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CHANGING THE WIPER BLADES
1. Pull the wiper arm away from the
vehicle. Turn the blade at an angle
from the wiper arm. Push the lock
tab to release the blade and pull the
wiper blade down toward the
windshield to remove it from the
arm.
2. Attach the new wiper to the
wiper arm and press it into place
until a click is heard.
Replace wiper blades at least once per year for optimum performance.
Poor wiper quality can be improved by cleaning the wiper blades and the
windshield. Refer toWindows and wiper bladesin theCleaning
chapter.
To prolong the life of the wiper blades, it is highly recommended to
scrape off the ice on the windshield before turning on the wipers. The
layer of ice has many sharp edges and can damage the micro edge of the
wiper rubber element.
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil
Refer to thescheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in P
(Park) (automatic transmission) or 1 (First) (manual transmission).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil dipstick.
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Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
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•5.4L/6.8L gasoline engines only;
for diesel engine information,
refer to the6.0 and 6.4 Liter
Direct Injection Turbo Diesel
Owner’s Guide Supplement.
6. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert the dipstick fully, then remove it again.
•If the oil level isbetween the MIN and MAX marks,the oil level is
acceptable.DO NOT ADD OIL.
•If the oil level is below the MIN
mark, add enough oil to raise the
level within the MIN-MAX range.
•Oil levels above the MAX mark may cause engine damage. Some oil
must be removed from the engine by a service technician.
7. Put the dipstick back in and ensure it is fully seated.
Adding engine oil
1. Check the engine oil. For instructions, refer toChecking the engine
oilin this chapter.
2. If the engine oil level is not within the normal range, add only certified
engine oil of the recommended viscosity. Remove the engine oil filler cap
and use a funnel to pour the engine oil into the opening.
3. Recheck the engine oil level. Make sure the oil level is not above the
normal operating range on the engine oil level dipstick.
2009 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
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•Always dispose of automotive
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries.
ENGINE COOLANT
Checking engine coolant
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the
intervals listed inscheduled maintenance information.The coolant
concentration should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and distilled water,
which equates to a freeze point of -34°F (-36°C). Coolant concentration
testing is possible with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester. The level of
coolant should be maintained at the “FULL COLD” level or within the
“COLD FILL RANGE” in the coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add
coolant per the instructions in theAdding engine coolantsection.
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly.A
50/50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following:
•Freeze protection down to -34°F (-36°C).
•Boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
•Protection against rust and other forms of corrosion.
•Proper function of calibrated gauges.
L
E
A
D
RETURN
RECYCLE
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Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
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safety belts ..............................363
washing ....................................357
waxing .....................................358
wheels ......................................358
wiper blades ............................360
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ......80, 84
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................37
AM/FM/CD .................................30
Clutch
fluid ..........................................397
operation while driving ..........290
recommended shift speeds ....290
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment ...............143
Console ......................................106
overhead ..................................105
Controls
power seat ...............................175
steering column ......................118
Coolant
checking and adding ..............377
refill capacities ................381, 405
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................116
Customer Assistance ................315
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................365
Ford Extended
Service Plan ............................354
Getting assistance outside the
U.S. and Canada .....................354
Getting roadside assistance ...315
Getting the service
you need .................................350
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................355Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................353
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ................................90
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................397
engine oil .................................372
Driving under special
conditions ..................289, 305, 308
sand .........................................307
snow and ice ...........................309
through water .................307, 311
DVD system .................................51
E
Electronic message
center .................................127, 137
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................343
Emergency Flashers .................316
Emission control system ..........392
Engine ........................................409
cleaning ...................................359
coolant .....................................377
diesel ...........................................9
fail-safe cooling .......................382
idle speed control ...................375
refill capacities ........................405
service points ..................369–370
starting after a collision .........317
Engine oil ..................................372
checking and adding ..............372
dipstick ....................................372
filter, specifications ........374, 404
2009 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 3rd Printing
USA(fus)
Index
415