maintenance FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS 1999 10.G Owner's Guide

Cleaning the engine
Engines are more efficient when they are clean because grease and dirt
buildup keep the engine warmer than normal. When washing:
•Take care when using a power washer to clean the engine. The high
pressure fluid could penetrate the sealed parts and cause damage.
•Do not spray with cold water to avoid cracking the engine block or
other engine components.
•Cover the air cleaner and battery 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.
Underbody
Flush the complete underside of vehicle frequently. Keep body drain
holes unplugged. Inspect for road damage.
FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT
The fuel filter assembly is located inside the driver side frame rail, near
the transmission.
The fuel filter should be replaced every 24 000 km (15 000 miles).
Removal
If the fuel filter is being serviced with the rear of the vehicle
higher than the front, or if the fuel tank is pressurized, fuel
leakage or siphoning from the tank fuel tubes could occur. To prevent
this condition, maintain the vehicle front end at or above the level of
the rear of the vehicle.
Do not smoke or carry lighted tobacco or open flame of any type
when working on or near any fuel related component. Highly
flammable mixtures are always present and may be ignited, resulting in
possible personal injury.
Maintenance and care
77

Fuel in the fuel system remains under high pressure even when
the engine is not running. Before servicing or disconnecting any
of the fuel lines or fuel system components, the fuel system pressure
must be relieved in order to prevent accidental spraying of fuel,
causing personal injury or a fire hazard.
1. Shut the engine off and relieve the fuel system pressure.
•Remove the Schrader valve cap
and install the EFI/CFI Fuel
Pressure Gauge. The EFI/CFI
Fuel Pressure Gauge 310–012
(T80L-9974–B) is available at a
certified Ford parts dealer.
•Open the manual valve slowly on
the EFI/CFI Fuel Pressure Gauge
and relieve the fuel pressure. This
will drain some fuel out of the
system; place the fuel in a
suitable container.
2. Use the fuel line disconnect tool
to disconnect the fuel lines from the
fuel filter. The Fuel Line Disconnect
Tool 310–S039 (T90T-9550–S) is
available at a certified Ford parts
dealer.
•Disconnect the safety clip from
the male hose.
Maintenance and care
78

•Install the fuel line disconnect
tool and push into the fitting.
•Separate the fittings. Clean the
fittings and inspect the fittings for
damage.
Installation
1. Install the fuel filter.
2. Lubricate the tube end with clean
engine oil meeting Ford
specification WSS-M2C153–G to
ease assembly.
•Pull on the fitting to make sure it
is fully engaged, then install
safety clip.
•Align and push the tube into the
fitting until you hear a click.
3. Remove the EFI/CFI Fuel
Pressure Gauge.
4. Install the Schrader valve cap securely.
Maintenance and care
79

ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
Measuring techniques
Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fillups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1 600 km
(1 000 miles) of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more
accurate measurement after 3 000 km–5 000 km (2 000 miles-
3 000 miles).
Filling the tank
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theRefill Capacities
chart in this “Owner Guide.” The advertised capacity is the amount of
the Indicated Capacity and the Empty Reserve combined. Indicated
Capacity is the difference in the amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank
when the fuel gauge indicates empty. Empty Reserve is the small amount
of usable fuel remaining in the fuel tank after the fuel gauge indicates
empty.
The amount of Empty Reserve varies and should not be relied
upon to increase driving range. When refueling your vehicle after
the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be able to refuel
the full amount of the advertised capacity of the fuel tank due to
the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
•Use the same filling rate setting (low — medium — high) each time
the tank is filled.
•Allow three automatic click-offs when filling.
•Always use fuel with the recommended octane rating.
•Use a known quality gasoline, preferably a national brand.
•Use the same side of the same pump and have the vehicle facing the
same direction each time you fill up.
•Have the vehicle loading and distribution the same every time.
Your results will be most accurate if your filling method is consistent.
Maintenance and care
80

Calculating fuel economy
1. Fill the fuel tank completely and record the initial odometer reading
(in kilometers or miles).
2. Each time you fill the tank, record the amount of fuel added (in liters
or gallons).
3. After at least three to five tank fill-ups, fill the fuel tank and record
the current odometer reading.
4. Subtract your initial odometer reading from the current odometer
reading.
5. Follow one of the simple calculations in order to determine fuel
economy:
Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total kilometers
traveled.
Divide total miles traveled by total gallons used.
Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city
or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle’s fuel
economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records
during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel
economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy.
Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
•Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 105 km/h [65 mph]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
Maintenance and care
81

•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•Using speed control (if equipped) may improve fuel economy. Speed
control can help maintain a constant speed and reduce speed changes.
You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain as
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gears may occur and
could result in reduced fuel economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
•Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
•Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
•Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant Specifications.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollover/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) of driving.
•Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel economy as compared to
driving on hilly terrain.
•Transmissions give their best fuel economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure on the gas pedal.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
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82

EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of Km/L (MPG) expected on
the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy may vary
depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
Maintenance and care
83

Fluid Ford Part
NameApplication Capacity
Transmission
4Motorcraft
MERCONAT FAll 16.8L
(17.7 quarts)5
Your vehicle’s rear axle is filled with a synthetic rear axle lubricant and is
considered lubricated for life. These lubricants do not need to be
checked or changed unless a leak is suspected, service is required or the
axle assembly has been submerged in water. The axle lubricant should
be changed any time the rear axle has been submerged in water.
1Use Ford Premium Engine Coolant (green in color). DO NOT USE Ford
Extended Life Engine Coolant (orange in color). Refer toAdding engine
coolant, in the Maintenance and Care chapter.
2Fill 6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 9/16 inch) below bottom of fill hole.
3Fill Dana rear axles to 6 mm to 14 mm (1/4 inch to 3/4 inch) below
bottom of fill hole.
4Always use dipstick to determine exact fluid requirement.
5Indicates only approximate dry-fill capacity. Some applications may
vary based on cooler size and if equipped with in-tank cooler. The
amount of transmission fluid and fluid level should be set by the
indication on the dipstick’s normal operating range.
Capacities and specifications
85

LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS
Item Ford part
nameFord part
numberFord
specification
Brake fluid High
Performance
DOT 3 Motor
Vehicle Brake
FluidC6AZ-19542-AB ESA-M6C25-A
and DOT 3
Engine coolant Ford Premium
Engine CoolantE2FZ-19549-AA
(in Oregon,
F5FZ-19549-CC,
in Canada,
Motorcraft
CXC-10)ESE-M97B44-A
Engine oil Motorcraft
5W-30 Super
Premium Motor
OilXO-5W30-QSP WSS-M2C153-G
with API
Certification
Mark
Automatic
transmission
(4R100)
1
Motorcraft
MERCONAT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
Power steering
fluidMotorcraft
MERCONAT FXT-2-QDX MERCON
Parking brake
assemblyMotorcraft
MERCONXT-2-QDX MERCON
Dana Axle Motorcraft SAE
75W140 High
Performance
Synthetic rear
axle lubricantF1TZ-19580-B WSL-M2C192-A
1Ensure the correct automatic transmission fluid is used. Transmission
fluid requirements are indicated on the dipstick or on the dipstick
handle. MERCONand MERCONV are not interchangeable. DO NOT
mix MERCONand MERCONV. Refer to your Scheduled Maintenance
Guide to determine the correct service interval.
Capacities and specifications
86

Air cleaner filter .........................84
Ambulance packages ....................3
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive ...................................29
fluid, refill capacities ................84
fluid, specification ....................87
Axle
lubricant specifications ............87
refill capacities ..........................84
Battery .........................................67
acid, treating emergencies .......67
charging system
warning light ...............................5
jumping a disabled battery ......48
maintenance-free ......................67
replacement, specifications .....84
servicing ....................................67
voltage gauge ............................11
Brakes .....................................25,26
anti-lock ................................25,26
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ..............8,26
brake warning light ....................5
fluid, checking and adding ......58
fluid, refill capacities ................84
fluid, specifications ..............86,87
lubricant specifications .......86,87
shift interlock ............................28
Break-in period .............................2
Capacities for refilling fluids ......84
Cleaning your vehicle .................76
engine compartment ................77
exterior ......................................77
wheels ........................................76
Coolant ..............................59,61,62
checking and adding ................60
refill capacities .....................61,84
specifications .......................86,87
Dipstick
engine oil ...................................55Doors
door ajar warning .......................9
Driveline universal joint
and slip yoke ...............................67
Driving under special
conditions
through water ...........................33
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ............................48
Emission control system ............74
Engine ..........................................87
check engine/
service engine soon light ........6,7
coolant .......................................59
idle speed control .....................67
lubrication specifications ....86,87
refill capacities ..........................84
service points ............................55
Engine block heater ...................23
Engine oil ....................................55
checking and adding ...........55,56
dipstick ......................................55
filter, specifications .............57,84
recommendations .....................57
refill capacities .....................55,84
specifications .............55,57,86,87
Exhaust fumes ............................24
Fail safe cooling ..........................62
Fluid capacities ...........................84
Fuel ..............................................71
calculating fuel economy .........80
capacity .....................................84
choosing the right fuel .............73
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates ...................83
detergent in fuel .......................74
filling your vehicle
with fuel ...............................71,80
filter, specifications .............77,84
gauge .........................................10
improving fuel economy ..........80
low fuel warning light ................4
Index
90