cooling FORD F250 2013 User Guide

Note:Coolant expands when it is hot. The level may extend beyond the
MAX mark.
If the level is at the MIN mark, add coolant immediately. SeeAdding
Engine Coolantin this chapter.
Note:Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do not use engine
coolant/antifreeze or windshield washer fluid outside of its specified
function and vehicle location.
Adding Engine Coolant
WARNING:Do not add engine coolant when the engine is hot.
Steam and scalding liquids released from a hot cooling system
can burn you badly. Also, you can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts.
WARNING:Do not put engine coolant in the windshield washer
fluid container. If sprayed on the windshield, engine coolant
could make it difficult to see through the windshield.
WARNING:To reduce the risk of personal injury, make sure the
engine is cool before unscrewing the coolant pressure relief cap.
The cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid can come
out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly.
WARNING:Do not add coolant further than the MAX mark.
Note:Do not use stop leak pellets, cooling system sealants or additives,
as they can cause damage to the engine cooling and/or heating systems.
This damage would not be covered under your vehicle’s warranty.
Note:During normal vehicle operation, the engine coolant may change
color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the engine coolant is
clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the engine
coolant has degraded nor does it require the engine coolant to be
drained, the system to be flushed, or the engine coolant to be replaced.
•DO NOT MIX different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Make
sure the correct coolant is used. Mixing of engine coolants may harm
your engine’s cooling system. The use of an improper coolant may
harm engine and cooling system components and may void the
warranty.
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•In case of emergency, a large amount of water without engine coolant
may be added in order to reach a vehicle service location. In this
instance, the cooling system must be drained, chemically cleaned with
Motorcraft Premium Cooling System Flush, and refilled with engine
coolant as soon as possible. Water alone (without engine coolant) can
cause engine damage from corrosion, overheating or freezing.
•Do not use alcohol, methanol, brine or any engine coolants mixed with
alcohol or methanol antifreeze (coolant). Alcohol and other liquids can
cause engine damage from overheating or freezing.
•
Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to the coolant. These can be
harmful and compromise the corrosion protection of the engine coolant.
Unscrew the cap slowly. Any pressure will escape as you unscrew the cap.
Add prediluted engine coolant meeting the Ford specification.
SeeCapacities and Specificationsfor more information.
Whenever coolant has been added, the coolant level in the coolant
reservoir should be checked the next few times you drive the vehicle.
If necessary, add enough prediluted engine coolant to bring the coolant
level to the proper level.
Recycled Engine Coolant
Ford Motor Company does not recommend the use of recycled engine
coolant since a Ford-approved recycling process is not yet available.
Used engine coolant should be disposed of in an appropriate
manner. Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling
and disposing of automotive fluids.
Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates:
•It may be necessary to have a Ford authorized dealer increase the
coolant concentration above 50%.
•A coolant concentration of 60% will provide improved freeze point
protection. Engine coolant concentrations above 60% will decrease
the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may
cause engine damage.
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If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•It may be necessary to have a Ford authorized dealer decrease the
coolant concentration to 40%.
•A coolant concentration of 40% will provide improved overheat
protection. Engine coolant concentrations below 40% will decrease the
corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant
and may cause engine damage.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use
prediluted engine coolant for optimum cooling system and engine
protection.
What You Should Know About Fail-Safe Cooling (If Equipped)
WARNING:If fail-safe cooling activates, pull off the road as soon
as safely possible and turn the engine off. The engine may
automatically shut off while driving without further indication.
If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works
If the engine begins to overheat:
•The engine coolant temperature gauge will move to the red (hot)
area.
•The information display will indicate the engine is overheating.
•The service engine soon indicator will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine
will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs the vehicle will still operate. However:
•The engine power will be limited.
•The air conditioning system will be disabled.
Continued operation will increase the engine temperature and the engine
will completely shut down, causing steering and braking effort to
increase.
Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be restarted. Take
your vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.
