2014 FORD F150 coolant reservoir

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 by your
authorized dealer.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
WARNING
Never remove the coolant reservoir
cap while the engine is running or hot.
Indicates engine coolant temperature. At
normal operating temperature, the level
indicator will be in the normal range. If the
engine coolant temperature exceeds the
normal range, stop the vehicle as soon as
safely possible, switch off the engine and
let the engine cool.
Fuel Gauge
Switch the ignition on. The fuel gauge will
indicate approximately how much fuel is
left in the fuel tank. The fuel gauge may
vary slightly when your vehicle is moving
or on a gradient. The arrow adjacent to the
fuel pump symbol indicates on which side
of the vehicle the fuel filler door is located.
Transmission Fluid Temperature
Gauge
Indicates transmission fluid temperature.
At normal operating temperature, the level
indicator will be in the normal range. If the
transmission fluid temperature exceeds
the normal range, stop the vehicle as soon
as safely possible and verify the airflow is
not restricted such as snow or debris
blocking airflow through the grill. Also,
higher than normal operating temperature can be caused by special operation
conditions (i.e. snowplowing, towing or
off-road use). Refer to Special operating
conditions in the scheduled maintenance
information for instructions. Operating the
transmission for extended periods of time
with the gauge in the higher than normal
area may cause internal transmission
damage. Altering the severity of the driving
conditions is recommended to lower the
transmission temperature into the normal
range. If the gauge continues to show high
temperatures, see your authorized dealer.
Information Display
Odometer
Located in the bottom of the information
display Registers the accumulated
distance your vehicle has traveled.
Trip Computer
See General Information (page 87).
Vehicle Settings and Personalization
See
General Information (page 87).
WARNING LAMPS AND
INDICATORS
The following warning lamps and
indicators will alert you to a vehicle
condition that may become serious. Some
lamps will illuminate when you start your
vehicle to make sure they work. If any
lamps remain on after starting your vehicle,
refer to the respective system warning
lamp for further information.
Note: Some warning indicators appear in
the information display and function the
same as a warning lamp but do not display
when you start your vehicle.
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Engine oil dipstick
D.
Brake fluid reservoir
E.
Engine coolant reservoir
F.
Air filter assembly
G.
Power distribution box
H.
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 3.7L Windshield washer fluid reservoir
A.
Battery
B.
Engine oil filler cap (out of view)
C.
Engine oil dipstick
D.
Brake fluid reservoir
E.
Engine coolant reservoir
F.
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C

Air filter assembly
G.
Power distribution box
H.
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 5.0L Windshield washer fluid reservoir
A.
Battery
B.
Engine oil filler cap
C.
Engine oil dipstick
D.
Brake fluid reservoir
E.
Engine coolant reservoir
F.
Air filter assembly
G.
Power distribution box
H.
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UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 6.2L
Windshield washer fluid reservoir
A.
Engine oil dipstick
B.
Brake fluid reservoir
C.
Engine coolant reservoir
D.
Air filter assembly
E.
Power steering fluid reservoir
F.
Power distribution box
G.
Engine oil filler cap
H.
Battery
I.
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Only use oils certified for gasoline engines
by the American Petroleum Institute (API).
An oil with this trademark symbol
conforms to the current engine and
emission system protection standards and
fuel economy requirements of the
International Lubricants Specification
Advisory Council (ILSAC), comprised of
U.S. and Japanese automobile
manufacturers.
1. Check the engine oil level.
2. If the engine oil level is not within the
normal range, add engine oil that
meets Ford specifications. See
Capacities and Specifications (page
296
).
3. Remove the engine oil filler cap and use a funnel to pour the engine oil into
the opening.
4. Recheck the engine oil level. Make sure
the oil level is not above the normal
operating range on the engine oil level
dipstick.
5. Install the engine oil level dipstick and ensure it is fully seated.
6. Fully install the engine oil filler cap by turning the filler cap clockwise until
three clicks are heard or until the cap
is fully seated.
