FORD F550 2012 Owners Manual

Edge/MKX AWD only – vehicles operating off-road in sand during high
ambient temperatures must replace the AWD PTU (All-wheel drive
Power Transfer Unit) lube every 20,000 miles (32,000 km).
Engine air filter & cabin air filter replacement: Engine air filter and
cabin air filter life is dependent on exposure to dusty and dirty
conditions. Vehicles operated in these conditions will require frequent
inspection and replacement of the engine air filter and cabin air filter.
ENGINE COOLANT CHANGE RECORD
Initial change Six years or 105,000 miles (168,000 km)
(whichever comes first)
After initial change Every three years or 45,000 miles (72,000 km)
Engine Coolant Change Log D EALER
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:Scheduled Maintenance
441
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

A
Accessory delay ........................104
AdvanceTrac ..............................275
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ........................180, 184, 186
and child safety seats ............181
description ..............180, 184, 186
disposal ....................................194
driver airbag ............182, 185, 187
indicator light .........................189
operation .................182, 185, 187
passenger airbag .....182, 185, 187
passenger deactivation
switch ......................................190
side airbag ...............................184
Air cleaner filter .......404–405, 410
Air conditioning ....................78, 81
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................78
Air filter .....................................410
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................379
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................271
Anti-theft system ..............149, 151
arming the system ..........150–151
disarming a triggered
system .....................................152
triggering .................................152
Audio system (see Radio) ...60, 62
Automatic transmission ............290
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................287
fluid, adding ............................400
fluid, checking ........................400
fluid, refill capacities ..............411 Selectshift (SST) ....................293
Auxiliary Input Jack ...................69
Auxiliary powerpoint ................101
Axle
refill capacities ........................411
B
Battery .......................................377
acid, treating emergencies .....377
jumping a disabled battery ....348
maintenance-free ....................377
replacement, specifications ...410
servicing ..................................377
Bed extender ............................126
Belt-Minder  .............................176
Booster seats .............................212
Brakes ........................................271
anti-lock ...................................271
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................272
fluid, checking and adding ....400
fluid, refill capacities ..............411
parking ....................................273
shift interlock ..........................285
trailer .......................................256
Bulbs ............................................92
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....411
Cassette tape player ...................60
Cell phone use ............................11
Changing a tire .........................331
Child safety seats ......................199
attaching with tether straps ..206
in front seat ....................200, 206
in rear seat ......................200, 206Index
442
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

LATCH .....................................206
recommendations ...................197
Child safety seats -
booster seats .............................212
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............363
instrument panel ............365–366
interior .....................................367
plastic parts ............................364
safety belts ..............................367
washing ....................................361
waxing .....................................362
wheels ......................................362
wiper blades ............................364
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......78, 81
Clock ......................................61, 63
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................27
Console ......................................100
overhead ..................................100
Controls
power seat ...............................159
steering column ......................112
Coolant ......................................379
checking and adding ..............379
refill capacities ................383, 411
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................110
Customer Assistance ................319
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................369
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..................................421, 423
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............357
Getting roadside assistance ...319
Getting the service you
need .........................................353 Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................359
Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................357
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................89
Defrost
rear window and rearview
mirrors .......................................81
windshield .................................81
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................400
engine oil .................................375
Driving under special
conditions ..................295, 309, 312
sand .........................................311
snow and ice ...........................313
through water .................311, 315
E
Electronic message center ...22, 39
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................348
Emergency Flashers .................320
Emission control system ..........396
Engine ........................................415
cleaning ...................................363
coolant .....................................379
diesel ...........................................7
fail-safe cooling .......................384
idle speed control ...................377
refill capacities ........................411
service points ..................371–373
Engine block heater .................269 Index
443
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Engine oil ..................................375
checking and adding ..............375
dipstick ....................................375
filter, specifications ........376, 410
recommendations ...................376
refill capacities ........................411
Event data recording ....................9
Exhaust fumes ..........................269
F
Fail safe cooling ........................384
Fleet MyKey programming ......129
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....386
Floor mats .........................122–123
Fluid capacities .........................411
Fog lamps ....................................88
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......301
driving off road .......................307
electronic shift ................301, 306
indicator light .........................302
lever operated shift ................303
manual locking hubs ..............301
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................285
Fuel ............................................386
calculating fuel
economy ............................25, 393
cap ...........................................389
capacity ...................................411
choosing the right fuel ...........390
detergent in fuel .....................392
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................386, 389, 393
filter, specifications ................386
fuel pump shut-off ..................321
improving fuel economy ........393
octane rating ...................391, 415
quality ......................................391 running out of fuel .................392
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................386
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................386, 390–391
Fuses ..................................321–322
G
Garage door opener ..................116
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............389
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................393
Gauges .........................................21
H
Hazard flashers .........................320
Headlamps ...................................87
aiming ........................................90
autolamp system .......................87
daytime running lights .............89
flash to pass ..............................88
high beam .................................88
replacing bulbs .........................94
turning on and off ....................87
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................78, 81
Hill descent mode .....................281
Hill start assist ..........................294
Hood ..........................................371
I
Ignition ...............................265, 415
Illuminated visor mirror .............99Index
444
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................199
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................398
Instrument panel
cleaning ...........................365–366
cluster ........................................14
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................89
J
Jack ............................................331
positioning ...............................331
storage .....................................331
Jump-starting your vehicle ......348
K
Keyless entry system
autolock ...................................137
keypad .....................................148
locking and unlocking doors ..149
programming entry code .......148
Keys ...................................129, 150
positions of the ignition .........265
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................87
daytime running light ...............89
fog lamps ...................................88
headlamps .................................87
headlamps, flash to pass ..........88
instrument panel, dimming .....89
interior lamps ...........................92
replacing bulbs ...................94–97
LATCH anchors .........................206
Lights, warning and indicator ....14 anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........272
Loading instructions .................251
Load limits .................................244
Locks
autolock ...................................137
childproof ................................141
doors ........................................137
Lug nuts ....................................347
Lumbar support, seats .....160–161
M
Manual transmission
fluid capacities ........................411
Message center ...............22–23, 39
english/metric button ...............27
system check button ................27
warning messages ...............29, 48
Mirrors ...............................105–106
automatic dimming rearview
mirror ......................................105
fold away .........................107–109
heated ........................................81
programmable memory ..........143
side view mirrors (power) .....106
signal .......................................109
Moon roof ..................................115
Motorcraft  parts ......................410
MyKey ........................................129
N
Navigation system .......................77
O
Octane rating ............................391
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................375 Index
445
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

