Maintenance 296
General information...................................296
Opening and closing the hood............................297
Under hood overview..................................298
Engine oil dipstick....................................300
Engine oil check......................................300
Engine coolant check..................................301
Automatic transmission fluid check........................306
Brake fluid check.....................................311
Power steering fluid check..............................311
Fuel filter...........................................311
Washer fluid check....................................312
Changing the vehicle battery.............................312
Checking the wiper blades..............................315
Air filter(s).........................................317
Adjusting the headlamps................................319
Changing a bulb......................................320
Bulb specification chart.................................325
Vehicle Care 327
Cleaning products.....................................327
Cleaning the exterior..................................327
Waxing.............................................329
Repairing minor paint damage............................329
Cleaning the engine...................................329
Cleaning the windows and wiper blades.....................330
Cleaning the interior...................................330
Cleaning the instrument panel and instrument cluster lens.......331
Cleaning the alloy wheels...............................334
Vehicle storage.......................................335
6Table of Contents
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
ANTI-THEFT ALARM (IF EQUIPPED)
The system will warn you of unauthorized entry to your vehicle.
The turn signal lamps will flash and the horn will sound when:
•any door or the hood is opened without using the key or the remote
control
•the ignition is turned on with an invalid key.
Take all keys and remote controls to your authorized dealer if there is
any potential alarm problem with your vehicle.
Arming the Alarm
The system is ready to arm whenever the ignition is off. Lock the vehicle
to arm the alarm.
The turn signal lamps will flash once after locking the vehicle to indicate
the alarm is in the pre-armed mode and will become fully armed in
20 seconds.
Disarming the Alarm
To disarm the alarm, do any of the following:
•Press the power door unlock button within the 20-second pre-armed
mode.
•Press the unlock button on the remote control.
•Unlock the doors with the keyless entry pad.
•Turn the ignition on with a valid key.
•Press the panic button on the remote control. The alarm system will
still be armed, but this shuts off the horn and turn lamps when the
alarm is sounding.
Note:If the driver’s door is unlocked with a key, a chime will sound
when you open the door. You will have 12 seconds to disarm the alarm
using any of the actions above, otherwise the alarm will trigger.
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USA(fus)
Working with the Engine Off
1. Set the parking brake and shift to P (Park).
2. Turn off the engine and remove the key (if equipped).
3. Block the wheels.
Working with the Engine On
WARNING:To reduce the risk of vehicle damage or personal
burn injuries, do not start your engine with the air cleaner
removed and do not remove it while the engine is running.
1. Set the parking brake and shift to position P.
2. Block the wheels.
OPENING AND CLOSING THE HOOD
1. Inside the vehicle, pull the hood
release handle located under the
bottom left corner of the instrument
panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle to
release the auxiliary latch located at
the top center of the grille. Slide
the handle left to release the
auxiliary latch.
3. Lift the hood until the lift cylinders hold it open.
BRAKE
HOOD
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USA(fus)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
A.–MIN
B. – MAX
ENGINE OIL CHECK
Note:For diesel engine information, refer to the diesel supplement.
Refer to thescheduled maintenance informationfor the appropriate
intervals for checking the engine oil.
1. Make sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the
oil pan.
3. Set the parking brake and ensure the gearshift is securely latched in P
(Park).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine oil level dipstick. See the
Under Hood Overviewin this chapter for location of dipstick.
6. Wipe the dipstick clean. Insert the dipstick fully, then remove it again.
If the oil level is between the lower and upper holes, the oil level is
acceptable. DO NOT ADD OIL.
If the oil level is below the lower hole, add enough oil to raise the level
within the lower and upper holes.
Oil levels above the upper hole may cause engine damage. Some oil must
be removed from the engine by an authorized dealer.
7. Put the dipstick back in and ensure it is fully seated.
Adding Engine Oil
Note:Do not remove the engine oil level dipstick or the filler cap when
the engine is running.
Note:Do not add engine oil further than the MAX mark. Oil levels above
the MAX mark may cause engine damage.
