2008 FORD SUPER DUTY tires

Descend a hill in the same gear you
would use to climb up the hill to
avoid excessive brake application
and brake overheating. Do not
descend in neutral; instead,
manually shift to a lower gear. Your
vehicle has anti-lock brakes, apply
the brakes steadily. Do not “pump”
the brakes.
Driving on snow and ice
4WD vehicles have advantages over 2WD vehicles in snow and ice but
can skid like any other vehicle.
Should you start to slide while driving on snowy or icy roads, turn the
steering wheel in the direction of the slide until you regain control.
Avoid sudden applications of power and quick changes of direction on
snow and ice. Apply the accelerator slowly and steadily when starting
from a full stop.
Avoid sudden braking as well. Although a 4WD vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in snow and ice, it won’t stop any
faster, because as in other vehicles, braking occurs at all four wheels. Do
not become overconfident as to road conditions.
Make sure you allow sufficient distance between you and other vehicles
for stopping. Drive slower than usual and consider using one of the lower
gears. In emergency stopping situations, avoid locking of the wheels. Use
a “squeeze” technique, push on the brake pedal with a steadily increasing
force which allows the wheels to brake yet continue to roll so that you
may steer in the direction you want to travel. If you lock the wheels,
release the brake pedal and repeat the squeeze technique. If your vehicle
is equipped with a Four Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), apply the
brake steadily. Do not “pump” the brakes. Refer to theBrakessection of
this chapter for additional information on the operation of the anti-lock
brake system.
Never drive with chains on the front tires of 4WD vehicles without also
putting them on the rear tires. This could cause the rear to slide and
swing around during braking.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
260

All occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, should always
properly wear their safety belts, even when an air bag
supplemental restraint system (SRS) is provided.
Never remove or defeat the “tripping mechanisms” designed into the
snow removal equipment by its manufacturer. Doing so may cause
damage to the vehicle and the snow removal equipment as well as
possible airbag deployment.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the air bag
supplemental restraint system (SRS) or its fuses. See your Ford
or Lincoln Mercury dealer.
Additional equipment such as snowplow equipment may effect
the performance of the airbag sensors increasing the risk of
injury. Please refer to theFord Truck Body Builders Layout Bookfor
instructions about the appropriate installation of additional equipment.
Transmission operation while plowing
Operate the vehicle with the automatic transmission gearshift lever in
the D (Overdrive) position and Tow/Haul OFF.
•Shift transfer case to 4x4 LOW when plowing in small areas at speeds
below 5 mph (8 km/h).
•Shift transfer case to 4x4 HIGH when plowing larger areas or light
snow at higher speeds. Do not exceed 15 mph (24 km/h).
•Do not shift the transmission from a forward gear to R (Reverse) until
the engine is at idle and the wheels are stopped.
•If the vehicle is stuck, shift the transmission in a steady motion
between forward and reverse gears. Do not rock the vehicle for more
than a few minutes. The transmission and tires may be damaged or
the engine can overheat.
Do not rock the vehicle if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature. Do not rock the vehicle for more than a minute. The
transmission and tires may be damaged or the engine may overheat.
Refer toTransmission fluid temperature gaugein theInstrument
Clusterchapter for transmission fluid temperature information.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35 mph (55 km/h). The tires may
fail and injure a passenger or bystander.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Driving
264

The use of tire sealants may damage your tires.
Dissimilar spare tire/wheel information
Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel, then it is intended for
temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it, you should
replace it as soon as possible with a road tire/wheel that is the same size
and type as the road tires and wheels that were originally provided by
Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is damaged, it should be
replaced rather than repaired.
A dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that
is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
1.T-type mini-spare:This spare tire begins with the letter “T” for tire
size and may have “Temporary Use Only” molded in the sidewall
2.Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel:This spare tire has
a label on the wheel that states: “THIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above,do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
•Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location can lead to impairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Roadside Emergencies
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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 toMaintenance Product
Specifications and Capacitiesin this chapter.
•Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in your vehicle’sscheduled 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.
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
337

fluid, checking and adding ....340
fluid, refill capacity ................352
Power Windows ...........................98
Preparing to drive
your vehicle ...............................239
R
Radio ................................22, 24, 30
Rear seat entertainment
system ..........................................43
Relays ........................................268
Remote entry system ...............141
illuminated entry ............144, 146
locking/unlocking doors .........136
Reverse sensing system ...........246
Roadside assistance ..................265
S
Safety Belt Maintenance ..........170
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) ..........158, 160–162, 164
Safety defects,
reporting ............................304–305
Safety
restraints ...........158, 160–162, 164
Belt-Minder
...........................167
extension assembly ................170
for adults .................160–162, 164
for children .....................180–181
lap belt ....................................166
safety belt maintenance .........170
warning light and
chime ...............................166–167
Safety seats for children ..........184
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................357Satellite Radio Information ........40
Seat belts
(see Safety restraints) .............158
Seats ..........................................151
child safety seats ....................184
cleaning ...................................311
heated ........................................75
memory seat ...................142, 156
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................148–149
Servicing your vehicle ..............314
Setting the clock
AM/FM/CD .................................25
AM/FM/In-dash 6 CD ................31
Snowplowing .................8, 262–264
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................350, 356
Special notice ................................9
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............8
utility-type vehicles ....................8
Speed control ............................104
Starting your vehicle ........231–233
jump starting ..........................290
Steering wheel
controls ....................................107
tilting .........................................95
T
Tailgate ......................................131
Tilt steering wheel ......................95
Tires ...................................194–195
alignment ................................204
care ..........................................200
changing ..........................279, 282
checking the pressure ............199
inflating ...................................196
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
365

label .........................................211
replacing ..................................202
rotating ....................................204
safety practices .......................203
sidewall information ...............206
snow tires and chains ............211
spare tire .................................278
terminology .............................195
tire grades ...............................195
treadwear ........................194, 201
Towing .......................................219
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ..............223
trailer towing ..........................219
wrecker ....................................296
Traction control ........................237
Traction-lok rear axle ...............239
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................223
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................348
Transmission
automatic operation .........95, 240
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....240
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................343
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................347fluid, refill capacities ..............352
manual operation ....................244
Turn signal ..................................85
U
Upfitter controls .......................109
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................357
Vehicle loading ..........................212
Ventilating your vehicle ...........234
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......12
Washer fluid ..............................318
Water, Driving through .............262
Windows
power .........................................98
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................94
checking and adding fluid .....318
replacing wiper blades ...........318
Wrecker towing .........................296
2008 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Index
366