ENGINE COOLANT CHECK WARNINGS
Do not add engine coolant when the
engine is hot. Steam and scalding
liquids released from a hot cooling
system can burn you badly. Also, spilling
coolant on hot engine parts can burn you. Do not put engine coolant in the
windshield washer fluid container. If
sprayed on the windshield, engine
coolant could make it difficult to see
through the windshield. WARNINGS
To reduce the risk of personal injury,
make sure the engine is cool before
unscrewing the coolant pressure
relief cap. The cooling system is under
pressure. steam and hot liquid can come
out forcefully when you loosen the cap
slightly. Do not add coolant further than the
MAX mark.
Checking the Engine Coolant
When the engine is cold, check the
concentration and level of the engine
coolant at the intervals listed in the
scheduled maintenance information. See
Scheduled Maintenance
(page 438).
Note: Make sure that the coolant level is
between the MIN and MAX marks on the
coolant reservoir.
Note: Coolant expands when it is hot. The
level may extend beyond the MAX mark.
Note: If the level is at the MIN mark, below
the MIN mark, or empty, add coolant
immediately. See
Adding Engine Coolant
in this chapter.
Maintain coolant concentration within
48% to 50%, which equates to a freeze
point between -30°F (-34°C) and -34°F
(-37°C).
Note: For best results, coolant
concentration should be tested with a
refractometer such as Rotunda tool
300-ROB75240 available from your
authorized dealer. Ford does not
recommend the use of hydrometers or
coolant test strips for measuring coolant
concentrations.
Note: Automotive fluids are not
interchangeable. Do not use engine coolant,
antifreeze or windshield washer fluid outside
of its specified function and vehicle location.
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Adding Engine Coolant
Note:
Do not use stop leak pellets, cooling
system sealants or additives as they can
cause damage to the engine cooling or
heating systems. Your warranty may not
cover these damages.
Note: During normal vehicle operation, the
engine coolant may change color from
orange to pink or light red. As long as the
engine coolant is clear and uncontaminated,
this color change does not indicate that the
engine coolant has degraded, nor does it
require that you drain the engine coolant,
flush the system or replace the engine
coolant.
Do not mix different colors or types of
coolant in your vehicle. Mixing of engine
coolants may harm your engine ’s cooling
system. The use of an improper coolant
may harm engine and cooling system
components and may void the warranty.
Use prediluted engine coolant meeting the
Ford specification. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 296).
In case of emergency, you can add a large
amount of water without engine coolant
in order to reach a vehicle service location.
In this instance, qualified personnel:
1. Must drain the cooling system.
2. Chemically clean the coolant system with Motorcraft Premium Cooling
System Flush.
3. Refill with engine coolant as soon as possible.
Water alone, without engine coolant, can
cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
Do not use the following as a coolant
substitute:
• Alcohol.
• Methanol. •
Brine.
• Any engine coolant mixed with alcohol
or methanol antifreeze or coolant.
Alcohol and other liquids can cause engine
damage from overheating or freezing.
Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to
the coolant. These can be harmful and
compromise the corrosion protection of
the engine coolant.
When adding coolant:
1. Unscrew the cap slowly. Any pressure will escape as you unscrew the cap.
2. Add prediluted engine coolant meeting
the Ford specification. See
Capacities
and Specifications (page 296).
3. Check the coolant level in the coolant reservoir the next few times you drive
your vehicle.
4. If necessary, add enough prediluted engine coolant to bring the coolant
level to the proper level.
Recycled Engine Coolant
Ford Motor Company does not recommend
the use of recycled engine coolant since a
Ford-approved recycling process is not yet
available.
Used engine coolant should be disposed
of in an appropriate manner. Follow your
community ’s regulations and standards
for recycling and disposing of automotive
fluids.
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Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates:
•
It may be necessary to have a Ford
authorized dealer increase the coolant
concentration above 50%.
• A coolant concentration of 60%
provides improved freeze point
protection. Engine coolant
concentrations above 60% decrease
the overheat protection characteristics
of the engine coolant and may cause
engine damage.
