2004 FORD F250 transmission fluid

Engine oil pressure gauge:
Indicates engine oil pressure. The
needle should stay in the normal
operating range (between“L”and
“H”). If the needle falls below the
normal range, stop the vehicle, turn
off the engine and check the engine
oil level. Add oil if needed. If the oil
level is correct, have your vehicle
checked at your dealership or by a
qualified technician.
Fuel gauge:Indicates
approximately how much fuel is left
in the fuel tank (when the ignition
is in the ON position). The fuel
gauge may vary slightly when the
vehicle is in motion or on a grade.
Refer toFilling the tankin the
Maintenance and Specifications
chapter for more information.
Transmission fluid temperature gauge (automatic transmission
only):If the gauge is in the:
White area(normal) - the
transmission fluid is within the
normal operating temperature
(between“H”and“C”).
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
18

Yellow area(warning)—the
transmission fluid is higher than
normal operating temperature. This
can be caused by special operation
conditions (i.e. snowplowing, towing
or off road use). Refer toSpecial
Operating Conditionsin the
Scheduled Maintenance Guidefor
instructions. Operating the
transmission for extended periods of
time with the gauge in the yellow
area may cause internal transmission damage.
Altering the severity of the driving conditions is recommended to lower
the transmission temperature into the normal range.
Red area(over temperature)—
the transmission fluid is overheating.
Stop the vehicle to allow the
temperature to return to normal
range.
If the gauge is operating in the Yellow or Red area, stop the vehicle and
verify the airflow is not restricted such as snow or debris blocking airflow
through the grill. If the gauge continues to show high temperatures, see
your Ford dealer.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Instrument Cluster
19

Vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as utility and
four-wheel drive vehicles handle differently than vehicles with a
lower center of gravity. Utility and four-wheel drive vehicles arenot
designed for cornering at speeds as high as passenger cars any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Avoid sharp turns, excessive speed and abrupt
maneuvers in these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously could result in
an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
If your vehicle gets stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in mud or snow it may be rocked out by
shifting between forward and reverse gears, stopping between shifts, in a
steady pattern. Press lightly on the accelerator in each gear.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature or damage to the transmission may occur.
Do not rock the vehicle for more than a few minutes or damage
to the transmission and tires may occur or the engine may
overheat.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (56 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Refer toTransmission temperature gaugein theInstrument Cluster
chapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
Emergency maneuvers
•In an unavoidable emergency situation where a sudden sharp turn
must be made, remember to avoid“over-driving”your vehicle, i.e.,
turn the steering wheel only as rapidly and as far as required to avoid
the emergency. Excessive steering will result in less vehicle control,
not more. Additionally, smooth variations of the accelerator and/or
brake pedal pressure should be utilized if changes in vehicle speed are
called for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration or braking which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover
and/or personal injury. Use all available road surface to return the
vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
•In the event of an emergency stop, avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel movements.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
153

Once through water, always try the brakes. Wet brakes do not stop the
vehicle as effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be improved by moving
your vehicle slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle speed or direction when you
are driving in mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction in slick mud. As
when you are driving over sand, apply the accelerator slowly and avoid
spinning your wheels. If the vehicle does slide, steer in the direction of
the slide until you regain control of the vehicle.
If the transmission, transfer case or front axle are submerged in water,
their fluids should be checked and changed, if necessary.
Driving through deep water may damage the transmission.
Refer toTransmission temperature gaugein theInstrument Cluster
chapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
If the front or rear axle is submerged in water, the axle lubricant should
be replaced.
After driving through mud, clean off residue stuck to rotating driveshafts
and tires. Excess mud stuck on tires and rotating driveshafts causes an
imbalance that could damage drive components.
“Tread Lightly”is an educational
program designed to increase public
awareness of land-use regulations
and responsibilities in our nations
wilderness areas. Ford Motor
Company joins the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management in encouraging you to help preserve our national forest and
other public and private lands by“treading lightly.”
Driving on hilly or sloping terrain
Although natural obstacles may make it necessary to travel diagonally up
or down a hill or steep incline, you should always try to drive straight up
or straight down.Avoid driving crosswise or turning on steep
slopes or hills. A danger lies in losing traction, slipping sideways and
possibly rolling over. Whenever driving on a hill, determine beforehand
the route you will use. Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other side. Do not drive in reverse
over a hill without the aid of an observer.
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
156

