FORD F-450 2018 Owners Manual

Type B
Fluid levels above the safe range may
result in transmission failure. An overfill
condition of transmission fluid may cause
shift and engagement concerns, and
possible damage.
High fluid levels can be caused by an
overheating condition.
Adjusting Automatic Transmission
Fluid Levels
Note:
Use of a non-approved automatic
transmission fluid may cause internal
transmission component damage.
Before adding any fluid, make sure the
correct type is used. The type of fluid used
is normally indicated on: •
the dipstick handle.
• See Capacities and Specifications
(page 420).
If necessary, add fluid in
8 fl oz (250 ml)
increments through the filler tube until the
level is correct.
Type A Type B
If an overfill occurs, excess fluid should be
removed by a qualified technician.
Note:
An overfill condition of transmission
fluid may cause shift and engagement
concerns, and possible damage.
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Do not use supplemental transmission
fluid additives, treatments or cleaning
agents. The use of these materials may
affect transmission operation and result
in damage to internal transmission
components.
TRANSFER CASE FLUID
CHECK (If Equipped)
1. Clean the filler plug.
2. Remove the filler plug and inspect the
fluid level.
3. Add only enough fluid through the filler
opening so that the fluid level is at the
bottom of the opening.
Only use fluid that meets Ford
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 420). BRAKE FLUID CHECK WARNINGS
Do not use any fluid other than the
recommended brake fluid as this will
reduce brake efficiency. Use of
incorrect fluid could result in the loss of
vehicle control, serious personal injury or
death. Only use brake fluid from a sealed
container. Contamination with dirt,
water, petroleum products or other
materials may result in brake system
damage or failure. Failure to adhere to this
warning could result in the loss of vehicle
control, serious personal injury or death. Do not allow the fluid to touch your
skin or eyes. If this happens, rinse the
affected areas immediately with
plenty of water and contact your physician. A fluid level between the
MAX and
MIN lines is within the normal
operating range and there is no need
to add fluid. A fluid level not in the normal
operating range could compromise the
performance of the system. Have your
vehicle checked immediately. 349
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To avoid fluid contamination, the reservoir
cap must remain in place and fully tight,
unless you are adding fluid.
Only use fluid that meets Ford
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 420).
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Check the power steering fluid. See
Scheduled Maintenance
(page 581). If
adding fluid is necessary, use only
MERCON LV ATF
Check the fluid level when it is at ambient
temperature.
1. Check the fluid level in the reservoir. It should be between the MIN and MAX
range. Do not add fluid if the level is
within this range.
2. If the fluid level is low, add fluid to bring
the fluid level up to between the MIN
and MAX range.
3. Switch the engine on. 4.
While the engine idles, turn the steering
wheel left and right several times.
5. Switch the engine off.
6. Recheck the fluid level in the reservoir. Do not add fluid if the level is between
the MIN and MAX range.
7. If the fluid is low, add fluid in small amounts, continuously checking the
level until it is between the MIN and
MAX range. For proper fluid type, See
Capacities and Specifications (page
420). Be sure to put the cap back on the
reservoir.
WASHER FLUID CHECK WARNING
If you operate your vehicle in
temperatures below 40°F (5°C), use
washer fluid with antifreeze
protection. Failure to use washer fluid with
antifreeze protection in cold weather could
result in impaired windshield vision and
increase the risk of injury or accident. Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the level is
low. Only use a washer fluid that meets
Ford specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 420).
State or local regulations on volatile
organic compounds may restrict the use
of methanol, a common windshield washer
antifreeze additive. Washer fluids
containing non-methanol antifreeze
agents should be used only if they provide
cold weather protection without damaging
the vehicle ’s paint finish, wiper blades or
washer system.
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DRAINING THE FUEL FILTER
WATER TRAP - 6.7L DIESEL
WARNING
Do not dispose of fuel in the
household refuse or the public
sewage system. Use an authorized
waste disposal facility. Your vehicle has a diesel fuel conditioner
module. The module is mounted between
the outboard side of the fuel tank and the
frame rail.
Note:
The module is at the front of the fuel
tank or at the front of the aft-axle fuel tank
on some models. You should drain water from the
module assembly whenever the
warning light illuminates or a
message appears in the information
display advising you to drain the water
separator. This occurs when approximately
6.76 fl oz (200 ml) of water accumulates
in the module. If you allow the water level
to exceed this level, the water may pass
through to the engine and may cause fuel
injection equipment damage.
Filter Location
Use the tables below to find the location
of your filter.
Pick-up Truck Filter Location
Box Length
Cab Type
Left side of fuel tank.
