2021 FORD F-150 radiator

Driving In Mud
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud.
After driving through mud, clean your
vehicle. Excess mud stuck on the wheels
and tires and rotating components can
cause an imbalance and result in damage.
Note:
The vehicle brakes are less effective
when wet or muddy.
Driving Over Rocks and Gravel
Never attempt to straddle a rock that is
large enough to strike your axles or
undercarriage.
Leave a generous gap between your
vehicle and other vehicles to minimize the
risk of damage. Avoid dust clouds as they
reduce visibility.
Climbing A Hill WARNING: Extreme care should
be used when steering the vehicle in
reverse down a slope so as not to cause
the vehicle to swerve out of control.
Do not drive over the crest of a hill without
seeing what conditions are on the other
side. Do not drive in reverse over a hill
without the aid of an observer.
Note: Avoid turning on steep slopes or hills.
A danger lies in losing traction, slipping
sideways and possible vehicle roll over.
Note: Too much acceleration can cause
the tires to slip, spin or lose traction,
resulting in loss of vehicle control. Driving Through Water WARNING:
Do not attempt to
cross a deep, fast flowing body of water.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death.
The key to a safe crossing is the water
depth, current and bottom of the water's
condition. On soft bottoms, the vehicle
sinks in, effectively increasing the water
level on the vehicle. Make sure to consider
this when determining the depth of water.
Determine the depth and speed of the
current before attempting a water crossing.
Be aware that obstacles and debris could
be beneath the water ’s surface.
Note: Cross flowing water at an angle
heading slightly upstream.
Note: Tread lightly and avoid damage to
the environment.
Water can cause permanent damage that
may not be covered by your vehicle
warranty. See
Driving Through Water
Limitations (page 474).
Note: Failure to follow the recommended
speeds can result in vehicle damage.
Muddy waters can reduce the cooling
system effectiveness by depositing debris
into the radiator.
High currents even in shallow water can
wash the dirt out from around your tires or
push your vehicle across slippery rocks or
surfaces.
Do not cross any body of water that is fast
flowing and rising.
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Driving Hints

Using Trail Control
Trail Control provides you the ability to
maneuver the vehicle without using the
throttle and brake pedals.
The system controls acceleration and
braking in difficult off-road environments,
which allows you to focus on steering. See
Trail Control (page 324).
Trail Control Performance:
• Manages wheel slip to maximize
traction.
• Provides braking to maximize traction
in descents.
Using Trail One Pedal Drive
(If
Equipped)
Trail one pedal drive allows you to
accelerate and brake using only the
accelerator pedal.
Use this when driving over large obstacles,
such as rocks or logs, to help maintain a
constant vehicle speed.
In 4H, the system offers lift pedal braking
and auto hill hold functionality. See
What
Is Trail One Pedal Drive (page 325).
Note: Trail one pedal drive is only available
when the vehicle is in 4H or 4L.
AFTER DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
OFF-ROAD - RAPTOR WARNING:
After off-road use,
before returning to the road, check the
wheels and tires for damage. Off-road
use may cause damage to your wheels
and tires that can lead to tire failure, loss
of vehicle control, serious injury or death. WARNING:
Always re-inflate tires
to recommended tire pressures before
the vehicle is operated on-road. The
recommended pressure is located on the
tire label or safety certification label,
located on the B-pillar, inside the driver's
door.
Driving off-road places more stress on your
vehicle than most on-road driving. After
driving off-road, check for damage and, if
necessary, have your vehicle repaired by
an authorized dealer.
Inspect the underbody of your vehicle by
checking tires, body structure, steering,
suspension, and exhaust system for
damage.
Check the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as needed.
Remove accumulations of plants or brush.
These things could be a fire hazard or hide
damage to the fuel lines, brake hoses, and
propeller shafts.
After operation in mud, sand, water, or
similar dirty conditions, inspect the
underbody and clean your vehicle.
AFTER DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
OFF-ROAD WARNING:
After off-road use,
before returning to the road, check the
wheels and tires for damage. Off-road
use may cause damage to your wheels
and tires that can lead to tire failure, loss
of vehicle control, serious injury or death.
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Driving Hints