P
Parental MyKey
programming .............................129
Parking brake ............................273
Parts
(see Motorcraft  parts) ...........410
Pedals (see Power adjustable
foot pedals) ...............................110
Power adjustable foot pedals ...110
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) ...............................327
Power door locks ......................137
Power mirrors ...........................106
Powerpoint ................................101
Power steering ..........................282
fluid, checking and adding ....399
fluid, refill capacity ................411
Power Windows .........................103
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................285
R
Radio ......................................60, 62
Rear-view camera system .........298
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints
for children ................................197
Relays ........................................321
Remote entry system .......141–142
illuminated entry ....................145
locking/unlocking doors .........142
Remote start ...........................146
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................145
replacing the batteries ...........144 Remote start .............................146
Remote start climate
operation .....................................85
Reverse sensing system ...........296
Roadside assistance ..................319
S
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ...........168,
170, 172, 174–175
Safety Canopy ...................185–186
Safety defects, reporting ..359–360
Safety restraints ...............168, 170,
172, 174–175
Belt-Minder  ...........................176
extension assembly ................175
for adults .................170, 172, 174
for children .............................195
warning light and chime ........176
Safety restraints -
LATCH anchors .........................206
Safety seats for children ..........199
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................416
Satellite Radio Information ........74
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
Normal Scheduled
Maintenance and Log .............428
Seats ..........................................153
child safety seats ....................199
cleaning ...................................368
climate control ..................81, 162
easy access/easyout feature ..164
memory seat ...................143, 163
SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................147Index
446
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................149–150
Servicing your vehicle ..............370
Setting the clock ...................61, 63
Snowplowing .................7, 316–317
SOS Post Crash Alert ...............189
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................410, 415
Special notice ................................8
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............7
four-wheel drive vehicles .......318
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Speed control ............................110
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......268
Starting your vehicle ........265–268
jump starting ..........................348
Steering wheel
controls ....................................112
tilting .........................................99
SYNC  ..........................................77
T
Tailgate ......................................123
Tilt steering wheel ......................99
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....237
Tires ...........................219–220, 331
alignment ................................229
care ..........................................225
changing ..................331, 334, 337
checking the pressure ............224
inflating ...................................221
label .........................................236
replacing ..................................227 rotating ....................................230
safety practices .......................229
sidewall information ...............232
snow tires and chains ............243
spare tire .................................332
terminology .............................220
tire grades ...............................220
treadwear ........................219, 226
Towing .......................................252
recreational towing .................263
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ..............256
trailer towing ..........................252
wrecker ....................................351
Traction control ........................274
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................256
Trailer sway control ..................281
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................404
Transmission .............................287
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....285
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................400
fluid, refill capacities ..............411
Turn signal ..................................91
U
Universal garage door opener ..116
Upfitter controls .......................114
USB port ......................................71
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................417
Vehicle loading ..........................244
Ventilating your vehicle ...........269 Index
447
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)

W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......14
Washer fluid ..............................374
Water, Driving through .............315
Windows
power .......................................103 Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
..........................................98
checking and adding fluid
.....374
replacing wiper blades
...........374
Wrecker towing
.........................351
Index
448
2012 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)