2002 Ford Explorer Sport Owner Guide 6th Printing - Page 185
2002 Ford Explorer Sport Manual
Page 185 highlights
Starting Cold weather starting (flexible fuel vehicles only) As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors should supply winter grade ethanol (same as with unleaded gasoline). If summer grade ethanol is used in cold weather conditions, you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle or hesitation until the engine has warmed up. Consult your fuel distributor for the availability of winter grade ethanol. Do not crank the engine for more than 30 seconds at a time as starter damage may occur. If the engine fails to start, turn the key to OFF and wait 30 seconds before trying again. Do not use starting fluid such as ether in the air intake system (see Air Cleaner decal). Such fluid could cause immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible personal injury. If you should experience cold weather starting problems on E85 ethanol, and neither an alternative brand of E85 ethanol nor an engine block heater is available, the addition of unleaded gasoline to your tank will improve cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to operate on E85 ethanol alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture of the two. See Choosing the right fuel in the Maintenance and care chapter for more information on ethanol. If the engine fails to start using the preceding instructions 1. Press the accelerator pedal 1/3 to 1/2 way to floor and hold. 2. Turn the key to START position. 3. When the engine starts, release the key, then release the accelerator pedal gradually as the engine speeds up. 4. If the engine still fails to start, repeat steps one through three. 5. After the engine starts, hold your foot on the brake pedal, put the gearshift lever in gear and release the parking brake. Slowly release the brake pedal and drive away in a normal manner. Using the engine block heater (if equipped) An engine block heater warms the engine coolant, which improves starting, warms up the engine faster and allows the heater-defroster system to respond quickly. Use of an engine block heater is strongly recommended if you live in a region where temperatures reach -23° C (-10° F) or below. For best results, plug the heater in at least three hours before starting the vehicle. Using the heater for longer than three hours will not harm the engine, so the heater can be plugged in the night before starting the vehicle. 185