and adversely affect driver and passenger safety. Frequent inspection of
vehicle chassis components is recommended if the vehicle is subjected to
heavy off-road usage.
USING YOUR VEHICLE AS A STATIONARY POWER SOURCE
(PTO)
Some automatic transmission vehicles may be equipped with a
Transmission Power Take-Off Provision, Option Code 62R. These
vehicles have a special transmission that includes a port on the left hand
side to mount an aftermarket PTO, an internal PTO gear, and calibration
for PTO usage. The actual PTO and related equipment is not offered by
Ford Motor Company, but is installed by the aftermarket.
The PTO gear in the transmission will drive the aftermarket PTO while
driving the vehicle. Therefore, some additional gear noise that may result
is normal. Also, the transmission upshift and downshift schedules will be
reduced by about 15% and may result in a firmer shift feel during PTO
mobile applications.
A more complete description of PTO operation is discussed in theFord
Truck Body Builders Layout Book,found at
www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas.
Note:PTO applications draw auxiliary horsepower from the powertrain,
often while the vehicle is stationary. In this condition there is limited
cooling air flow through the radiator and around the vehicle that
normally occurs when a vehicle is moving. Depending on the level of
auxiliary horsepower draw and for how long, vehicle and surrounding
environmental conditions, and other factors, this can contribute to
elevated transmission fluid temperatures and resultant accelerated fluid
aging, fuel vapor over-pressurization, and other concerns. Ford trucks are
fully qualified for stationary PTO operation for 10 minutes or less of
continuous operation. For extended duration stationary PTO operation
(beyond 10 minutes) diesel engine is recommended, and further consult
your aftermarket PTO installer.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
If driving through deep or standing water is unavoidable, proceed very
slowly especially when the depth is not known. Never drive through
water that is higher than the bottom of the hubs (for trucks) or the
bottom of the wheel rims (for cars). When driving through water,
traction or brake capability may be limited. Also, water may enter your
engine’s air intake and severely damage your engine or your vehicle may
stall.Driving through deep water where the transmission vent
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
160

Your vehicle’s load capacity is designated by weight, not by volume, so
you cannot necessarily use all available space when loading a vehicle.
Towing a trailer places an additional load on your vehicle’s engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires and suspension. Inspect these
components carefully prior to and after any towing operation. The
following trailer towing charts apply to vehicles equipped with gasoline
engines; for Diesel engines, refer to your6.0 Liter Power Stroke Direct
Injection Turbo Diesel Owner’s Guide Supplement.
Note:Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended gross trailer
weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could result in
engine damage, transmission damage, structural damage, loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a temporary or conventional spare
tire. If the spare tire is different in size (diameter and/or width), tread
type (All-Season or All-Terrain) or is from a different manufacturer other
than the road tires on your vehicle, your spare tire is considered
“temporary”. Consult information on the spare tire label for limitations
when using.
Refer toTransmission temperature gaugein theInstrument Cluster
chapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
F-250 Regular Cab Pickup
Engine Rear axle
ratioMaximum GCWR -
lbs. (kg)Maximum
trailer weight -
lbs. (kg)
4x2 with manual transmission
5.4L 3.73 13500 (6123) 7800 (3537)
5.4L 4.10 15000 (6804) 9300 (4217)
6.8L 3.73 16500 (7484) 10600 (4807)
6.8L
(without
fifth wheel)4.30 20000 (9072) 12500 (5670)
6.8L (with
fifth wheel)4.30 20000 (9072) 14100 (6394)
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
165

