2018 explorer makes cranking noise the finally starts

That is a long time. Have you talked to your dealer about this?

YES, they spent the day, 9 hours and said they could not document the issue. I have kept a log of the date and physical location and whether it normally started Or did NOT! Not please!!,

I wonder if you have an intermittent low fuel pressure issue. Is this in extreme cold?

I have the exact same problem with my 2018 Explorer Limited. It’s not the EcoBoost engine, it’s the 3.5L V6. It’s never the first start of the day, it’s almost always the 2nd and so on. It will also only happen when the car sits for at least a few minutes after driving it. I took it to the dealer twice now. First time, they found that injector flow test failed for cylinder 1, so they replaced the cylinder 1 fuel injector and all the O-Rings. The battery also didn’t pass the test so they replaced that too. The next day I dropped it off at a body shop for body work (a whole other story there) and picked it up a few days later. As soon as I started it, long start!! I called the dealer and brought it back in. They couldn’t repeat the problem and want me to bring it back again when they have a loaner available for me so they can spend more time with it, and hopefully figure it out. Any thoughts? Like I said, the first start is always fine. I’ll drive for twenty minutes, get to my destination, come back to the car after a little while and then it’s a long start. Super frustrated!