2021 FORD F-150 check engine

UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 3.5L ECOBOOST™
Engine compartment fuse box. See Fuses (page 493).
A.
Battery.
See Changing the 12V Battery (page 519).
B.
Engine oil filler cap.
See Checking the Engine Oil Level (page 510).
C.
Engine oil dipstick.
See Engine Oil Dipstick Overview (page 510).
D.
Brake fluid reservoir.
See Brakes (page 308).
E.
Air filter.
See Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 517).
F.
Engine coolant reservoir.
See Checking the Coolant (page 511).
G.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir.
H.
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UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 3.5L, HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE
(HEV)
Engine compartment fuse box. See Fuses (page 493).
A.
Battery.
See Changing the 12V Battery (page 519).
B.
Engine oil dipstick.
See Engine Oil Dipstick Overview (page 510).
C.
Engine oil filler cap.
See Adding Engine Oil (page 510).
D.
Brake fluid reservoir. See
Checking the Brake Fluid (page 309).
E.
Air filter.
See Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 517).
F.
Secondary coolant reservoir. See
Checking the Coolant (page 511).
G.
Engine coolant reservoir. See
Checking the Coolant (page 511).
H.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir.
I.
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UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 5.0L
Engine compartment fuse box. See Under Hood Fuse Box (page 493).
A.
Engine oil filler cap.
See Engine Oil Dipstick Overview (page 510).
B.
Engine oil dipstick.
See Engine Oil Dipstick Overview (page 510).
C.
Brake fluid reservoir.
See Checking the Brake Fluid (page 309).
D.
Air filter assembly.
See Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 517).
E.
Engine coolant reservoir.
See Checking the Coolant (page 511).
F.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir.
G.
Battery.
See Changing the 12V Battery (page 519).
H.
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ENGINE OIL
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK OVERVIEW
- DIESEL
Minimum.
A
Nominal.
B
Maximum.
C
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK OVERVIEW
- GASOLINE, HYBRID ELECTRIC
VEHICLE (HEV) Minimum.
A
Nominal.
B
Maximum.
C CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Make sure that your vehicle is on level
ground.
2. Check the oil level before starting the engine, or switch the engine off after
warming up and wait 10 minutes for
the oil to drain into the oil pan.
3. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
4. Reinstall the dipstick and make sure it is fully seated.
5. Remove the dipstick again to check the
oil level.
Note: If the oil level is between the
maximum and minimum marks, the oil level
is acceptable. Do not add oil.
6. If the oil level is at the minimum mark, immediately add oil.
7. Reinstall the dipstick. Make sure it is fully seated.
Note: The oil consumption of new engines
reaches its normal level after approximately
3,000 mi (5,000 km).
ADDING ENGINE OIL WARNING: Do not remove the filler
cap when the engine is running. WARNING:
Do not add engine oil
when the engine is hot. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury.
Do not use supplemental engine oil
additives because they are unnecessary
and could lead to engine damage that the
vehicle warranty may not cover.
1. Clean the area surrounding the engine oil filler cap before you remove it.
2. Remove the engine oil filler cap.
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3. Add engine oil that meets our
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 574).
4. Reinstall the engine oil filler cap. Turn it clockwise until you feel a strong
resistance.
Note: Do not add oil further than the
maximum mark. Oil levels above the
maximum mark may cause engine damage.
Note: Immediately soak up any oil spillage
with an absorbent cloth.
RESETTING THE ENGINE OIL
CHANGE REMINDER - VEHICLES
WITH: 4.2 INCH SCREEN
1. Press the Menu button on the steering
wheel to enter the information display
main menu.
2. Select
Truck Info.
3. Select
Oil Life.
4. Select
Reset Oil Life.
5. Press and hold the OK button until the
system reset confirmation appears.
RESETTING THE ENGINE OIL
CHANGE REMINDER - VEHICLES
WITH: 8 INCH SCREEN/12.3 INCH
SCREEN
Depending on your cluster, there are two
paths to reset the engine oil change
reminder.
Path 1
1. Press the Menu button on the steering
wheel to enter the information display
main menu.
2. Select
Settings.
3. Select
Vehicle Maintenance.
4. Select
Oil Life.
5. Press and hold the OK button until the
system reset confirmation appears. Path 2
1.
Press the Menu button on the steering
wheel to enter the information display
main menu.
2. Select
Truck Info.
3. Select
Engine Information.
4. Press and hold the OK button until the
system reset confirmation appears.
ENGINE OIL CAPACITY AND
SPECIFICATION
For filling information, please refer to the
Capacities and Specifications section of
your owner's manual. See
Engine Oil
Capacity and Specification (page 511).
CHECKING THE COOLANT
When the engine is cold, check the
concentration and level of the coolant at
the intervals listed in the scheduled
maintenance information. See Scheduled
Maintenance
(page 664).
Note: Make sure that the coolant level is
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the coolant reservoir.
Note: Coolant expands when it is hot. The
level may extend beyond the
MAX mark.
If the coolant level is at or below the
minimum mark, add prediluted coolant
immediately.
Maintain coolant concentration within
48% to 50%, which equates to a freeze
point between
-29°F (-34°C) and -35°F
(-37°C). Coolant concentration should be
checked using a refractometer. We do not
recommend the use of hydrometers or
coolant test strips for measuring coolant
concentration.
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Maintenance

