octane FORD F150 2003 10.G Owners Manual

If you do not use the proper fuel filler cap, excessive pressure or
vacuum in the fuel tank may damage the fuel system or cause
the fuel cap to disengage in a collision, which may result in possible
personal injury.
Choosing the right fuel
Use only UNLEADED FUEL. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law
and could damage your vehicle.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system
components.
Your vehicle was not designed to use fuel or fuel additives with metallic
compounds, including manganese-based compounds containing MMT.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular”unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as“Regular”that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if
it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel
with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage.
Supercharged engines
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Premium”unleaded gasoline with
an (R+M)/2 octane rating of 91 or
higher for optimum performance.
The use of gasolines with lower
octane ratings may degrade performance. We do not recommend the use
of gasolines labeled as“Premium”in high altitude areas that are sold
with octane ratings of less than 91.
If your engine knocks under any driving conditions while you are using
fuel with the recommended octane rating, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician to prevent any engine damage.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
91(R+M)/2 METHOD
Maintenance and Specifications
236

Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems during a cold start, try a different brand of“Regular”unleaded
gasoline.“Premium”unleaded gasoline is not recommended (particularly
in the United States) because it may cause these problems to become
more pronounced. If the problems persist, see your dealer or a qualified
service technician.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel
tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane
rating. Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system.
Repairs to correct the effects of using an aftermarket product in your
fuel may not be covered by your warranty.
Many of the world’s automakers
issued the World-wide Fuel Charter
that recommends gasoline
specifications to provide improved
performance and emission control
system protection for your vehicle.
Gasolines that meet the World-wide
Fuel Charter should be used when
available. Ask your fuel supplier
about gasolines that meet the
World-wide Fuel Charter. In Canada,
look for fuels that display theAuto Makers’Choice
logo.
Cleaner air
Ford endorses the use of reformulated“cleaner-burning”gasolines to
improve air quality.
Running out of fuel
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse
affect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
•You may need to cycle the ignition from OFF to ON several times after
refueling, to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to
the engine.
•Your“Service Engine Soon”indicator may come on. For more
information on the“Service Engine Soon”indicator, refer to the
Instrument clusterchapter.
Maintenance and Specifications
237

•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.
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:
Calculation 1:Multiply liters used by 100, then divide by total
kilometers traveled.
Calculation 2: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.
Maintenance and Specifications
239

ENGINE DATA
Engine4.2L V6
engine4.6L V8
engine5.4L V8
engine5.4LSupercharged
V8 engine
Cubic
inches256 281 330 330
Required
fuel87 octane 87 octane 87 octane 91 octane
Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6
1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Spark plug
gap1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-0.056
inch)1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-0.056
inch)1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-0.056
inch)1.3-1.4 mm
(0.052-0.056
inch)
Ignition
systemEDIS Coil on plug Coil on plug Coil on plug
Compression
ratio9.3:1 9.37:1 9.0:1 9.0:1
VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
Styleside
DimensionBody Style
Regular
Cab 4x2Regular Cab
4x4Super Cab
4x2Super Cab
4x4
(1) Overall
length5256 mm
(206.9 in)
(SWB)
5729 mm
(225.5 in)
(LWB)5264 mm
(207.2 in)
(SWB)
5736 mm
(225.8 in)
(LWB)5728 mm
(225.5 in)
(SWB)
6201 mm
(244.1 in)
(LWB)5735 mm
(225.8 in)
(SWB)
6208 mm
(244.4 in)
(LWB)
(2) Overall
width1989mm
(78.3 in)
12019 mm
(79.5 in)11989 mm
(78.3 in)12019 mm
(79.5 in)1
Maintenance and Specifications
262

checking and adding ..............221
dipstick ....................................221
filter, specifications ........224, 255
recommendations ...................224
refill capacities ........................256
specifications ..................259, 262
Exhaust fumes ..........................140
F
Fail safe cooling ........................232
Floor mats ...................................72
Fluid capacities .........................256
Foglamps .....................................44
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......150
driving off road .......................153
electronic shift ........................152
indicator light .........................150
lever operated shift ................150
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................142
Fuel ............................................233
calculating fuel economy .......238
cap ...........................................235
capacity ...................................256
choosing the right fuel ...........236
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................241
detergent in fuel .....................237
filling your vehicle
with fuel ..................233, 235, 238
filter, specifications ........238, 255
fuel pump shut-off switch .....175
improving fuel economy ........238
octane rating ...................236, 262
quality ......................................237
running out of fuel .................237
safety information relating
to automotive fuels ................233
Fuses ..................................176–177G
Garage door opener ..............56, 67
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............235
Gas mileage (see
Fuel economy) ..........................238
Gauges .........................................16
GAWR (Gross Axle
Weight Rating) ..........................161
calculating ...............................163
definition .................................161
driving with a heavy load ......161
location ....................................161
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating) ..........................161
calculating .......................161, 163
definition .................................161
driving with a heavy load ......161
location ....................................161
H
Head restraints ...........................90
Headlamps ...................................44
aiming ........................................46
autolamp system .......................44
bulb specifications ....................48
daytime running lights .............45
flash to pass ..............................45
high beam .................................45
replacing bulbs .........................49
turning on and off ....................44
Heating
heating and air
conditioning system .....38–39, 41
HomeLink universal
transceiver (see
Garage door opener) ......67, 69–70
Hood ..........................................217
Index
275

I
Ignition ...............................135, 262
Infant seats (see
Safety seats) .............................123
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................242
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................212
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................46
J
Jack ............................................184
positioning ...............................184
storage .....................................184
Jump-starting your vehicle ......191
K
Keyless entry system .................85
Keys
positions of the ignition .........135
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................44
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................48
cargo lamps ...............................46
daytime running light ...............45
fog lamps ...................................44
headlamps .................................44
headlamps, flash to pass ..........45
instrument panel, dimming .....46
interior lamps .....................47–48
replacing bulbs ...................48–53Lane change indicator (see
Turn signal) .................................46
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........140
speed control ............................66
Load limits .................................161
GAWR ......................................161
GVWR ......................................161
trailer towing ..........................161
Loading instructions .................163
Locks
childproof ..................................79
Lubricant specifications ...259, 262
Lumbar support, seats ...............93
M
Manual transmission .................146
fluid capacities ........................256
lubricant specifications ..........262
reverse .....................................149
Mirrors .........................................55
automatic dimming
rearview mirror .........................61
fold away ...................................63
side view mirrors (power) .......62
Moon roof ....................................66
Motorcraft parts ................238, 255
O
Octane rating ............................236
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................221
P
Parking brake ............................141
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....255
Index
276