Page 7 of 577

Maintenance 302
General information...................................302
Opening and closing the hood............................303
Under hood overview..................................304
Engine oil dipstick....................................306
Engine oil check......................................306
Engine coolant check..................................307
Automatic transmission fluid check........................313
Brake fluid check.....................................317
Power steering fluid check..............................317
Fuel filter...........................................317
Washer fluid check....................................318
Changing the vehicle battery.............................318
Checking the wiper blades..............................321
Air filter(s).........................................323
Adjusting the headlamps................................325
Changing a bulb......................................326
Bulb specification chart.................................331
Vehicle Care 332
Cleaning products.....................................332
Cleaning the exterior..................................332
Waxing.............................................334
Repairing minor paint damage............................334
Cleaning the engine...................................334
Cleaning the windows and wiper blades.....................335
Cleaning the interior...................................335
Cleaning the instrument panel and instrument cluster lens.......336
Cleaning the alloy wheels...............................340
Vehicle storage.......................................340
6Table of Contents
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 11 of 577
SYMBOL GLOSSARY
WARNING:You risk death or serious injury to yourself and
others if you do not follow the instruction highlighted by the
warning symbol.
These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.
Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Safety alertSee Owner’s
ManualAnti-lock
braking
system
Avoid
smoking,
flames, or
sparksBatteryBattery acid
Brake fluid –
non
petroleum
baseBrake systemCabin air
filter
Check fuel
capChild Safety
Door Lock
and UnlockChild seat
lower anchor
Child seat
tether anchorCruise
controlDo not open
when hot
Engine air
filterEngine
coolantEngine
coolant
temperature
Engine oilExplosive gasFan warning
Fasten safety
beltFront airbagFront fog
lamps
10Introduction
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 106 of 577

Info
Press the INFO button repeatedly to cycle through the following
features:
Note:Some options may appear slightly different or not at all if the
items are optional.
INFO
TRIP A/B
XXX° (if equipped)
MYKEY MILES (km) (if programmed)
XXX MILES (km) TO E
XX.X AVG MPG (L/100km)
MPG (L/km)
TIMER
TBC GAIN (if equipped)
EXHAUST FILTER (diesel only)
•TRIP A/B: Registers the distance of individual journeys. Press and
release the INFO button until TRIP A/B appears in the display (this
represents the trip mode). Press and hold the RESET button to reset.
Refer toUNITSlater in this section to switch the display from metric
to English.
•XXX° (outside air temperature) (if equipped): This displays the
outside temperature.
•MYKEY MILES (km) (if programmed): For more information, refer to
theMyKey®chapter.
•XXX MILES (km) TO E: This displays an estimate of approximately
how far you can drive with the fuel remaining in your tank under
normal driving conditions. Remember to turn the ignition off when
refueling to allow this feature to correctly detect the added fuel.
Distance to empty is calculated using a running average fuel economy,
which is based on your recent driving history of 500 miles (800 km).
This value is not the same as the average fuel economy display. The
running average fuel economy is re-initialized to a factory default
value if the battery is disconnected.
•XX.X AVG MPG (L/100km): Average fuel economy displays your
average fuel economy in miles/gallon or liters/100 km.
•MPG (L/km): This displays instantaneous fuel economy as a bar graph.
Your vehicle must be moving to calculate instantaneous fuel economy.
Instantaneous fuel economy cannot be reset.
Information Displays105
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 167 of 577

Heated and Cooled Seats Air Filter Replacement (If Equipped)
The heated and cooled seat system includes air filters. They must be
replaced periodically. Seescheduled maintenance information.
The filter is located under each front seat. Access the filter from the
second row foot-well area. Move the front seats all the way to the full
front and full up positions to ease access.
To remove a filter:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Push up on the outside rigid
edge of the filter until the tabs are
released, then remove the filter.
To install a filter:
1. First, position the filter in its
housing making sure that the far
forward end is all the way up in the
housing.
2. Push in on the center of the
outside edge of the filter and rotate
clockwise into the housing until it
clips into position.
FRONT SEAT ARMREST (IF EQUIPPED)
To release the armrest and gain
access to the cupholders and seat
back storage bin, press the button
on the right-hand side of the seat
and pull the seat back down.
166Seats
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 305 of 577
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW
Refer to the diesel supplement for diesel engine component locations.
6.2L V8 Gasoline Engine
A. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
B. Engine oil dipstick
C. Automatic transmission fluid dipstick
D. Brake fluid reservoir
E. Engine coolant reservoir
F. Power distribution box
G. Air filter assembly
H. Power steering fluid reservoir
I. Engine oil filler cap
J. Battery
ADFEBC
GHIJ
304Maintenance
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 306 of 577
6.8L V10 Gasoline Engine
A. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
B. Battery
C. Automatic transmission fluid dipstick
D. Engine oil filler cap
E. Engine oil dipstick
F. Power steering fluid reservoir
G. Brake fluid reservoir
H. Engine coolant reservoir
I. Air filter assembly
J. Power distribution box
ABCEHIJFDG
Maintenance305
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 324 of 577

AIR FILTER CHECK
Refer toScheduled Maintenance Informationfor the appropriate
intervals for changing the air filter element.
When changing the air filter element, use only the Motorcraft® air filter
element listed. Refer to theMotorcraft® Part Numbers.
The following procedure is for vehicles equipped with a gasoline engine.
If your vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine, refer to the diesel
supplement.
Note:Do not start your engine with the air cleaner removed and do not
remove it while the engine is running.
Note:Failure to use the correct air filter element may result in severe
engine damage. The customer warranty may be void for any damage to
the engine if the correct air filter element is not used.
Changing the Air Filter Element
1. Locate the mass air flow sensor
electrical connector on the air
outlet tube. This connector will
need to be unplugged.
2. Reposition the locking clip on the
connector (connector shown from
below for clarity), squeeze the
connector and pull it off of the air
outlet tube.
Maintenance323
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)
Page 325 of 577

3. Clean the area around the air
tube to air cover connection to
prevent debris from entering the
system and then loosen the bolt on
the air tube clamp so the clamp is
no longer snug to the air tube. It is
not necessary to completely remove
the clamp.
4. Pull the air tube off from the air
cleaner housing.
5. Release the three clamps that secure
the cover to the air filter housing. Push
the air filter cover toward the center of
the vehicle and up slightly to release it.
6. Remove the air filter element
from the air filter housing.
7. Install a new air filter element.
8. Replace the air filter housing
cover and secure the clamps.
Be careful not to crimp the filter
element edges between the air filter
housing and cover and ensure that
the tabs on the edge are properly
aligned into the slots.
9. Slip the air tube onto the air
filter housing and tighten the
air-tube clamp bolt snugly,
but do not overtighten it.
324Maintenance
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 3rd Printing, December 2012
USA(fus)