Adding Coolant
WARNING: Keep your hands and
clothing clear of the cooling fan. WARNING:
Do not remove the
coolant reservoir cap when the engine is
on or the cooling system is hot. Wait 10
minutes for the cooling system to cool
down. Cover the coolant reservoir cap
with a thick cloth to prevent the
possibility of scalding and slowly remove
the cap. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury. WARNING:
Do not add engine
coolant when the engine is on or the
cooling system is hot. Failure to follow
this instruction could result in personal
injury. WARNING:
Do not add coolant
further than the MAX mark. WARNING:
Do not put coolant in
the windshield washer reservoir. If
sprayed on the windshield, coolant could
make it difficult to see through the
windshield. WARNING:
Do not allow the fluid
to touch your skin or eyes. If this
happens, rinse the affected areas
immediately with plenty of water and
contact your physician.
Note: Do not use stop leak pellets, cooling
system sealants, or non-specified additives
as they can cause damage to the engine
cooling or heating systems. Resulting
component damage may not be covered by
the vehicle Warranty.
Note: Automotive fluids are not
interchangeable. It is very important to use prediluted
coolant approved to the correct
specification in order to avoid plugging the
small passageways in the engine cooling
system. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 574). Do not mix
different colors or types of coolant in your
vehicle. Mixing of engine coolants or using
an incorrect coolant may harm the engine
or cooling system components and could
void the vehicle Warranty.
Note: If prediluted coolant is not available,
use the approved concentrated coolant
diluting it to 50/50 with deionized or
distilled water. See
Capacities and
Specifications (page 574). Using water that
has not been deionized may contribute to
deposit formation, corrosion and plugging
of the small cooling system passageways.
To top up the coolant level do the
following:
1. Unscrew the cap slowly. Any pressure escapes as you unscrew the cap.
2. Add enough prediluted coolant to reach the correct level.
Note: We do not recommend the use of
recycled coolant.
3. Replace the coolant reservoir cap. Turn
the cap clockwise until it contacts the
hard stop.
4. Check the coolant level in the coolant reservoir the next few times you drive
your vehicle. If necessary, repeat step
2.
If you have to add more than
1.1 qt (1 L) of
engine coolant per month, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Operating an engine with a low level of
coolant can result in engine overheating
and possible engine damage.
In case of emergency, you can add a large
amount of water without engine coolant
in order to reach a vehicle service location.
Service your vehicle as soon as possible.
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Water alone, without engine coolant, can
cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
Do not use the following as a coolant
substitute, as they can cause engine
damage from overheating or freezing:
•
Alcohol.
• Methanol.
• Brine.
• Any coolant mixed with alcohol or
methanol antifreeze.
Do not add extra inhibitors or additives to
the coolant. These can be harmful and
compromise the corrosion protection of
the coolant.
Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates, you
may need to increase the coolant
concentration above 50%.
Note: A coolant concentration of 60%
provides improved freeze point protection.
Coolant concentrations above 60%
decrease the overheat protection
characteristics of the coolant and could
cause engine damage.
If you drive in extremely hot climates, you
may need to decrease the coolant
concentration to 40%.
Note: A coolant concentration of 40%
provides improved overheat protection.
Coolant concentrations below 40%
decrease the overheat and corrosion
protection characteristics of the coolant and
could cause engine damage.
Coolant Change WARNING: Do not dispose of
coolant in the household refuse or the
public sewage system. Use an authorized
waste disposal facility. Change the coolant at specific mileage
intervals. Refer to the scheduled
maintenance information. See
Normal
Scheduled Maintenance (page 667).
Note: Dispose of used coolant in the
appropriate manner.
Follow your community's regulations and
standards for recycling and disposing of
automotive fluids.
Fail-Safe Cooling
Fail-safe cooling allows you to temporarily
drive your vehicle before any incremental
component damage occurs. The fail-safe
distance depends on ambient
temperature, vehicle load and terrain.
How Fail-Safe Cooling Works If the engine begins to overheat,
the coolant temperature gauge
moves toward the red zone:
A warning lamp illuminates and
a message may appear in the
information display.
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 still
operates, however:
• Engine power is limited.
• The air conditioning system turns off.
Continued operation increases the engine
temperature, causing the engine to
completely shut down. Your steering and
braking effort increases in this situation.
When the engine temperature cools, you
can re-start the engine. Have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Maintenance

When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated
WARNING: 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. WARNING:
Do not remove the
coolant reservoir cap when the engine is
on or the cooling system is hot. Wait 10
minutes for the cooling system to cool
down. Cover the coolant reservoir cap
with a thick cloth to prevent the
possibility of scalding and slowly remove
the cap. Failure to follow this instruction
could result in personal injury.
Your vehicle has limited engine power
when in the fail-safe mode, drive your
vehicle with caution. Your vehicle does not
maintain high-speed operation and the
engine could 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 the engine off.
2. If you are a member of a roadside assistance program, we recommend
that you contact your roadside
assistance service provider.
3. If this is not possible, wait for a short period of time for the engine to cool. 4. Check the coolant level. If the coolant
level is at or below the minimum mark,
add prediluted coolant immediately.
5. When the engine temperature cools, you can re-start the engine. Have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible to
minimize engine damage.
Note: Driving your vehicle without repair
increases the chance of engine damage.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Management
(If Equipped) WARNING:
To reduce the risk of
crash and injury, be prepared that the
vehicle speed may reduce and the
vehicle may not be able to accelerate
with full power until the coolant
temperature reduces.
If you tow a trailer with your vehicle, the
engine may temporarily reach a higher
temperature during severe operating
conditions, for example ascending a long
or steep grade in high ambient
temperatures.
At this time, you may notice the coolant
temperature gauge moves toward the red
zone and a 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 coolant
temperature. Your vehicle may enter this
mode if certain high-temperature and
high-load conditions take place. The
amount of speed reduction depends on
vehicle loading, grade and ambient
temperature. If this occurs, there is no
need to stop your vehicle. You can
continue to drive.
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