1997 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manual - Page 183

Maintenance and care Cleaning the engine A clean engine is more efficient than a dirty one because a buildup of grease and dirt acts as an insulator and keeps the engine warmer than normal. Follow these guidelines to clean your engine: • Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The high pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage. • In order to avoid cracking the engine block, do not spray with cold water. • The alternator, ignition coil packs, and air intake must be covered to prevent water damage when cleaning the engine. • Never wash or rinse the engine while it is running; water in the running engine may cause internal damage. Cleaning the wiper blades If the wiper blades do not wipe properly, clean both the windshield and the wiper blades using undiluted windshield washer solution or a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Do not use fuel, kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents to clean your wiper blades; these fluids will damage your blades. 183