fuel FORD F250 2013 Owners Manual

Auxiliary Power Points 178
Storage Compartments 181
Overhead console.....................................181
Starting and Stopping the Engine 182
Ignition switch.......................................183
Engine block heater...................................186
Fuel and Refueling 188
Fuel quality.........................................190
Refueling...........................................193
Fuel consumption.....................................194
Transmission 199
Transmission operation.................................199
Hill start assist.......................................208
Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped) 209
Four wheel drive.....................................209
Brakes 223
Brakes.............................................223
Hints on driving with anti-lock brakes......................224
Parking brake........................................224
Traction Control 225
TractionControl™ ....................................225
Stability Control 227
AdvanceTrac®.......................................228
Terrain Response 230
Hill descent control...................................230
Parking Aids 232
Sensing system.......................................232
Rear-view camera system...............................234
4Table of Contents
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Cruise Control 238
Driving Aids 240
Load Carrying 241
Vehicle loading.......................................241
Tailgate............................................248
Towing 253
Trailertowing........................................253
Trailer brake controller-integrated.........................259
Wrecker towing......................................266
Recreational towing...................................268
Driving Hints 269
Economical driving....................................269
Floormats..........................................271
Roadside Emergencies 276
Getting roadside assistance..............................276
Hazard flasher control..................................278
Fuel cut-off switch....................................278
Jump-starting the vehicle...............................279
Customer Assistance 282
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only).......................289
Reporting safety defects (Canada only).....................289
Fuses 290
Changing a fuse......................................290
Fuse specification chart................................291
Upfitter controls......................................300
Table of Contents5
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

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)

