adding oil FORD F250 2009 Owners Manual

•5.4L/6.8L gasoline engines only;
for diesel engine information,
refer to the6.0 and 6.4 Liter
Direct Injection Turbo Diesel
Owner’s Guide Supplement.
6. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert the dipstick fully, then remove it again.
•If the oil level isbetween the MIN and MAX marks,the oil level is
acceptable.DO NOT ADD OIL.
•If the oil level is below the MIN
mark, add enough oil to raise the
level within the MIN-MAX range.
•Oil levels above the MAX mark may cause engine damage. Some oil
must be removed from the engine by a service technician.
7. Put the dipstick back in and ensure it is fully seated.
Adding engine oil
1. Check the engine oil. For instructions, refer toChecking the engine
oilin this chapter.
2. If the engine oil level is not within the normal range, add only certified
engine oil of the recommended viscosity. Remove the engine oil filler cap
and use a funnel to pour the engine oil into the opening.
3. Recheck the engine oil level. Make sure the oil level is not above the
normal operating range on the engine oil level dipstick.
2009 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
373

•Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
ENGINE COOLANT
Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the
intervals listed inscheduled maintenance information.The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and distilled water,
which equates to a freeze point of -34°F (-36°C). Coolant concentration
testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester. The level of
coolant should be maintained at the “FULL COLD” level or within the
“COLD FILL RANGE” in the coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add
coolant per the instructions in theAdding engine coolantsection.
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly.A
50/50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following:
•Freeze protection down to -34°F (-36°C).
•Boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
•Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.
•Proper function of calibrated gauges.
L
E
A
D
RETURN
RECYCLE
2009 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
377

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 toMaintenance product
specifications and capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] of weight carried).
•Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for example bug
deflectors, rollbars/light bars, running boards, ski/luggage racks) may
reduce fuel economy.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) 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.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA fuel economy estimates
Every new vehicle should have a window sticker containing EPA fuel
economy estimates. Contact your authorized dealer if the window sticker
is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA fuel economy estimates
should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons with other
vehicles. Your fuel economy may vary depending upon the method of
operation and conditions.
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Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
391

safety belts ..............................363
washing ....................................357
waxing .....................................358
wheels ......................................358
wiper blades ............................360
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......80, 84
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................37
AM/FM/CD .................................30
Clutch
fluid ..........................................397
operation while driving ..........290
recommended shift speeds ....290
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............143
Console ......................................106
overhead ..................................105
Controls
power seat ...............................175
steering column ......................118
Coolant
checking and adding ..............377
refill capacities ................381, 405
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................116
Customer Assistance ................315
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................365
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................354
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................354
Getting roadside assistance ...315
Getting the service
you need .................................350
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................355Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................353
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................90
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................397
engine oil .................................372
Driving under special
conditions ..................289, 305, 308
sand .........................................307
snow and ice ...........................309
through water .................307, 311
DVD system .................................51
E
Electronic message
center .................................127, 137
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................343
Emergency Flashers .................316
Emission control system ..........392
Engine ........................................409
cleaning ...................................359
coolant .....................................377
diesel ...........................................9
fail-safe cooling .......................382
idle speed control ...................375
refill capacities ........................405
service points ..................369–370
starting after a collision .........317
Engine oil ..................................372
checking and adding ..............372
dipstick ....................................372
filter, specifications ........374, 404
2009 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Index
415