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You may notice a reduction in the vehicle’s speed caused by reduced
engine power. Your vehicle has been designed to enter this mode if
certain high temperature/high load conditions take place in order to
manage the engine’s fluid temperatures. The amount of speed reduction
will depend on the vehicle loading, towing, grade, ambient temperature,
and other factors. If this occurs, there is no need to pull off the road.
The vehicle can continue to be driven while this message is active.
The air conditioning may also cycle on and off during severe operating
conditions to protect overheating of the engine. When the engine coolant
temperature decreases to a more normal operating temperature, the air
conditioning will turn on once again.
If you notice any of the following:
•the engine coolant temperature gauge moves fully into the red (hot)
area
•the coolant temperature warning light illuminates
•the service engine soon indicator illuminates
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and place the vehicle inP
(Park).
2. Leave the engine running until the coolant temperature gauge needle
moves away from the H range. After several minutes, if this does not
happen, follow the remaining steps.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for it to cool before checking the coolant
level.
WARNING:Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the
engine is running or hot.
4. If the coolant level is normal, you may restart your engine and
continue on.
5. If the coolant is low, add coolant, restart the engine and take your
vehicle to an authorized dealer. SeeAdding engine coolantin this
chapter for more information.
Refer to fail-safe cooling for additional information.
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Body
•Wash vehicle thoroughly to remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing and underside of front fenders.
•Periodically wash vehicles stored in exposed locations.
•Touch up raw or primed metal to prevent rust.
•Cover chrome and stainless steel parts with a thick coat of auto wax
to prevent discoloration. Re-wax as necessary when the vehicle is
washed.
•Lubricate hood latch, all door latches and trunk lid hinges with a light
grade oil.
•Cover interior trim to prevent fading.
•Keep all rubber parts free from oil and solvents.
Engine
•The engine oil and filter should be changed prior to storage, as used
engine oil contains contaminates that may cause engine damage.
•Start the engine every 15 days. Run at fast idle until it reaches normal
operating temperature.
•With your foot on the brake, shift through all the gears while the
engine is running.
Fuel system
•Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel until the first automatic shutoff
of the fuel pump nozzle.
Note:During extended periods of vehicle storage (30 days or more),
fuel may deteriorate due to oxidation. Add a quality gas stabilizer
product to the vehicle fuel system whenever actual or expected storage
periods exceed 30 days. Follow the instructions on the additive label.
The vehicle should then be operated at idle speed to circulate the
additive throughout the fuel system.
Cooling system
•Protect against freezing temperatures.
•When removing vehicle from storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm there are no cooling system leaks, and fluid is at the
recommended level.
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Owner Checks and Services
Certain basic maintenance checks and inspections should be performed
every month or at six month intervals.
Check every month
Engine oil level.
Function of all interior and exterior lights.
Tires (including spare) for wear and proper pressure.
Windshield washer fluid level.
Check every six months
Battery connections. Clean if necessary.
Body and door drain holes for obstructions. Clean if necessary.
Cooling system fluid level and coolant strength.
Door weatherstrips for wear. Lubricate if necessary.
Hinges, latches and outside locks for proper operation. Lubricate if
necessary.
Parking brake for proper operation.
Safety belts and seat latches for wear and function.
Safety warning lamps (brake, ABS, airbag, safety belt) for operation.
Washer spray and wiper operation. Clean or replace blades as
necessary.
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NORMAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND LOG
Normal scheduled maintenance – 6.2L and 6.8L engines only*
Every 7500 miles
(12000 km) or
six months
(whichever comes
first)Change engine oil and filter.
Rotate tires**, inspect tire wear and measure
tread depth.
Inspect wheels and related components for
abnormal noise, wear, looseness or drag.
Perform multi-point inspection
(recommended).
Every 15000 miles
(24000 km) or
12 months (whichever
comes first)Inspect automatic transmission fluid level.
Consult dealer for requirements.
Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums,
brake linings, hoses and parking brake.
Inspect engine cooling system strength and
hoses.
Inspect exhaust system and heat shields.
Inspect front axle and U-joints. Lubricate if
equipped with grease fittings (Four–wheel
drive vehicles).
Inspect steering linkage, ball joints,
suspension, tie-rod ends, driveshaft and
U-joints. Lubricate if equipped with grease
fittings.
*Scheduled maintenance for the 6.7L diesel engine can be found in the
diesel supplement.
**Vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels should rotate the front wheels
when specified; rear wheels only if unusual wear is noted.
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F.A/C:Touch to turn the air conditioning on or off.
•Use with recirculated air to improve cooling performance and
efficiency.
•Engages automatically in MAX A/C, defrost and floor/defrost.
G.AUTO:Touch to engage automatic operation, then set the
temperature using the temperature control. The system automatically
controls:
•Fan speed
•Airflow distribution
•A/Conoroff
•Outside or recirculated air.
H.Rear defroster:Touch to turn the rear window defroster and heated
mirrors.
I.Defrost:Touch to clear the windshield of fog and thin ice. Touch
again to return to the previous airflow selection. When on, defrost:
•Provides outside air to reduce window fogging.
•Distributes air through the windshield defroster vents and demister
vents.
J.Manual controls:Select any of the following airflow distribution
modes:
•Floor and Defrost:Distributes air through the windshield defroster
vents, demister vents, floor vents and rear seat floor vents, and
provides outside air to reduce window fogging.
•Panel:Distributes air through the instrument panel vents.
•Panel and Floor:Distributes air through the instrument panel vents,
demister vents, floor vents and rear seat floor vents.
•Floor:Distributes air through the demister vents, floor vents and
rear seat floor vents.
K.Driver settings:Depending on your vehicle and option package, you
may have the following features:
•Touch+or–to adjust the temperature.
•If your vehicle is equipped with heated seats, touch the heated seat
icon to control the heated seat. See theSeatschapter.
•If your vehicle is equipped with cooled seats, touch the cooled seat
icon to control the cooled seat. See theSeatschapter.
•Touch and holdMyTempto select a temperature you would like your
vehicle to remember and maintain for you.
•If your vehicle is equipped with a heated steering wheel, touch the
heated steering wheel icon to warm the steering wheel.
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with a wood-trimmed steering wheel, it
does not heat between the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions.
MyFord Touch® (If Equipped)535
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D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................87
Defrost ...............................146, 148
rear window ............................152
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................313
engine oil .........................304, 306
Display settings .........................521
Drivebelt ....................................389
Driving under special
conditions ..................207, 218, 220
sand .........................................218
snow and ice ...........................221
through water .................219, 270
Dual automatic temperature
control (DATC) .........................148
E
Electronic message center .......104
Electronic stability control ......228
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................279
running out of fuel .................192
Emergency Flashers .................278
Emission control system ..........195
End user license agreement ....549
Engine ................................304, 389
cleaning ...................................334
coolant .....................................307
fail-safe cooling .......................310
refill capacities ........................391
service points ..................304–305
Engine block heater .................186Engine oil
checking and adding ..............306
dipstick ....................................306
filter, specifications ................395
refill capacities ........................391
Event data recording ..................12
Exhaust fumes ..........................185
F
Fail safe cooling ........................310
Filter
fuel ...........................................317
Fleet MyKey programming ........67
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....188
Floor mats .................................271
Fluid capacities .........................391
Fog lamps ....................................88
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......209
driving off road .......................216
electronic shift ................209, 213
indicator light .........................210
lever operated shift ................211
manual locking hubs ..............209
Fuel
cap ...........................................193
capacity ...................................391
choosing the right fuel ...190–191
filler funnel .............................192
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................................193
fuel pump shut-off ..................278
octane rating ...................191, 389
quality ......................................190
running out of fuel .................192
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................188
Index571
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