8 ft (2.4 m)
Regular.
6.75 ft (2.057 m)
SuperCab.
In front of fuel tank.
8 ft (2.4 m)
6.75 ft (2.057 m)
Super Crew Cab.
Left side of fuel tank.
8 ft (2.4 m)
Chassis Cab Filter Location
Fuel Tank Type
Cab Type
Right side of fuel tank.
Single midship fuel tank
Chassis Cab.
Right side of midship fueltank.
Aft axle/midship fuel tanks
Chassis Cab.
Front of fuel tank.
Single aft axle fuel tank
Chassis Cab.
Draining the Diesel Fuel
Conditioner Module
1. Switch the engine off. 2. Access the underside of your vehicle.
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3. The diesel fuel conditioner module is
on the left-hand frame rail. 4. Drain the diesel fuel conditioner
module. Turn the drain plug
counterclockwise until it stops. Do not
use any tools to loosen the drain plug.
Drain the filter, approximately 0.5 gal
(2 L), into an appropriate container.
Do not re-use the fuel drained from the
module.
5. Tighten the drain plug, turn it clockwise
until it stops and you feel a strong
resistance. Do not use any tools to
tighten the drain plug.
FUEL FILTER - 6.2L/6.8L
Your vehicle is equipped with a lifetime
fuel filter that is integrated with the fuel
tank. Regular maintenance or replacement
is not needed.
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CHANGING THE 12V BATTERY
WARNINGS
Batteries normally produce explosive
gases which can cause personal
injury. Therefore, do not allow
flames, sparks or lighted substances to
come near the battery. When working near
the battery, always shield your face and
protect your eyes. Always provide correct
ventilation. When lifting a plastic-cased battery,
excessive pressure on the end walls
could cause acid to flow through the
vent caps, resulting in personal injury and
damage to the vehicle or battery. Lift the
battery with a battery carrier or with your
hands on opposite corners. Keep batteries out of reach of
children. Batteries contain sulfuric
acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing. Shield your eyes when working
near the battery to protect against possible
splashing of acid solution. In case of acid
contact with skin or eyes, flush
immediately with water for a minimum of
15 minutes and get prompt medical
attention. If acid is swallowed, call a
physician immediately. Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after
handling. This vehicle may have more than one
battery. Removing the battery cables
from only one battery does not
disconnect your vehicle electrical system.
Make sure you disconnect the battery
cables from all batteries when
disconnecting power. Failure to do so may
cause serious personal injury or property
damage. Your vehicle is fitted with a Motorcraft
maintenance-free battery which normally
does not require additional water.
When a battery replacement is required,
you must use a recommended
replacement battery that matches the
electrical requirements of the vehicle.
Note:
After cleaning or replacing the
battery, make sure you reinstall the battery
cover or shield.
Note: If you add electrical accessories or
components to the vehicle, it may adversely
affect the low voltage battery performance
and durability. This may also affect the
performance of other electrical systems in
the vehicle.
For longer, trouble-free operation, keep the
top of the battery clean and dry.
If you see any corrosion on the battery or
terminals, remove the cables from the
terminals and clean with a wire brush. You
can neutralize the acid with a solution of
baking soda and water.
Because your vehicle ’s engine is
electronically controlled by a computer,
some control conditions are maintained
by power from the battery. When the
battery is disconnected or a new battery
is installed, the engine must relearn its idle
and fuel trim strategy for optimum
driveability and performance. Flexible fuel
vehicles (FFV) must also relearn the
ethanol content of the fuel for optimum
driveability and performance.
To restore the settings, do the following:
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into park (P) or neutral (N).
3. Switch off all accessories.
4. Press the brake pedal and start your vehicle.
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5. Run the engine until it reaches normal
operating temperature. While the
engine is warming up, complete the
following: Reset the clock. Reset the
power windows bounce-back feature.
See Windows and Mirrors (page 98).
Reset the radio station presets. See
Audio System (page 445).
6. Allow the engine to idle for at least one
minute.
7. Drive the vehicle at least 10 mi (16 km)
to completely relearn the idle trim and
fuel trim strategy.
Note: If you do not allow the engine to
relearn the idle and fuel trim strategy, the
idle quality of your vehicle may be adversely
affected until the engine computer
eventually relearns the idle trim and fuel
trim strategy.
Note: For flexible fuel vehicles, if you are
operating on E85, you may experience poor
starts or an inability to start the engine and
driveability problems until the fuel trim and
ethanol content have been relearned.