WARNING: Always re-inflate tires
to recommended tire pressures before
the vehicle is operated on-road. The
recommended pressure is located on the
tire label or safety certification label,
located on the B-pillar, inside the driver's
door.
Driving off-road places more stress on your
vehicle than most on-road driving. After
driving off-road check for damage to your
vehicle and, if necessary, have your vehicle
fixed as soon as possible.
Inspect the underbody of your vehicle by
checking tires, body structure, steering,
suspension, and exhaust system for
damage.
Check the radiator for mud and debris and
clean as needed.
Remove accumulations of plants or brush.
These things could be a fire hazard or hide
damage to the fuel lines, brake hoses, and
propeller shafts.
After extended operation in mud, sand,
water, or similar dirty conditions, inspect
the underbody and clean your vehicle as
soon as possible.
If you experience unusual vibration after
driving in mud, slush or similar conditions,
check the wheels for impacted material.
Impacted material can cause vibrations
while driving and wheel imbalance.
Remove the material to resolve the
problem.
COLD WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS
The functional operation of some
components and systems can be affected
at temperatures below approximately
-13°F (-25°C)
. DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE WARNING:
If you are driving in
slippery conditions that require tire
chains or cables, then it is critical that
you drive cautiously. Keep speeds down,
allow for longer stopping distances and
avoid aggressive steering to reduce the
chances of a loss of vehicle control
which can lead to serious injury or death.
If the rear end of your vehicle slides while
cornering, steer in the direction of the
slide until you regain control of your
vehicle.
On ice and snow, you should drive more
slowly than usual. Your vehicle has a four
wheel anti-lock brake system, do not pump
the brake pedal.
See Anti-Lock Braking
System Limitations (page 308).
BREAKING-IN
Your vehicle requires a break-in period. For
the first 1,000 mi (1,600 km), avoid driving
at high speeds, heavy braking, aggressive
shifting or using your vehicle to tow. During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics.
DRIVING ECONOMICALLY
The following helps to improve fuel
consumption:
• There is no need to wait for your engine
to warm up. The vehicle is ready to
drive immediately after starting.
• Your fuel consumption should improve
throughout your hybrid's break-in
period.
• Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Driving Hints

When operating your vehicle with a
snowplow:
•
Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h).
• Your engine could run at a higher
temperature than normal.
•If you are driving more than
15 mi
(24 km) at temperatures above
freezing, angle the plow blade
either full left or full right to provide
maximum airflow to the radiator.
• If you are driving less than
15 mi
(24 km) at speeds up to 45 mph
(72 km/h) in cold weather, you do
not need to worry about blade
position to provide maximum
airflow.
• Shift to 4L when plowing in small areas
at speeds below
5 mph (8 km/h).
• Shift to
4H when plowing larger areas
or light snow at higher speeds above
5 mph (8 km/h)
. Do not exceed
15 mph (24 km/h).
• Do not shift the transmission from a
forward gear to reverse (R) until the
engine is at idle and the wheels have
stopped.
Note: Careless or high-speed driving when
snowplowing, which results in significant
vehicle decelerations, can deploy the airbag.
Such driving also increases the risk of
accidents.
Note: Drive your vehicle at least
500 mi
(800 km) before using your vehicle for
snowplowing.
Note: Follow the severe duty schedule for
engine oil and transmission fluid change
intervals. See
Special Operating
Conditions Scheduled Maintenance (page
675
). SNOWPLOW MODE
WHAT IS SNOWPLOW MODE
Snowplow mode reduces vehicle electrical
load to allow the electrical system to have
sufficient power to support residential
snowplow use.
SWITCHING SNOWPLOW MODE
ON AND OFF
Vehicles receive a physical button in the
instrument panel or an option in the SYNC
menu to enable snowplow mode.
Snowplow mode does not remember the
setting when you switch your vehicle off.
You must re-enable the mode every time
you wish to use it.
The following features turn off and are
disabled in snowplow mode and cannot
be turned back on until snowplow mode
is switched off:
•
120 V
inverter.
• Fog lamps.
• Heated and cooled front seats.
The body module also activates the
snowplow relay that provides power to
aftermarket snowplow controls.
Note: The electrical system supports the
addition of a residential snowplow of up to
60 A
continuous, and snowplow lights of
up to 20 A continuous using snowplow
mode. The system does not support
snowplow usage with additional electrical
aftermarket accessories.
Push Button
(If Equipped)
Press the snowplow button on the
instrument panel to switch on snowplow
mode. The snowplow button illuminates
and a message displays.
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Snow Plowing - Vehicles With: Snow Plow Mode

Check Every Six Months
The battery connections. Clean if necessary.
The body and door drain holes for obstructions. Clean if necessary. The cooling system fluid level and the coolant system strength. The door weatherstrips for wear. Lubricate if necessary.
The hinges, latches and outside locks for proper operation. Lubricate if necessary. The parking brake for proper operation.
The seatbelts and seat latches for wear and function.
Safety warning lamps, brake, ABS, airbag and seatbelt for operation.
The washer spray and wiper operation. Clean or replace blades as necessary.
Multi-Point Inspection
It is important to have the systems on your
vehicle regularly checked. This can help
identify potential issues and prevent major
problems. We recommend having the
following multi-point inspection performed
at every scheduled maintenance interval
to help make sure your vehicle keeps
running great. Multi-Point Inspection
Hazard warning system operation
Accessory drive belt or belts
Horn operation
Battery performance
Radiator, cooler, heater and air conditioninghoses
Engine air filter
Suspension components for leaks ordamage
Exhaust system
Steering and linkage
Exterior lamps operation
Tires including the spare for wear andproper pressure 2
Fluid levels 1
; fill if necessary
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F-150 (TFD) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202104, Second-Printing Scheduled Maintenance