SYMBOL GLOSSARY
WARNING:You risk death or serious injury to yourself and
others if you do not follow the instruction highlighted by the
warning symbol.
These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.
Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Safety alertSee Owner’s
ManualAnti-lock
braking
system
Avoid
smoking,
flames, or
sparksBatteryBattery acid
Brake fluid –
non
petroleum
baseBrake systemCabin air
filter
Check fuel
capChild Safety
Door Lock
and UnlockChild seat
lower anchor
Child seat
tether anchorCruise
controlDo not open
when hot
Engine air
filterEngine
coolantEngine
coolant
temperature
Engine oilExplosive gasFan warning
Fasten safety
beltFront airbagFront fog
lamps
10Introduction
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Fuel pump
resetFuse
compartmentHazard
warning
flasher
Heated rear
windowInterior
luggage
compartment
releaseJack
Lighting
controlLow tire
pressure
warningMaintain
correct fluid
level
Panic alarmParking aid
systemParking
brake system
Power
steering fluidPower
windows
front and
rearPower
window
lockout
Service
engine soonSide airbagStability
control
Windshield
defrost and
demistWindshield
washer and
wiper
Introduction11
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
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Note: EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial
crash situation occurs; no data is recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal data or information
(e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) is recorded (see
limitations regarding 911 Assist and Traffic, Directions and
Information privacy below). However, parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have such special equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR. Ford Motor Company and Ford of
Canada do not access event data recorder information without
obtaining consent, unless pursuant to court order or where
required by law enforcement, other government authorities or
other third parties acting with lawful authority. Other parties may
seek to access the information independently of Ford Motor
Company and Ford of Canada.
Note: Including to the extent that any law pertaining to Event
Data Recorders applies to SYNC® or its features, please note the
following: Once 911 Assist (if equipped) is enabled (set ON), 911
Assist may, through any paired and connected cell phone, disclose
to emergency services that the vehicle has been in a crash
involving the deployment of an airbag or, in certain vehicles, the
activation of the fuel pump shut-off. Certain versions or updates
to 911 Assist may also be capable of being used to electronically
or verbally provide to 911 operators the vehicle location (such as
latitude and longitude), and/or other details about the vehicle or
crash or personal information about the occupants to assist 911
operators to provide the most appropriate emergency services.
If you do not want to disclose this information, do not activate
the 911 Assist feature. See your SYNC® chapter for more
information.
Introduction13
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Special Instructions
For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted with sophisticated electronic
controls.
WARNING:Please read theSupplementary Restraints System
chapter. Failure to follow the specific warnings and instructions
could result in personal injury.
WARNING:Front seat mounted rear-facing child or infant seats
shouldNEVERbe placed in front of an active passenger airbag.
Using your vehicle with a snowplow
For more information and guidelines for using your vehicle with a
snowplow, refer to theSnowplowsection in theDriving Hintschapter.
Using your vehicle as an ambulance
If your light truck is equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation
Package, it may be utilized as an ambulance. Ford urges ambulance
manufacturers to follow the recommendations of theFord Incomplete
Vehicle Manual, Ford Truck Body Builder’s Layout Bookand the
Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM) Guidelinesas well as pertinent
supplements. For additional information, please contact the Truck Body
Builders Advisory Service at http://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/ and
then by selecting “Contact Us” or by phone at 1–877–840–4338.
Use of your Ford light truck as an ambulance, without the Ford
Ambulance Preparation Package voids the Ford New Vehicle Limited
Warranty and may void the Emissions Warranties. In addition, ambulance
usage without the preparation package could cause high underbody
temperatures, overpressurized fuel and a risk of spraying fuel which
could lead to fires.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Ford Ambulance Preparation
Package, it will be indicated on the Safety Compliance Certification
Label. The label is located on the driver’s side door pillar or on the rear
edge of the driver’s door. You can determine whether the ambulance
manufacturer followed Ford’s recommendations by directly contacting
that manufacturer. Ford Ambulance Preparation Package is only available
on certain Diesel engine equipped vehicles.
16Introduction
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Car Finder
Press the button twice within three seconds. The horn will sound
and the turn signals will flash. We recommend you use this
method to locate your vehicle, rather than using the panic alarm.
Sounding a Panic Alarm
Press the button to activate the alarm. Press the button again
or switch the ignition on to deactivate.
Note:The panic alarm will only operate when the ignition is off.
Remote Start (If Equipped)
WARNING:To avoid exhaust fumes, do not use remote start if
your vehicle is parked indoors or areas that are not well ventilated.
Note:Do not use remote start if your vehicle is low on fuel.
The remote start button is on the transmitter.
This feature allows you to start your vehicle from outside your vehicle.
The transmitter has an extended operating range.
Vehicles with automatic climate control can be configured to operate
when the vehicle is remote started. See theClimate Controlchapter for
more information. A manual climate control system will run at the setting
it was set to when your vehicle was last turned off.
Many states and provinces have restrictions for the use of remote start.
Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements
regarding remote start systems.
The remote start system will not work if:
•the ignition is on
•the alarm system is triggered
•you disable the feature
•the hood is not closed
•the transmission is not inP
•the vehicle battery voltage is too low
•the service engine soon light is on.
64Keys and Remote Control
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
MyKey allows you to program keys with restricted driving modes to
promote good driving habits. All but one of the keys programmed to the
vehicle can be activated with these restricted modes.
Any keys that have not been programmed are referred to as
administrator keys or admin keys. These can be used to:
•create a MyKey
•program configurable MyKey settings
•clear all MyKey features.
When you have programmed a MyKey, you can access the following
information using the information display:
•How many admin keys and MyKeys are programmed to your vehicle.
•The total distance your vehicle has traveled using a MyKey.
Note:All MyKeys are programmed to the same settings. You cannot
program them individually.
Note:For vehicles with intelligent access key (push-button start)
keyless start, when both a MyKey and an admin intelligent access key
(fob) are present, the admin fob will be recognized by the vehicle to
start the engine.
Standard Settings
These settings activate automatically with a programmed MyKey:
•Belt-Minder. The audible safety belt warning tones continue and do
not time out after approximately five minutes. The audio system also
mutes until drivers and front passengers fasten their safety belts.
(Not available in vehicles equipped with AM/FM only audio systems.)
•Early low fuel. The low-fuel warning activates earlier, giving MyKey
drivers more time to refuel.
•Driver assist features, if equipped, remain on and active: Parking aid,
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert and the
Collision Warning System.
MyKey67
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)

Telescoping Mirrors (If Equipped)
This feature allows the mirror to
extend approximately 3 inches
(75 millimeters). It is especially
useful when towing a trailer. The
mirrors can be manually pulled out
or pushed in to the desired position.
PowerScope® Power Telescoping Mirrors (If Equipped)
This feature lets you position
both mirrors at the same time.
The switch is on the door trim
panel.
To telescope the mirrors out, press and hold the left side of the switch.
When the mirrors are fully extended, it is normal to hear the telescoping
motors running as long as you continue to hold the switch.
To telescope the mirrors in, press and hold the right side of the switch.
INTERIOR MIRROR
WARNING:Do not adjust the mirror when your vehicle is
moving.
Note:Do not clean the housing or glass of any mirror with harsh
abrasives, fuel or other petroleum or ammonia based cleaning products.
You can adjust the interior mirror to your preference. Some mirrors also
have a second pivot point. This lets you move the mirror head up or
down and from side to side.
Pull the tab below the mirror toward you to reduce glare at night.
94Windows and Mirrors
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)