ALL REAR WHEEL DRIVE (RWD) VEHICLES
This applies to all cars and 4x2 trucks/sport utilities with rear wheel
drive capability.
An example of recreational towing is towing your vehicle behind a
motorhome. The following recreational towing guidelines are designed to
ensure that your transmission is not damaged.
•Place the transmission in N (Neutral).
•Maximum speed is 35 mph (56 km/h).
•Maximum distance is 50 miles (80 km).
If a distance of 50 miles (80 km) or a speed of 35 mph (56 km/h) must
be exceeded, you must disconnect the driveshaft. Ford recommends the
driveshaft be removed/installed only by a qualified technician. See your
local dealer for driveshaft removal/installation.
Improper removal/installation of the driveshaft can cause
transmission fluid loss, damage to the driveshaft and internal
transmission components.
RWD vehicles with 4x4 electronic shift transfer case or All Wheel
Drive (AWD) vehicles with automatic transmissions:
Regarding recreational towing or having your vehicle towed, 4x4 vehicles
with electronic shift on the fly and AWD vehicles cannot be towed with
any wheels on the ground (with the exception of moving it as a disabled
vehicle off the road out of traffic).
SNOWPLOWING
Ford recommends that the Super Duty F-Series used for snow removal
include the Snow Plow Package Option. This option is available on 4x4
only, and includes the following upgrades:
•Highest Front GAWR
•Front steering damper (F-250/350)
Installing the snowplow
Weight limits and guidelines for selecting and installing the snowplow can
be found in theFord Truck Body Builders Layout Book, Snowplow
section, found at www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas. A typical installation
affects the following:
•Certification to government safety laws such as occupant protection
and air bag deployment, braking, and lighting. Look for anAlterer’s
Labelon the vehicle from the snowplow installer certifying that the
installation meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (FMVSS).
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
188

•The Total Accessory Reserve Capacity (TARC) is shown on the lower
right side of the vehicle’s Safety Certification Label. This applies to
Ford-completed vehicles of 10,000 lb. GVWR or less. This is the
weight of permanently-attached auxiliary equipment, such as
snowplow frame-mounting hardware, that can be added to the vehicle
and satisfy Ford compliance certification to FMVSS. Exceeding this
weight may require the auxiliary equipment installer additional safety
certification responsibility. The Front Accessory Reserve Capacity
(FARC) is added for customer convenience.
•Rear ballast weight behind the rear axle may be required to prevent
exceeding the FGAWR, and provide front-to-rear weight balance for
proper braking and steering.
•Front wheel toe may require re-adjustment to prevent premature
uneven tire wear. Specifications are found in the FordWorkshop
Manual.
•Headlight aim may require re-adjustment.
•The tire air pressures recommended for general driving are found on
the vehicle’s Safety Certification Label. The maximum cold inflation
pressure for the tire and associated load rating is imprinted on the tire
sidewall. Tire air pressure may require re-adjustment within these
pressure limits to accommodate the additional weight of the snowplow
installation.
•Federal and some local regulations require additional exterior lamps
for snowplow-equipped vehicles. Consult your dealer for additional
information.
Operating the vehicle with the snowplow attached
Do not use your vehicle for snow removal until it has been driven at
least 500 miles (800 km).
The attached snowplow blade restricts airflow to the radiator, and may
cause the engine to run at a higher temperature:
•If you are driving more than 15 miles (24 km) where outside air
temperatures are above freezing, then angle the plow blade to full left
or right to maximize airflow to the radiator.
•If you are driving less than 15 miles (24 km) at speeds up to 40 mph
(64 km/h) in cold weather you will not need to adjust blade position
Follow the severe duty schedule in yourScheduled Maintenance Guide
for engine oil and transmission fluid change intervals.
Snowplowing with your air bag-equipped vehicle
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver and passenger air bag
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) The SRS is designed to activate in
2004 F250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Driving
189