Make sure that you dispose of old batteries
in an environmentally friendly way. Seek
advice from your local authority about
recycling old batteries.
If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery, we
recommend that you disconnect the
battery cables to maintain battery charge
for quick starting.
Battery Management System
(If
Equipped)
The battery management system monitors
battery conditions and takes actions to
extend battery life. If excessive battery
drain is detected, the system temporarily
disables some electrical systems to
protect the battery. Systems included are:
•
Heated rear window.
• Heated seats.
• Climate control.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Audio unit.
• Navigation system.
A message may appear in the information
displays to alert you that battery
protection actions are active. These
messages are only for notification that an
action is taking place, and not intended to
indicate an electrical problem or that the
battery requires replacement.
After battery replacement, or in some
cases after charging the battery with an
external charger, the battery management
system requires eight hours of vehicle sleep
time to relearn the battery state of charge.
During this time your vehicle must remain
fully locked with the ignition switched off.
Note: Prior to relearning the battery state
of charge, the battery management system
may temporarily disable some electrical
systems.
Electrical Accessory Installation
To make sure the battery management
system works correctly, do not connect an
electrical device ground connection
directly to the battery negative post. This
can cause inaccurate measurements of
the battery condition and potential
incorrect system operation.
Note: If you add electrical accessories or
components to the vehicle, it may adversely
affect battery performance and durability.
This may also affect the performance of
other electrical systems in the vehicle.
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CHECKING THE WIPER
BLADES
Run the tip of your fingers over the edge of
the blade to check for roughness.
Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid
or water applied with a soft sponge or
cloth.
CHANGING THE WIPER
BLADES
You can manually move the wiper arms
when the ignition is off. This allows for ease
of blade replacement and cleaning under
the blades.
1. Pull the wiper blade and arm away
from the glass. 2. Release the wiper blade lock (A) and
separate the wiper blade from the
wiper arm.
3. Install in the reverse order.
Note: Make sure that the wiper blade locks
into place. Lower the wiper arm and blade
back on the windshield. The wiper arms will
automatically return to their normal position
when you turn the ignition on.
• Replace wiper blades at least once per
year for optimum performance.
• You can improve poor wiper quality by
cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield.
ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
Vertical Aim Adjustment
The headlamps on your vehicle are
properly aimed at the assembly plant. If
your vehicle has been in an accident, the
alignment of your headlamps should be
checked by your authorized dealer.
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Headlamp Aiming Target
8 feet (2.4 meters)
A
Center height of lamp to ground
B
25 feet (7.6 meters)
C
Horizontal reference line
D
Vertical Aim Adjustment Procedure
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 ft (7.6 m) away.
2. Measure the height of the headlamp bulb center from the ground and mark
an
8 ft (2.4 m) horizontal reference line
on the vertical wall or screen at this
height.
Note: To see a clearer light pattern for
adjusting, you may want to block the light
from one headlamp while adjusting the
other.
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and open
the hood. 4. On the wall or screen you will observe
a flat zone of high intensity light
located at the top of the right hand
portion of the beam pattern. If the top
edge of the high intensity light zone is
not at the horizontal reference line, the
headlamp will need to be adjusted. 5. Locate the vertical adjuster on each
headlamp. Using a Phillips #2
screwdriver, turn the adjuster either
clockwise or counterclockwise in order
to adjust the vertical aim of the
headlamp.
Note: A. LED headlamp.
B. Halogen headlamp.
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6. Repeat steps 3 thru 5 to adjust the
other headlamp.
7. Close the hood and turn off the lamps.
Horizontal Aim Adjustment
Horizontal aim is not required for this
vehicle and is not adjustable.
CHANGING A BULB WARNINGS
Switch the lamps and the ignition off.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in serious personal injury.
Bulbs become hot when in use. Let
them cool down before you remove
them.
Use the correct specification bulb. See
Bulb Specification Chart (page 360).
Install in the reverse order unless otherwise
stated.
Front Park and Direction Indicator
Lamp Bulbs
Note: To access the right-hand side bulbs,
remove the air intake pipe. See
Changing
the Engine Air Filter (page 362).
To access the left-hand side bulbs, remove
the washer reservoir filler tube. Vehicles with
diesel engine only. 1.
Switch all of the lamps and the ignition
off.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector.
3. Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise
and remove it.
Note: You cannot separate the bulb from
the bulb holder.
Headlamp Bulbs
Note: To access the right-hand side bulbs,
remove the air intake pipe. See
Changing
the Engine Air Filter (page 362).
To access the left-hand side bulbs, remove
the washer reservoir filler tube. Vehicles with
diesel engine only.
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