checking oil FORD F250 2013 Owners Manual

Maintenance 302
General information...................................302
Opening and closing the hood............................303
Under hood overview..................................304
Engine oil dipstick....................................306
Engine oil check......................................306
Engine coolant check..................................307
Automatic transmission fluid check........................313
Brake fluid check.....................................317
Power steering fluid check..............................317
Fuel filter...........................................317
Washer fluid check....................................318
Changing the vehicle battery.............................318
Checking the wiper blades..............................321
Air filter(s).........................................323
Adjusting the headlamps................................325
Changing a bulb......................................326
Bulb specification chart.................................331
Vehicle Care 332
Cleaning products.....................................332
Cleaning the exterior..................................332
Waxing.............................................334
Repairing minor paint damage............................334
Cleaning the engine...................................334
Cleaning the windows and wiper blades.....................335
Cleaning the interior...................................335
Cleaning the instrument panel and instrument cluster lens.......336
Cleaning the alloy wheels...............................340
Vehicle storage.......................................340
6Table of Contents
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
A.–MIN
B. – MAX
ENGINE OIL CHECK
Note:For diesel engine information, refer to the diesel supplement.
Refer to thescheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in P
(Park).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil level dipstick. See the
Under Hood Overviewin this chapter for location of dipstick.
6. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert the dipstick fully, then remove it again.
If the oil level is between the lower and upper holes, the oil level is
acceptable. DO NOT ADD OIL.
If the oil level is below the lower hole, add enough oil to raise the level
within the lower and upper holes.
Oil levels above the upper hole may cause engine damage. Some oil must
be removed from the engine by an authorized dealer.
7. Put the dipstick back in and ensure it is fully seated.
AB
306Maintenance
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Adding Engine Oil
Note:Do not remove the engine oil level dipstick or the filler cap when
the engine is running.
Note:Do not add engine oil further than the MAX mark. Oil levels above
the MAX mark may cause engine damage.
Only use oils certified for gasoline engines by the
American Petroleum Institute (API). An oil with this
trademark symbol conforms to the current engine
and emission system protection standards and fuel
economy requirements of the International Lubricants
Specification Advisory Council (ILSAC), comprised of
U.S. and Japanese automobile manufacturers.
1. Check the engine oil level.
2. If the engine oil level is not within the normal range, add engine oil
that meets Ford specifications. SeeCapacities and Specificationsfor
more information. 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.
4. Install the dipstick and ensure it is fully seated.
5. Fully install the engine oil filler cap by turning the filler cap clockwise
until three clicks are heard or until the cap is fully seated.
ENGINE COOLANT CHECK
Checking the 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 within 48% to 50%, which
equates to a freeze point between -30°F (-34°C) and -34°F (-37°C).
Note:For best results, coolant concentration should be tested with a
refractometer such as Rotunda tool 300-ROB75240 available from your
dealer. Ford does not recommend the use of hydrometers or coolant test
strips for measuring coolant concentrations.
Note:Make sure that the level is between the MIN and MAX marks on
the coolant reservoir.
Maintenance307
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Note:Automatic transmissions that require MERCON® LV should only use MERCON® LV fluid.
Use of any fluid other than the recommended fluid may cause transmission damage.4Indicates only approximate dry-fill capacity. Some applications may vary based on cooler size and
if equipped with an in-tank cooler. The amount of transmission fluid and fluid level should be set
by the indication on the dipstick’s normal operating range.5Use of synthetic or synthetic blend motor oil is not mandatory. Engine oil must meet or exceed the
requirements of Ford specification WSS-M2C945-A, SAE 5W-20, and display the API Starburst
Certification Mark.6If the Ford specification is not shown on the oil container, the oil container must display the API
Starburst Certification Mark and the correct viscosity.7Refer toChecking automatic transmission fluidin this chapter for the correct dipstick type.
Fill to the proper capacity according to dipstick Type A.8Refer toChecking automatic transmission fluidin this chapter for the correct dipstick type.
Fill to the proper capacity according to dipstick Type B.
394Capacities and Specifications
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

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
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)