
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 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.
•To maximize the fuel economy, drive with the tonneau cover installed
(if equipped).
•Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel economy.
•Fuel economy may decrease with lower temperatures during the first
8–10 miles (12–16 km) 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.
•Four-wheel-drive operation (if equipped) is less fuel efficient than
two-wheel-drive operation.
•Close windows for high speed driving.
EPA fuel economy estimates
Every new vehicle should have a window sticker containing EPA fuel
economy estimates. Contact your authorized dealer if the window sticker
is not supplied with your vehicle. The EPA fuel economy estimates
should be your guide for the fuel economy comparisons with other
vehicles. Your fuel economy may vary depending upon the method of
operation and conditions.
2009 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
378

A
Accessory delay ..........................74
AdvanceTrac ..............................271
Air cleaner filter ...............386, 389
Air conditioning ........41, 44, 46, 49
manual heating and air
conditioning system .................41
Airbag supplemental restraint
system ................178–179, 186, 189
and child safety seats ............180
description ..............179, 186, 189
disposal ....................................192
driver airbag ....179, 181, 187, 190
indicator light .........182, 188, 191
operation .........179, 181, 187, 190
passenger
airbag ...............179, 181, 187, 190
side airbag ...............................186
Ambulance packages ....................7
AM/FM .........................................24
Antifreeze
(see Engine coolant) ................362
Anti-lock brake system
(see Brakes) ..............................269
Anti-theft system ......................140
arming the system ..................141
Armrests ....................................147
Audio system (see Radio) ...22, 24
Automatic transmission
driving an automatic
overdrive .........................283, 286
fluid, adding ....................383, 385
fluid, checking ................383, 385
fluid, refill capacities ..............390
fluid, specification ..................390
Auxiliary input jack (Line in) ....32Axle
lubricant specifications ..........390
refill capacities ........................390
B
Battery .......................................360
acid, treating emergencies .....360
jumping a disabled battery ....328
maintenance-free ....................360
replacement, specifications ...389
servicing ..................................360
Belt-Minder.............................173
deactivating/activating the
Belt-Minder...........................176
Booster seats .............................210
Brakes ........................................269
anti-lock ...................................269
anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light ...........................270
fluid, checking and adding ....382
fluid, refill capacities ..............390
fluid, specifications .................390
lubricant specifications ..........390
parking ....................................270
shift interlock ..................278, 281
trailer .......................................254
Bulbs ............................................59
C
Capacities for refilling fluids ....390
Cargo management system ......119
CD ................................................24
Cell phone use ..............................8
Changing a tire .........................319
Child safety seats ......................196
attaching with tether straps ..206
in front seat ....................197, 203
2009 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
399

fail-safe cooling .......................366
idle speed control ...................360
lubrication specifications .......390
refill capacities ........................390
service points ..................354–355
Engine block heater .................267
Engine oil ..................................357
checking and adding ..............357
dipstick ....................................357
filter, specifications ........359, 389
recommendations ...................359
refill capacities ........................390
specifications ..........................390
Event data recording ....................7
Exhaust fumes ..........................267
F
Fail safe cooling ........................366
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....368
Floor mats .................................112
Fluid capacities .........................390
Fog lamps ....................................55
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......293
driving off road .......................298
electronic shift ........................296
indicator light .........................294
lever operated shift ................294
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................278
Fuel ............................................368
calculating fuel
economy ..........................101, 375
cap ...........................................371
capacity ...................................390
choosing the right fuel ...........372
comparisons with EPA fuel
economy estimates .................378
detergent in fuel .....................372filler funnel .............................374
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................368, 371, 376
filter, specifications ........368, 389
improving fuel economy ........375
octane rating ...................373, 394
quality ..............................373–374
running out of fuel .........328, 374
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................368
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................368, 372–373
Fuses ..................................311–312
G
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............371
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................375
Gauges .........................................18
transmission fluid
temperature gauge ...................22
H
Hazard flashers .........................310
Head restraints .........................156
Headlamps ...................................54
aiming ..................................56–57
autolamp system .......................54
bulb specifications ....................60
daytime running lights .............56
flash to pass ..............................55
high beam .................................55
replacing bulbs .........................61
turning on and off ....................54
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .....................41, 44, 46, 49
2009 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
401

O
Octane rating ............................373
Oil (see Engine oil) ..................357
P
Parking brake ............................270
Parts (see Motorcraft parts) ....389
Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor .................160
Power deployable running
boards ..........................................78
Power distribution box
(see Fuses) .......................312, 315
Power door locks ......................126
Power mirrors .............................75
Power point .................................70
Power steering ..........................276
fluid, checking and adding ....382
fluid, refill capacity ................390
fluid, specifications .................390
Power Windows ...........................72
Preparing to drive your
vehicle ........................................278
R
Radio ......................................22, 24
6-CD in dash .............................24
Recommendations for
attaching safety restraints for
children ......................................194
Relays ........................................311
Remote entry system ...............131
illuminated entry ....................136locking/unlocking
doors ................................131–132
panic alarm .............................132
replacement/additional
transmitters .............................135
replacing the batteries ...........134
Reverse camera .........................291
Reverse sensing system ...........289
Roadside assistance ..................309
S
Safety belts (see Safety
restraints) .........159, 162, 164–165,
168–170, 173
Safety Canopy ...........186–187, 189
Safety defects, reporting ..341–342
Safety restraints ...............159, 162,
164–165, 168–171, 173
Belt-Minder...........................173
Belt-Minder,
deactivating/activating ...........176
extension assembly ................177
for adults .........164–165, 168–170
for children .............................192
lap belt ....................................167
Occupant Classification
Sensor ......................................160
warning light and chime ........173
Safety restraints - LATCH
anchors ......................................204
Safety seats for children ..........196
Safety Compliance
Certification Label ....................395
Satellite Radio (if equipped) .....24
Satellite Radio Information ........37
Seats ..........................................143
child safety seats ....................196
2009 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Index
403