•Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off
automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.
•Use a lower gear to eliminate excessive shifting and assist in
transmission cooling.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached; anticipate
stops and brake gradually.
Servicing after towing
If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle requires more
frequent service intervals. Refer to theScheduled Maintenance Guide
chapter for more information.
Trailer towing tips
•Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to
get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make
wider turns so the trailer wheels clears curbs and other obstacles.
•Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.
•If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do
not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become
less effective.
•
The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight.
•If you are towing a trailer frequently in hot weather, hilly conditions,
at GCW, or any combination of these factors, consider refilling your
rear axle with synthetic gear lube if not already so equipped. Refer to
Lubricant specificationsin theMaintenance and Specifications
chapter for the lubricant specification. Remember that regardless of
the rear axle lube used, do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) of a new vehicle, and that the first 500 miles (800 km) of
towing be done at no faster than 70 mph (112 km/h) with no full
throttle starts.
•After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your
hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.
•
To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot
weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park) (if
available on your automatic transmission) or N (Neutral) (manual
transmissions and automatic transmissions withoutaP[Park] position).
•Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must
park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.
Driving
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Cleaner air - gasoline engines
Ford endorses the use of reformulated “cleaner-burning” gasolines to
improve air quality, per the recommendations in theChoosing the right
fuelsection.
Running out of fuel - diesel engines
Avoid running out of fuel as this allows air to enter the fuel system,
which makes restarting the vehicle difficult.
If you have run out of fuel:
•If your vehicle is equipped with dual fuel tanks,add at least
4–5 gallons (15–19 liters) of fuel to each tank before attempting to
restart the engine.
•The fuel system must be primed before attempting to restart the
engine. Refer to the engine operator’s manual for instructions on
priming the engine.
•Use caution not to overheat and damage the starterby cranking
the engine for an excessive period of time. You may need to crank the
engine for a longer time than normal. If the engine fails to start in
30 seconds, turn the ignition to the off position and wait for two
minutes before cranking the engine again.
•Any remaining trapped air self-purges from the fuel system once the
engine starts running.
•The engine may run rough and produce white smoke while air is in
the fuel system. This is normal and should stop after a short period of
time.
Running out of fuel - gasoline engines
Avoid running out of fuel because this situation may have an adverse
effect on powertrain components.
If you have run out of fuel:
•You may need to cycle the ignition from off to on several times after
refueling to allow the fuel system to pump the fuel from the tank to
the engine. On restarting, cranking time will take a few seconds longer
than normal.
•If your vehicle is equipped with dual fuel tanks,adding
4–5 gallons (15–19 liters) of fuel is enough to restart the engine. If the
vehicle is out of fuel and on a steep grade, more than 4–5 gallons
(15–19 liters) may be required.
Maintenance and Specifications
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WARNING:The normal operating temperature of the exhaust
system is very high. Never work around, or attempt to repair,
any part of the exhaust system until it has cooled. Use special care
when working around the diesel particulate filter. The DPF heats up to
a high temperature after only a short period of engine operation, and
can remain hot even after the engine is turned off. Failure to follow
these instructions may result in serious personal injury.
Diesel particulate filter regeneration
Under most operating conditions, DPF regeneration is transparent to the
operator. A small increase in engine/turbo sound-level is normal during
filter regeneration. If, however, your engine is operated for extended
periods of time under one of the following conditions, operator
assistance may be required to facilitate the filter regeneration process:
•Vehicle is operated in stop-and-go traffic and/or maintains low speeds
as in a city/delivery driving
•Engine is started and shut-off frequently
•Vehicle payload is relatively light
•Vehicle is regularly operated in cold ambient temperatures (i.e. below
0°F [-18°C])
Diesel Particulate Filter Four–Level Loading Chart
Level/Lamp status Filter status Requested action
Level 1
solidRegeneration
requiredDrive on highway at
highway speedsORstart
“parked regeneration” to
prevent loss of engine
performance Level 2
flashing
(once per second)Nearly full; engine
performance is
limited
Level 3
flashing +solidFull; engine is
increasingly limitedPerform “parked
regeneration” to prevent
loss of engine
performance
Level 4
solidOver full; engine
performance is highly
limited. Continued
operation may result
in irreparable damage
to the filter.Pull vehicle safely off
roadway, turn on hazard
flashers and shut down
engine as soon as
possible; seek service
immediately
Maintenance and Specifications
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Suspension ft-lb N•m
Rear axle with multi-leaf 260-300 353-407
Rear axle with IROS air suspension 370-400 502-542
Rear axle with Hendrickson air suspension 400–450 542–610
See air suspension U-bolt re-torquing and installation information below.
Air suspension U-bolt checks and re-torquing procedures
1. Inspect the threads of the U-bolt and nut for rust and debris. Clean
the threads if contaminated.
2. Using a torque wrench, determine if any nuts can be turned with a
force below the specified torque.
3. Using the lowest discovered torqued nut as a starting point, retighten
the nuts using the sequence listed underAir suspension U-bolt and
U-bolt nut installation.
Air suspension U-bolt and U-bolt nut installation
1. Inspect the threads of the U-bolt and nut for rust and debris. Clean
the threads if contaminated.
2. Install the U-bolts and nuts and torque the nuts to seat the cap flat
which is about 18 ft-lb (25 N•m) using a diagonal pattern. Use the same
diagonal pattern for each of the following U-bolt nut re-torque steps.
3. Tighten U-bolt nuts in increments of 74 ft-lb (100 N•m) until
tightened to final torque for the particular suspension.
DRIVESHAFT
Check the universal joints for any evidence of wear or looseness at the
regular lubrication interval. Stop the vehicle immediately, should
driveshaft vibrations occur, to avoid possible hazardous consequences or
damage to other components.
REAR AXLE LUBRICANT
Refer to theScheduled Maintenance Guidechapter for rear axle
lubricant level check/change intervals.
Your rear axle may be filled with an optional synthetic lubricant which
allows the use of extended service intervals. A tag on the filler plug
identifies the use of the synthetic lubricant.
Only use a lubricant that meets manufacturer specifications; refer to
Lubricant specificationsin this chapter.Use of a non-approved rear
axle lubricant may cause internal axle component damage.
Maintenance and Specifications
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Periodic component/system checks
The following are vehicle checks that should be made periodically either
by the owner or a qualified technician. It is recommended that
deficiencies be brought to the attention of your dealer or another
qualified service outlet as soon as possible in order that advice regarding
the need for service or replacement can be obtained.
Frequency Recommended action
At every engine start up Check ABS lamp operation
After first 500 and 1000 miles (800
and 1600 km), then every 500 and
1000 mile (800 and 1600 km)
interval after tire
removal/replacementTighten the wheel mounting nuts
to the specified torque. Refer to
Wheelsin theMaintenance and
Specificationschapter
At least twice annually Clean body/door drain holes
As required Clean windshield wiper blades
Observation Maintenance operation
Insufficient power shown in loaded
practice stopInspect the automatic slack
adjuster function
Subpar vehicle handling qualities Check the operation of the brakes,
clutch and steering
(1),(2)
Excessive noise from under the
cab or engine compartmentInspect the vehicle for missing,
damaged or mislocated noise
shields
Excessive engine noise Check the engine performance and
the engine governor
Engine overheats; excessive fan
noise; fan constantly runs at high
speed or wobbles due to worn
bearingsInspect the fan, fan shroud and fan
clutch
Excessive exhaust noise; smell of
exhaust fumes is experiencedInspect the entire exhaust system
for holes, leaks, breakage,
looseness and corrosive damage
Scheduled Maintenance Guide
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