Ford Explorer Maintenance Schedule (2014–2015, 2020–2024)

For the 2020–2024 Ford Explorer, whether it has the 2.3L EcoBoost, the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 or the 3.3L hybrid, the oil change comes when the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor asks, never more than one year or 10,000 miles (16,000 km) apart, with a tire rotation and brake inspection at the same visits. The cabin filter is replaced every 20,000 miles (32,000 km), the engine air filter every 30,000 miles (48,000 km), the spark plugs every 100,000 miles (160,000 km) and the 10-speed automatic's fluid every 150,000 miles (240,000 km). Brake fluid is every 3 years. One item isn't there: Ford's printed schedule has no PTU or rear drive unit fluid change.

This guide comes from Ford's US owner's manuals for the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Explorer (sixth generation) and, for older owners, the 2014 and 2015 Explorer (fifth generation). It does not cover the 2011–2013 or 2016–2019 model years, whose manuals we haven't reviewed.

2025 and 2026 Explorers

The 2025 Explorer owner's manual doesn't print a maintenance schedule. It tells owners to use Ford's VIN-based maintenance schedule tool on ford.com. We have no Ford schedule for 2025 or 2026, so this guide gives no figures for them.

Quick reference: 2020–2024 Explorer

Item	What Ford says	Interval
Engine oil and filter	Change	When the oil-life monitor asks; never over one year or 10,000 miles (16,000 km)
Tire rotation	Rotate, inspect wear, measure tread	Every oil change interval
Brake pads, rotors, hoses, parking brake	Inspect	Every oil change interval
Cabin air filter	Replace	20,000 miles (32,000 km)
Engine air filter	Replace	30,000 miles (48,000 km)
Spark plugs	Replace	100,000 miles (160,000 km); severe 60,000 miles (96,000 km)
Accessory drive belt	Inspect	At 100,000 miles, then every other oil change
10-speed automatic transmission fluid	Change	150,000 miles (240,000 km)
Engine and motor electronics coolant	Change	First at 10 years or 200,000 miles (322,000 km)
Brake fluid	Change	Every 3 years
Battery connections	Check	Every 6 months

Oil changes and the oil-life monitor

Ford asks you to change the oil within two weeks or 500 miles (≈800 km) of the oil change message appearing, and never to exceed one year or 10,000 miles (16,000 km). If the monitor is reset early or stops working, the fallback is every six months or 5,000 miles (≈8,000 km).

Ford's guide to when the message tends to appear:

• Normal use: 7,500 miles (≈12,000 km) to 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
• Severe use (moderate to heavy load or towing, mountainous or off-road driving, extended idling, extended hot or cold operation): 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
• Extreme use (maximum load or towing, extreme hot or cold operation): 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

On dusty or sandy roads, the severe schedule is every 5,000 miles (≈8,000 km) or six months. The 2020–2024 manuals note that the hybrid may go longer than 10,000 miles between oil changes. One quirk: in the 2020–2022 manuals, a footnote in the interval table says not to exceed one year or 12,500 miles (20,000 km) between service intervals, while the oil section says one year or 10,000 miles. The 2023 and 2024 manuals both say 10,000 miles, and that's the figure this guide uses.

Filters, spark plugs and belts

• Cabin air filter: every 20,000 miles (32,000 km). On dusty or sandy roads, or with a lot of idling or low-speed driving, inspect it frequently and replace as required.
• Engine air filter: every 30,000 miles (48,000 km), inspected frequently with extensive idling or on dusty or sandy roads.
• Spark plugs: every 100,000 miles (160,000 km). With towing or a car-top carrier, or extensive idling or low-speed driving, Ford's severe interval is 60,000 miles (96,000 km).
• Accessory drive belt: inspect at 100,000 miles (160,000 km), then every other oil change until replaced, and replace at 150,000 miles (240,000 km) if it hasn't been replaced in the last 100,000 miles.

Transmission, PTU and rear drive unit

The 10-speed automatic gets a fluid change every 150,000 miles (240,000 km).

Ford's printed normal schedules for the 2020–2024 Explorer have no rear differential, transfer case or fuel filter change, and the 2014–2015 schedules have no power transfer unit (PTU), rear drive unit or brake fluid change. If a shop recommends a PTU service, it isn't a Ford-scheduled item in these years. This guide doesn't give an interval for it.

Coolant, brake fluid and battery

Coolant. On the 2020–2024 Explorer, the engine coolant and the motor electronics coolant are first replaced at 10 years or 200,000 miles (322,000 km), then every five years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km).

Brake fluid. Every 3 years, without exceeding that time. Ford notes that brake fluid servicing needs special equipment available at an authorized dealer.

Battery. Check the connections every six months and clean them if necessary.

2014–2015 Explorer (fifth generation)

For the 3.5L Ti-VCT V6, the 2.0L EcoBoost and the 3.5L EcoBoost in the Sport:

• Oil: the same oil-life monitor rules, never over one year or 10,000 miles (16,000 km); every 5,000 miles (≈8,000 km) or six months on dusty or sandy roads.
• Cabin air filter: every 20,000 miles (32,000 km). The climate-controlled seat filter is replaced every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
• Engine air filter: every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
• Spark plugs: every 100,000 miles (160,000 km) on all engines, or 60,000 miles (96,000 km) with extensive idling or low-speed driving.
• Automatic transmission fluid: every 150,000 miles (240,000 km), or every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) when towing a trailer, camper or car-top carrier, with extensive idling or low-speed driving, or on dusty or sandy roads.
• Coolant: first at six years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km), then every three years or 50,000 miles (80,000 km).