Page 399 of 454

•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.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARNING:Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in dry grass
or other dry ground cover. The emission system heats up the
engine compartment and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
WARNING:Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful and
potentially lethal fumes into the passenger compartment.
Maintenance and Specifications
399
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Page 450 of 454

checking and adding ..............379
dipstick ....................................379
filter, specifications ........380, 413
recommendations ...................380
refill capacities ........................414
Event data recording ....................8
Exhaust fumes ..........................273
F
Fail safe cooling ........................387
Fleet MyKey programming ......133
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) ....390
Floor mats .........................126–127
Fluid capacities .........................414
Fog lamps ....................................90
Four-Wheel Drive vehicles .......304
driving off road .......................311
electronic shift ................305, 309
indicator light .........................306
lever operated shift ................306
manual locking hubs ..............305
preparing to drive your
vehicle .....................................289
Fuel ............................................390
calculating fuel
economy ............................25, 396
cap ...........................................393
capacity ...................................414
choosing the right fuel ...........394
detergent in fuel .....................396
filling your vehicle with
fuel ...........................390, 393, 397
filter, specifications ........390, 413
fuel pump shut-off ..................324
improving fuel economy ........396
octane rating ...........394–395, 418
quality ......................................395
running out of fuel .................396safety information relating to
automotive fuels .....................390
Fuel - flex fuel vehicle
(FFV) .........................390, 394–395
Fuses ..................................324–325
G
Garage door opener ..................120
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............393
Gas mileage
(see Fuel economy) .................396
Gauges .........................................21
H
Hazard flashers .........................323
Headlamps ...................................89
aiming ..................................91–92
autolamp system .......................89
daytime running lights .............91
flash to pass ..............................90
high beam .................................90
replacing bulbs .........................95
turning on and off ....................89
Heating
heating and air conditioning
system .................................80, 83
Hill descent mode .....................285
Hill start assist ..........................299
Hood ..........................................375
I
Ignition ...............................269, 418
Illuminated visor mirror ...........101
Infant seats
(see Safety seats) .....................203
Index
450
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Page 453 of 454

SecuriCode keyless entry
system ........................................152
SecuriLock passive anti-theft
system ................................153–154
Servicing your vehicle ..............374
Setting the clock ...................62, 64
Snowplowing .................7, 319–320
SOS Post Crash Alert ...............193
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................413, 418
Special notice ................................7
ambulance conversions ..............7
diesel-powered vehicles .............6
four-wheel drive vehicles .......321
utility-type vehicles ....................6
Speed control ............................113
Starting a flex fuel vehicle .......272
Starting your vehicle ........269–272
jump starting ..........................351
Steering wheel
controls ....................................115
tilting .......................................101
SYNC..........................................79
T
Tailgate ......................................127
Tilt steering wheel ....................101
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....240
Tires ...........................222–224, 334
alignment ................................232
care ..........................................228
changing ..................334, 337, 340
checking the pressure ............227
inflating ...................................225label .........................................239
replacing ..................................230
rotating ....................................233
safety practices .......................231
sidewall information ...............234
snow tires and chains ............247
spare tire .................................335
terminology .............................224
tire grades ...............................223
treadwear ........................223, 229
Towing .......................................255
recreational towing .................267
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ..............260
trailer towing ..........................255
wrecker ....................................355
Traction control ........................278
Trailer Brake
Controller-Integrated ................260
Trailer sway control ..................285
Transfer case
fluid checking .........................407
Transmission .............................291
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....289
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................404
fluid, refill capacities ..............414
Turn signal ..................................93
U
Universal garage door opener ..120
Upfitter controls .......................117
USB port ......................................72
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................420
Vehicle loading ..........................248
Index
453
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)