2012 FORD SUPER DUTY engine oil

Customer Assistance 357
Reporting safety defects (U.S. only) 364
Reporting safety defects (Canada only) 364
Cleaning 365
Maintenance and Specifications 374
Engine compartment 376
Engine oil 379
Battery 381
Engine coolant 383
Fuel information 390
Air filter(s) 408
Part numbers 413
Maintenance product specifications and capacities 414
Engine data 418
Accessories 422
Ford Extended Service Plan 424
Scheduled Maintenance 428
Normal scheduled maintenance and log 433
Index 448
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or mechanical
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system or translation in whole or part is not permitted without written
authorization from Ford Motor Company. Ford may change the contents without
notice and without incurring obligation.
Copyright © 2011 Ford Motor Company
Table of Contents
3
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Do not add friction modifier compounds or special break-in oils since
these additives may prevent piston ring seating. SeeEngine oilin the
Maintenance and Specificationschapter for more information on oil
usage.
SPECIAL NOTICES
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
For a detailed description of what is covered and what is not covered by
your vehicle’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, refer to theWarranty
Guidethat is provided to you along with your Owner’s Guide.
Special instructions
For your added safety, your vehicle is fitted with sophisticated electronic
controls.
WARNING:Please read the sectionAirbag Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS)in theSeating and Safety Restraints
chapter. Failure to follow the specific warnings and instructions could
result in personal injury.
WARNING:Front seat mounted rear-facing child or infant seats
shouldNEVERbe placed in front of an active passenger airbag.
Notice to owners of diesel-powered vehicles
Read the diesel supplement for information regarding correct operation
and maintenance of your Diesel-powered light truck.
Notice to owners of pickup trucks and utility type vehicles
WARNING:Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles.
Before you drive your vehicle, please read this Owner’s Guide carefully.
Your vehicle is not a passenger car. As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury or death.
Introduction
6
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Vehicle Symbol Glossary
Power Windows
Front/Rear
Power Window Lockout
Child Safety Door
Lock/UnlockInterior Luggage
Compartment Release
Panic AlarmEngine Oil
Engine CoolantEngine Coolant
Temperature
Do Not Open When HotBattery
Avoid Smoking, Flames,
or SparksBattery Acid
Explosive GasFan Warning
Power Steering FluidMaintain Correct Fluid
LevelMAX
MIN
Service Engine SoonEngine Air Filter
Passenger Compartment
Air FilterJack
Check Fuel CapLow Tire Pressure
Warning
Introduction
13
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

WARNING:Driving a vehicle with the brake system warning
light on is dangerous. A significant decrease in braking
performance may occur. It will take you longer to stop the vehicle.
Have the vehicle checked by your authorized dealer. Driving extended
distances with the parking brake engaged can cause brake failure and
the risk of personal injury.
Anti-lock brake system:If the
ABS light stays illuminated or
continues to flash, a malfunction has
been detected, have the system
serviced immediately by your
authorized dealer. Normal braking is still functional unless the brake
warning light also is illuminated.
Airbag readiness:If this light fails
to illuminate when the ignition is
turned to on, continues to flash or
remains on, have the system
serviced immediately by your
authorized dealer. A chime will sound if there is a malfunction in the
indicator light.
Safety belt:Reminds you to fasten
your safety belt. A Belt-Minder
chime will also sound to remind you
to fasten your safety belt. Refer to
theSeating and Safety Restraints
chapter to activate/deactivate the Belt-Minderchime feature.
Charging system:Illuminates when
the battery is not charging properly.
If it stays on while the engine is
running, there may be a malfunction
with the charging system. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. This indicates a problem with the electrical system or a related
component.
Engine oil pressure (RTT and
static warning light):Displays
when the oil pressure falls below the
normal range. Refer toEngine oil
in theMaintenance and Specificationschapter.
ABS
Instrument Cluster
17
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

GAUGES
Base cluster with automatic transmission shown. Metric similar.
1.Engine oil pressure gauge:Indicates engine oil pressure. The
needle should stay in the normal operating range (between L and H). If
the needle falls below the normal range, stop the vehicle, turn off the
engine and check the engine oil level. Add oil if needed. If the oil level is
correct, have your vehicle checked at your authorized dealer.
2.Engine coolant temperature gauge:Indicates engine coolant
temperature. At normal operating temperature, the needle will be in the
normal range (between H and C).If it enters the red section, the
engine is overheating. Stop the vehicle as soon as safely possible,
switch off the engine and let the engine cool.
WARNING:Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the
engine is running or hot.
3.Transmission fluid temperature gauge:If the gauge is in the:
Normal areaThe transmission fluid is within the normal operating
temperature (between H and C).
1234
65
Instrument Cluster
21
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

