
regular grade fuel. In Canada, many fuels contain metallic additives, but
fuels free of such additives may be available; check with your local fuel
dealer.
Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can damage critical fuel system
components.
Repairs to correct the effects of using a fuel for which your vehicle was
not designed may not be covered by your warranty.
Cleaner air
Ford endorses the use of reformulated “cleaner-burning” gasolines to
improve air quality.
Octane recommendations
Your vehicle is designed to use
“Regular” unleaded gasoline with
pump (R+M)/2 octane rating of 87.
We do not recommend the use of
gasolines labeled as “Regular” that
are sold with octane ratings of 86 or lower in high altitude areas.
Do not be concerned if your engine sometimes knocks lightly. However, if
it knocks heavily under most driving conditions while you are using fuel
with the recommended octane rating, see your authorized dealer to
prevent any engine damage.
Fuel quality
If you are experiencing starting, rough idle or hesitation driveability
problems, try a different brand of unleaded gasoline. “Premium”
unleaded gasoline is not recommended for vehicles designed to use
“Regular” unleaded gasoline because it may cause these problems to
become more pronounced. If the problems persist, see your authorized
dealer.
It should not be necessary to add any aftermarket products to your fuel
tank if you continue to use high quality fuel of the recommended octane
rating. Aftermarket products could cause damage to the fuel system.
Repairs to correct the effects of using an aftermarket product in your
fuel may not be covered by your warranty.
Many of the world’s automakers approved the World-wide Fuel Charter
that recommends gasoline specifications to provide improved
performance and emission control system protection for your vehicle.
Gasolines that meet the World-wide Fuel Charter should be used when
available. Ask your fuel supplier about gasolines that meet the
World-wide Fuel Charter.
87(R+M)/2 METHOD
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Maintenance and Specifications
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Running out of fuel
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse
effect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
•You may need to cycle the ignition from off to on several times after
refueling, to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to
the engine.
•The
indicator may come on. For more information on the “Check
Engine” or the “Service engine soon” indicator, refer toWarning
lights and chimesin theInstrument Clusterchapter.
ESSENTIALS OF GOOD FUEL ECONOMY
Measuring techniques
Your best source of information about actual fuel economy is you, the
driver. You must gather information as accurately and consistently as
possible. Fuel expense, frequency of fill-ups or fuel gauge readings are
NOT accurate as a measure of fuel economy. We do not recommend
taking fuel economy measurements during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km)
of driving (engine break-in period). You will get a more accurate
measurement after 2,000 miles-3,000 miles (3,000 km–5,000 km).
Filling the tank
The advertised fuel capacity of the fuel tank on your vehicle is equal to
the rated refill capacity of the fuel tank as listed in theRefill capacities
section of this chapter.
The advertised capacity is the amount of the indicated capacity and the
empty reserve combined. Indicated capacity is the difference in the
amount of fuel in a full tank and a tank when the fuel gauge indicates
empty. Empty reserve is the small amount of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank after the fuel gauge indicates empty.
The amount of usable fuel in the empty reserve varies and should
not be relied upon to increase driving range. When refueling your
vehicle after the fuel gauge indicates empty, you might not be
able to refuel the full amount of the advertised capacity of the
fuel tank due to the empty reserve still present in the tank.
For consistent results when filling the fuel tank:
•Turn the engine/ignition switch to the off position prior to refueling,
an error in the reading may result if the engine is left running.
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Maintenance and Specifications
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•Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
•Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
•Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
•Slow down gradually.
•Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses
15% less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
•Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
•Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
•You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gear occurs.
Unnecessary shifting of this type could result in reduced fuel
economy.
•Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may
reduce fuel economy.
•Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
•Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
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 inscheduled maintenance information.
Conditions
•Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may reduce fuel economy
at any speed.
•Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel economy (approximately
1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is lost for every 400 lb [180 kg] 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.
2006 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
299

A
Accessory delay ..........................71
Air cleaner filter ...............310, 312
Air conditioning ....................46, 49
Airbag supplemental
restraint system ................136–137
and child safety seats ............139
description ..............................137
disposal ....................................141
driver airbag ....................137, 140
indicator light .........................141
operation .........................137, 140
passenger airbag .............137, 140
Ambulance packages ....................8
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................286
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................205
Armrests ....................................113
Audio system
(see Radio) ................22, 24, 28, 33
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .................................212
fluid, adding ............................305
fluid, checking ........................305
fluid, refill capacities ..............313
fluid, specification ..................319
Axle
lubricant specifications ..316, 319
refill capacities ........................313
traction lok ..............................209
B
Battery .......................................284
acid, treating emergencies .....284
jumping a disabled battery ....251maintenance-free ....................284
replacement, specifications ...312
servicing ..................................284
Bed extender ..............................94
Brakes ........................................205
anti-lock ...................................205
anti-lock brake system
(ABS) warning light ...............206
fluid, checking and adding ....304
fluid, refill capacities ..............313
fluid, specifications .........316, 319
lubricant
specifications ..................316, 319
parking ....................................206
shift interlock ..................209–210
Bulbs ............................................59
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....313
Cell phone use ..............................9
Changing a tire .........................244
Child safety restraints ..............146
child safety belts ....................146
Child safety seats ......................150
attaching with tether straps ..158
in front seat ....................151, 154
in rear seat ..............151, 154, 158
Cleaning your vehicle
engine compartment ..............265
instrument panel ....................268
interior .....................................269
interior trim ............................269
plastic parts ............................267
safety belts ..............................269
washing ....................................264
waxing .....................................264
wheels ......................................265
wiper blades ............................267
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
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Index
329

Inspection/maintenance
(I/M) testing ..............................302
Instrument panel
cleaning ...................................268
cluster ........................................12
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................55
J
Jack ............................................244
positioning ...............................244
storage .....................................244
Jump-starting your vehicle ......251
K
Keyless entry system ...............106
autolock ...................................104
programming entry code .......107
Keys ...........................................109
positions of the ignition .........201
L
Lamps
autolamp system .......................53
bulb replacement
specifications chart ..................59
daytime running light ...............54
fog lamps ...................................55
headlamps .................................53
headlamps, flash to pass ..........54
instrument panel, dimming .....55
interior lamps .....................57–58
replacing bulbs ...................60, 63
Lane change indicator
(see Turn signal) ........................57
Lights, warning and indicator ....12
anti-lock brakes (ABS) ..........206
Load limits .................................180Loading instructions .................187
Locks
autolock ...................................104
childproof ..................................97
Lubricant specifications ...316, 319
Lug nuts ....................................250
Lumbar support, seats .............113
M
Manual transmission .................215
reverse .....................................217
Message center ...........................84
english/metric button ...............89
system check button ................88
warning messages .....................90
Mirrors ...................................65, 72
automatic dimming
rearview mirror .........................71
fold away ...................................72
heated ........................................73
programmable memory ....99, 115
side view mirrors (power) .......72
signal .........................................73
Moon roof ....................................77
Motorcraft parts ........272, 292, 312
O
Octane rating ............................296
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................280
P
Parking brake ............................206
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....312
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................118
2006 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
332