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5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil dipstick.
•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.
Maintenance and Specifications
360
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Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Page 364 of 407

•If you do not allow the engine to relearn its idle trim, the idle
quality of your vehicle may be adversely affected until the idle
trim is eventually relearned.
If the battery has been disconnected or a new battery has been installed,
the clock and the preset radio stations must be reset once the battery is
reconnected.
•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
Maintenance and Specifications
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Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Page 403 of 407

safety belts ..............................349
washing ....................................344
waxing .....................................345
wheels ......................................345
wiper blades ............................347
Climate control (see Air
conditioning or Heating) ....98, 102
Clock adjust
6-CD in dash .............................54
AM/FM/CD .................................47
Clutch
fluid ..........................................383
operation while driving ..........278
recommended shift speeds ....278
Compass, electronic
set zone adjustment .................37
Console ..............................122–123
overhead ..........................121–122
Controls
power seat ...............................166
steering column ......................134
Coolant
checking and adding ..............364
refill capacities ................367, 390
Cruise control
(see Speed control) ..................131
Customer Assistance ................302
Ford accessories for your
vehicle .....................................352
Ford Extended Service
Plan ..........................................399
Getting assistance outside
the U.S. and Canada ..............341
Getting roadside assistance ...302
Getting the service you
need .........................................337
Ordering additional owner’s
literature .................................342Utilizing the
Mediation/Arbitration
Program ...................................341
D
Daytime running lamps
(see Lamps) ..............................108
Dipstick
automatic transmission
fluid ..........................................383
engine oil .................................359
Driving under special
conditions ..................277, 292, 296
sand .........................................294
snow and ice ...........................296
through water .................295, 298
DVD system .................................68
E
Electronic message center ...25, 33
Emergencies, roadside
jump-starting ..........................330
Emergency Flashers .................303
Emission control system ..........378
Engine ........................................394
cleaning ...................................346
coolant .....................................364
diesel ...........................................6
fail-safe cooling .......................368
idle speed control ...................362
refill capacities ........................390
service points ..................356–357
starting after a collision .........304
Engine oil ..................................359
checking and adding ..............359
dipstick ....................................359
filter, specifications ........361, 389
recommendations ...................361
Index
403
2010 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)