System check and vehicle feature customization
Press the SETUP button repeatedly
to cycle the message center through
the following features:
Note:When returning to the SETUP menu and a non-English language
has been selected, HOLD RESET FOR ENGLISH will be displayed to
change back to English. Press and hold the RESET button to change
back to English.
RESET FOR SYSTEM CHECK
When this message appears, press the RESET button and the message
center will begin to cycle through the following systems and provide a
status of the item if needed.
1. OIL LIFE
2. EXHAUST FLUID LEVEL (Diesel only)
3. ENGINE HOURS
4. ENGINE IDLE HOURS
5. CHARGING SYSTEM
6. DOOR
7. BRAKE SYSTEM
8. TBC GAIN = XX.X (if equipped)
9. FUEL LEVEL
10. MYKEY DISTANCE (if MyKeyis programmed)
11. MYKEY(S) PROGRAMMED
12. ADMIN KEYS PROGRAMMED
Note:Some systems show a message only if a condition is present.
Instrument Cluster
25
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

SHIFT DELAYED PULL FORWARD (if equipped)— May display
when shifting to or from 4X4 LOW. For more information, refer to
Four-wheel drive (4WD) operationin theDrivingchapter.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL READY (if equipped)— Displayed
when the hill descent control switch is turned on.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT (if equipped)— Displayed when
a hill descent system fault is present.
HILL CNTRL OFF SYSTEM COOLING (if equipped)— Displayed
when the hill descent system is cooling due to overuse.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL OFF (if equipped)— Displayed when
the hill descent system is deactivated.
FOR HILL CNTRL 20 MPH OR LESS (if equipped)— Displayed
when the vehicle speed requirement for hill control mode entry has not
been met.
DRIVER RESUME CONTROL (if equipped)— Displayed when the
hill control and off-road mode require the driver to resume control.
FOR HILL CNTRL SELECT GEAR (if equipped)— Displayed when
the driver is requested to select a transmission gear to enable operation
of the hill mode and off-road mode.
ENGINE WARMING PLEASE WAIT XX (diesel engine only)—
Displayed in extremely cold weather, typically below –15°F (–26°C), if
the engine block heater is not utilized. The engine will not respond to
accelerator pedal movement for 30 seconds; this is done so the engine oil
can be properly circulated to avoid engine damage from lack of
lubrication. A timer will begin a countdown from 30 seconds. Once the
counter has reached 0 seconds, OK TO DRIVE will be displayed and the
engine will respond to accelerator pedal movement. Refer to your diesel
supplement for more information.
OK TO DRIVE (diesel engine only)— Displayed when the time
counter has reached 0 (zero) and the engine is sufficiently warm enough
to drive in extremely cold weather (refer to the engine warming please
wait message description mentioned previously). Refer to your diesel
supplement for more information.
WATER IN FUEL DRAIN FILTER (diesel engine only)— Displayed
when the water separator has reached a predetermined capacity and
needs to be drained. Refer to your diesel supplement for more
information.
Instrument Cluster
35
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

ENGINE IDLED SEE MANUAL EXHAUST FLUID SYSTEM FAULT
(diesel engine only)— Displayed when the SCR system detects a
fault. The engine will enter into an idle only mode. Refer to your diesel
supplement for more information. Contact your authorized dealer as soon
as possible.
ENGINE OIL DILUTED (diesel engine only)— Displays once the
engine oil has become diluted and needs to be changed. Refer to your
diesel supplement for more information.
ENGINE OIL CHANGE SOON— Displayed when the engine oil life
remaining is 5% to 1%. Refer to thescheduled maintenance
informationfor more information.
OIL CHANGE REQUIRED— Displayed when the oil life left reaches
0%. Refer to thescheduled maintenance informationfor more
information.
LOW FUEL PRESSURE SEE MANUAL (diesel engine only)—If
this message appears during a cold start or during cold operation 32°F
(0°C) up to 10 minutes after the initial cold start; monitor the message
center and if it disappears and does not re-appear after the engine has
fully warmed up, the low fuel pressure message is most likely caused by
waxed or gelled fuel. To prevent this, use an anti-gel additive. Refer to
your diesel supplement for more information. The customer warranty
may be void from using additives that do not meet or exceed Ford
specifications. If the low fuel pressure message persistently appears after
re-fueling during the cold start and cold operation conditions defined
previously and then disappear when the engine has fully warmed up,
consider different fuel sources.
•Low Fuel Operation: If the message appears when the vehicle is warm
and during low fuel tank level operation, i.e. the tank level is at or
very near empty, refuel the vehicle and operate the vehicle. If the
message reappears after fueling, see below. If the message does not
come back, the low fuel pressure condition was due to low fuel levels
in the fuel tank.
•Normal Operation: If the message appears during normal operation
when the vehicle / engine is fully warm, and fuel level is not low, the
fuel filters must be changed regardless of the maintenance schedule
interval. If replacement of the fuel filter does not remedy the low fuel
pressure message during normal operation as defined above, please
take the vehicle to your authorized dealer.
Instrument Cluster
39
2012 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)