AB
300Maintenance
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
10. Reconnect the mass air flow
sensor electrical connector to the
outlet tube. Make sure the locking
tab on the connector is in the
“locked” position (connector shown
from below for clarity).
ADJUSTING THE HEADLAMPS
The headlamps on your vehicle are properly aimed at the assembly plant.
If your vehicle has been in an accident, the alignment of your headlamps
should be checked by your authorized dealer.
Vertical Aim Adjustment
1. Park the vehicle directly in front of a wall or screen on a level surface,
approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) away.
•(A) 8 feet (2.4 meters)
•(B) Center height of lamp to
ground
•(C) 25 feet (7.6 meters)
•(D) Horizontal reference line
2. Measure the height from the
center of your headlamp (indicated
by a 3.0 millimeter circle on the
lens) to the ground and mark an
8 foot (2.4 meter) horizontal
reference line on the vertical wall or screen at this height (a piece of
masking tape works well).
3. Turn on the low beam headlamps to illuminate the wall or screen and
open the hood. Cover one of the headlamps so no light from that lamp
hits the wall.
C
A
B
D
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USA(fus)
These are examples of unacceptable moisture (usually caused by a lamp
water leak):
•Water puddle inside the lamp.
•Large water droplets, drip marks or streaks present on the interior of
the lens.
Take your vehicle to a dealer for service if any of the above conditions of
unacceptable moisture are present.
Replacing Headlamps, Park Lamps, Turn Lamps
1. Make sure that the exterior lamps are off, then open the hood.
2. Using masking tape or a marker,
make an alignment mark between
one of the grille brackets and the
vehicle radiator support to ensure
correct grille alignment during the
installation procedure. Do not
scratch the black coating from the
radiator support.
3. Remove the two grille to headlamp assembly push pins and the four
bolts attaching the top of the grille to the radiator support.
4. Pull the top of the grille forward to gain access to the lower grille
spring clips.
5. Depress the spring clips through the lower inner grille access openings
using a flat head screwdriver.
6. Pull the grill straight out to remove.
7. Remove the four bolts from the
headlamp assembly.
8. Pull the assembly straight out
disengaging one snap clip from the
fender.
9. Disconnect the electrical
connector by squeezing the release
tab and pushing the connector
forward, then pulling it rearward.
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USA(fus)
Fuses ..........................285–286, 290
G
Garage door opener ..........167, 171
Gas cap (see Fuel cap) ............192
Gauges .........................................95
H
Hazard flashers .........................273
HD Radio™ ...............................472
Headlamps ...................................83
aiming ......................................319
autolamp system .......................84
bulb specifications ..................325
checking alignment ................319
daytime running lights .............85
flash to pass ..............................83
high beam .................................83
replacing bulbs .......................321
turning on and off ....................83
Head restraints .........................154
Heated steering wheel ..............522
Heating ..............................145, 147
Help ............................................521
Hill descent mode .....................227
Hill start assist ..........................206
Homelink wireless control
system ........................................171
Hood ..........................................297
How to use voice commands ...464
I
Ignition ...............................183, 382
Illuminated visor mirror .............93Information displays .................102
Inspection/maintenance (I/M)
testing ........................................196
Instrument panel
cleaning ...........................331–332
cluster ........................................97
lighting up panel and
interior .......................................85
J
Jack ............................................366
positioning ...............................366
storage .....................................366
Joining two calls
(multiparty/conference call) ....422
Jump-starting your vehicle ......274
K
Keyless entry system
autolock .....................................71
keypad .......................................73
locking and unlocking doors ....74
programming entry code .........73
Keys .......................................61, 75
positions of the ignition .........183
L
Lamps ..........................................83
autolamp system .......................84
bulb replacement
specifications chart ................325
daytime running light ...............85
fog lamps ...................................86
headlamps .................................83
headlamps, flash to pass ..........83
instrument panel, dimming .....85
interior lamps ...........................87
replacing bulbs .......321, 323–325
558Index
2013 F-250/350/450/550(f23)
Owners Guide gf, 1st Printing
USA(fus)