2002 FORD F SERIES MOTORHOME AND COMMERCIAL CHASSIS towing

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 toLubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle scheduled maintenance guide.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
0.4 km/L [1 mpg] is lost for every 180 kg [400 lb] 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.
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
12–16 km (8–10 miles) 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.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA window sticker
Every new vehicle should have the EPA window sticker. Contact your
dealer if the window sticker is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA
window sticker should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons
with other vehicles.
It is important to note the box in the lower left corner of the window
sticker. These numbers represent the Range of L/100 km (MPG)
expected on the vehicle under optimum conditions. Your fuel economy
may vary depending upon the method of operation and conditions.
Maintenance and specifications
81

4. Use only a DOT 3 brake fluid certified to meet Ford specification
ESA-M6C25–A. Refer toLubricant specificationsin this chapter.
Brake fluid is toxic. If brake fluid contacts the eyes, flush eyes
with running water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if
irritation persists. If taken internally, drink water and induce vomiting.
Seek medical attention immediately.
If you use a brake fluid that is not DOT 3, you will cause
permanent damage to your brakes.
Do not let the reservoir for the master cylinder run dry. This
may cause the brakes to fail.
Brake system fluid should be replaced on a regular basis to maintain
optimum braking performance, especially under heavy-duty driving
conditions such as frequent steep grades or heavy towing loads. Refer to
the scheduled maintenance guide for the service interval schedules.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Checking automatic transmission fluid (if equipped)
Refer to your scheduled maintenance guide for scheduled intervals for
fluid checks and changes. Your transmission does not consume fluid.
However, the fluid level should be checked if the transmission is not
working properly, i.e., if the transmission slips or shifts slowly or if you
notice some sign of fluid leakage.
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an
accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is at normal operating
temperature (approximately 30 km [20 miles]). If your vehicle has been
operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic during hot
weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be turned off for about 30
minutes to allow fluid to cool before checking.
1. Drive the vehicle 30 km (20 miles) or until it reaches normal operating
temperature.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
Maintenance and specifications
86

I
Ignition ...................................22, 99
Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ................................83
Instrument panel
cluster ..........................................7
lighting up panel
and interior ...............................16
J
Jack ..............................................48
positioning .................................48
storage .......................................48
Jump-starting your vehicle ........51
K
Keys
key in ignition chime ...............11
positions of the ignition ...........22
L
Lamps
cargo lamps ...............................16
daytime running light ...............15
headlamps .................................15
headlamps, flash to pass ..........16
instrument panel, dimming .....16
replacing bulbs .........................16
Lights, warning and indicator ......7
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ........9, 28
brake ............................................9
charging system ........................10
check coolant ............................10
door ajar ....................................11
engine oil pressure ...................10
fuel reset ...................................10high beam .................................11
low fuel ......................................10
safety belt ...................................9
service engine soon ....................7
turn signal indicator .................10
Load limits ...................................34
GAWR ........................................34
GVWR ........................................34
trailer towing ............................34
Lubricant specifications .......97, 99
M
Motorcraft parts ....................76, 95
O
Octane rating ..............................74
Odometer .....................................14
Oil (see Engine oil) ....................61
Overdrive .....................................21
P
Parking brake ..............................29
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ......95
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) .................................44
Power steering
fluid, checking and adding ......84
fluid, refill capacity ..................95
fluid, specifications .............97, 99
R
Relays ....................................41, 48
Index
103

S
Safety belts
(see Safety restraints) ...............11
Safety defects, reporting ..........100
Safety restraints
warning light and chime ......9, 11
Servicing your vehicle ................59
Spark plugs, specifications ...95, 99
Special notice ..........................4, 57
Specification chart,
lubricants ...............................97, 99
Speed control ..............................17
Speedometer ...............................13
Starting your vehicle ............22–24
jump starting ............................51
Steering wheel
controls ......................................17
T
Tachometer .................................14
Tires .................................48, 90, 92
changing ....................................48
replacing ..............................49, 93
rotating ......................................93
snow tires and chains ..............94
tire grades .................................91treadwear ..................................90
Towing .........................................36
trailer towing ............................36
wrecker ......................................56
Transmission ...............................30
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) ...............................86
fluid, refill capacities ................95
lubricant specifications ......97, 99
Trip odometer .............................14
Turn signal ..................................10
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ............................................99
Vehicle loading ............................34
Ventilating your vehicle .............26
W
Warning chimes ...........................11
Warning lights (see Lights) .........7
Water, Driving through ...............33
Windshield washer fluid
and wipers
operation ...................................17
Wrecker towing ...........................56
Index
104