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• You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain if
unnecessary shifting between the top gears 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 to Maintenance product
specifications and capacities in this chapter.
• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in scheduled 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. Maintenance and Specifications
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2011 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)
Page 445 of 449

Engine oil ..................................371
checking and adding ..............371
dipstick ....................................371
filter, specifications ........372, 406
recommendations ...................372
refill capacities ........................407
Event data recording ....................9
Exhaust fumes ..........................265
F
Fail safe cooling ........................379
Fleet MyKey programming ......127
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....382
Floor mats .................................121
Fluid capacities .........................407
Fog lamps ....................................87
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......296
driving off road .......................303
electronic shift ................297, 301
indicator light .........................298
lever operated shift ................298
manual locking hubs ..............297
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................281
Fuel ............................................382
calculating fuel
economy ............................25, 389
cap ...........................................385
capacity ...................................407
choosing the right fuel ...........386
detergent in fuel .....................388
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................382, 385, 389
filter, specifications ........382, 406
fuel pump shut-off ..................316
improving fuel economy ........389
octane rating ...........386–387, 411
quality ......................................387 running out of fuel .................388
safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................382
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................382, 386–387
Fuses ..................................316–317
G
Garage door opener ..................114
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............385
Gas mileage (see Fuel
economy) ...................................389
Gauges .........................................21
H
Hazard flashers .........................315
Headlamps ...................................86
aiming ..................................88–89
autolamp system .......................86
daytime running lights .............88
flash to pass ..............................87
high beam .................................87
replacing bulbs .........................93
turning on and off ....................86
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................77, 80
Hill descent mode .....................277
Hill start assist ..........................291
Hood ..........................................367
I
Ignition ...............................262, 411
Illuminated visor mirror .............98 Index
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2011 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)
Page 448 of 449

SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................147–148
Servicing your vehicle ..............366
Setting the clock ...................60, 62
Snowplowing .................7, 311–312
SOS Post Crash Alert ...............187
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................406, 411
Special notice ................................8
ambulance conversions ..............8
diesel-powered vehicles .............7
four-wheel drive vehicles .......313
utility-type vehicles ....................7
Speed control ............................109
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......265
Starting your vehicle ........262–265
jump starting ..........................343
Steering wheel
controls ....................................111
tilting .........................................98
SYNC ..........................................76
T
Tailgate ......................................121
Tilt steering wheel ......................98
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....234
Tires ...........................216–218, 326
alignment ................................226
care ..........................................222
changing ..................326, 329, 332
checking the pressure ............221
inflating ...................................219
label .........................................233
replacing ..................................224 rotating ....................................227
safety practices .......................225
sidewall information ...............228
snow tires and chains ............241
spare tire .................................327
terminology .............................218
tire grades ...............................217
treadwear ........................217, 223
Towing .......................................249
recreational towing .................261
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ..............254
trailer towing ..........................249
wrecker ....................................347
Traction control ........................270
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................254
Trailer sway control ..................277
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................400
Transmission .............................284
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....282
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................396
fluid, refill capacities ..............407
Turn signal ..................................90
U
Universal garage door opener ..114
Upfitter controls .......................112
USB port ......................................70
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................413
Vehicle loading ..........................242
Ventilating your vehicle ...........266Index
448
2011 F-250/350/450/550 (f23)
Owners Guide, 4th Printing
USA (fus)