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
• It may be necessary to have a Ford
authorized dealer decrease the coolant
concentration to 40%.
• A coolant concentration of 40%
provides improved overheat protection.
Engine coolant concentrations below
40% will decrease the corrosion or
freeze protection characteristics of the
engine coolant and may cause engine
damage.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme
climates should use prediluted engine
coolant for optimum cooling system and
engine protection.
What You Should Know About Fail-
Safe Cooling
If you deplete the engine coolant supply,
fail-safe cooling allows you to temporarily
drive your vehicle before you incur
incremental component damage. The
fail-safe distance depends on ambient
temperatures, vehicle load and terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works
If the engine begins to overheat, the engine
coolant temperature gauge will move to
the red (hot) area and: the coolant temperature
warning light will illuminate the service engine soon indicator
will illuminate.
If the engine reaches a preset
over-temperature condition, the engine
automatically switches to alternating
cylinder operation. Each disabled cylinder
acts as an air pump and cools the engine.
When this occurs, your vehicle will still
operate. However:
• The engine power will be limited.
• This will disable the air conditioning
system.
Continued operation increases the engine
temperature, causing the engine to shut
down completely. Your steering and
braking effort increases in this situation.
Once the engine temperature cools, the
engine can be re-started. Take your vehicle
to an authorized dealer as soon as possible
to minimize engine damage.
When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated WARNINGS
Fail-safe mode is for use during
emergencies only. Operate your
vehicle in fail-safe mode only as long
as necessary to bring your vehicle to rest
in a safe location and seek immediate
repairs. When in fail-safe mode, your
vehicle will have limited power, will not be
able to maintain high-speed operation, and
may completely shut down without
warning, potentially losing engine power,
power steering assist, and power brake
assist, which may increase the possibility
of a crash resulting in serious injury. Never remove the coolant reservoir
cap while the engine is running or hot.
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You have limited engine power when in the
fail-safe mode, so drive your vehicle with
caution. Your vehicle will not maintain
high-speed operation and the engine will
operate poorly.
Remember that the engine is capable of
automatically shutting down to prevent
engine damage. In this situation:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely
possible and switch off the engine.
2. Tow your vehicle to an authorized dealer.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and add if low.
5. Re-start the engine and drive your vehicle to an authorized dealer.
Note: Driving your vehicle without repair
increases the chance of engine damage. See
an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Engine Fluid Temperature
Management (If Equipped) WARNINGS
To reduce the risk of collision and
injury, be prepared that the vehicle
speed may reduce and the vehicle
may not be able to accelerate with full
power until the fluid temperatures reduce. Never remove the coolant reservoir
cap while the engine is running or hot.
Your vehicle can pull a trailer, but because
of the added load, your vehicle
’s engine
may temporarily reach higher
temperatures during severe operating
conditions such as ascending a long or
steep grade while pulling a trailer in high
temperatures. At this time, you may notice your engine
coolant temperature gauge needle move
toward the H and the POWER REDUCED
TO LOWER TEMP message may appear
in the information display.
You may notice a reduction in vehicle
speed caused by reduced engine power.
In order to manage the engine fluid
temperatures, your vehicle may enter this
mode if certain high-temperature and
high-load conditions take place. The
amount of speed reduction depends on
many factors such as vehicle loading,
towing, grade and ambient temperature.
If this occurs, there is no need to pull off
the road. You can continue to drive your
vehicle while this message is active.
The air conditioning may also cycle on and
off during severe operating conditions to
protect overheating of the engine. When
the engine coolant temperature decreases
to a normal operating temperature, the air
conditioning will turn on once again.
If the engine coolant temperature gauge
moves fully into the red (hot) area, or if the
coolant temperature warning or service
engine soon messages appear in your
information display:
1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and shift the transmission into
P
.
2. Leave the engine running until the coolant temperature gauge needle
moves away from the red (hot) area.
After several minutes, if the
temperature does not drop, follow the
remaining steps.
3. Switch the engine off and wait for it to
cool before checking the coolant level.
4. If the coolant level is normal, restart your engine and continue.
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