc player, press the OPEN button beside the screen. The screen folds back, and the disc slot appears. Insert a di ...