2021 FORD TRANSIT Owners Manual

GENERAL MAINTENANCE
INFORMATION
Why Maintain Your Vehicle?
Carefully following the maintenance
schedule helps protect against major repair
expenses resulting from neglect or
inadequate maintenance and may help to
increase the value of your vehicle when
you sell or trade it. Keep all receipts for
completed maintenance with your vehicle.
We have established regular maintenance
intervals for your vehicle based upon
rigorous testing. It is important that you
have your vehicle serviced at the correct
times. These intervals serve two purposes;
one is to maintain the reliability of your
vehicle and the second is to keep the cost
of owning your vehicle down.
It is your responsibility to have all
scheduled maintenance performed and to
make sure that the materials used meet
the specifications identified in this owner's
manual. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 352).
Failure to perform scheduled maintenance
invalidates warranty coverage on parts
affected by the lack of maintenance.
Why Maintain Your Vehicle at Your
Dealership?
Factory-trained Technicians
Service technicians participate in extensive
factory-sponsored certification training to
help them become experts on the
operation of your vehicle. Ask your
dealership about the training and
certification their technicians have
received. Genuine Ford and Motorcraft
Replacement Parts
Dealerships stock Ford, Motorcraft and
Ford-authorized branded re-manufactured
replacement parts. These parts meet or
exceed our specifications. Parts installed
at your dealership carry a nationwide
12-month or 12,000 mi (20,000 km) parts
and labor limited warranty.
If you do not use Ford authorized parts they
may not meet our specifications and
depending on the part, it could affect
emissions compliance.
Convenience
Many dealerships have extended evening
and Saturday hours to make your service
visit more convenient and they offer one
stop shopping. They can perform any
services that are required on your vehicle,
from general maintenance to crash repairs.
Note:
Not all dealers have extended hours
or body shops. Please contact your dealer
for details.
Protecting Your Investment
Maintenance is an investment that pays
dividends in the form of improved
reliability, durability and resale value. To
maintain the correct performance of your
vehicle and its emission control systems,
make sure you have scheduled
maintenance performed at the designated
intervals.
Your vehicle is equipped with the
Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system, which
displays a message in the information
display at the correct oil change interval.
This interval may be up to one year or
10,000 mi (16,000 km)
.
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When the oil change message appears in
the information display, it is time for an oil
change. Make sure you perform the oil
change within two weeks or 500 miles
(800 kilometers) of the message
appearing. Make sure you reset the
Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor after each oil
change. See Changing the Engine Oil
and Oil Filter (page 283).
If your information display resets
prematurely or becomes inoperative, you
should perform the oil change interval at
six months or
5,000 mi (8,000 km) from
your last oil change. Never exceed one year
or
10,000 mi (16,000 km) between oil
change intervals.
Your vehicle is very sophisticated and built
with multiple, complex, performance
systems. Every manufacturer develops
these systems using different
specifications and performance features.
That is why it is important to rely upon your
dealership to correctly diagnose and repair
your vehicle.
Ford Motor Company has recommended
maintenance intervals for various parts
and component systems based upon
engineering testing. Ford Motor Company
relies upon this testing to determine the
most appropriate mileage for replacement
of oils and fluids to protect your vehicle at
the lowest overall cost to you and
recommends against maintenance
schedules that deviate from the scheduled
maintenance information.
We strongly recommend the use of only
genuine Ford, Motorcraft or
Ford-authorized re-manufactured
replacement parts engineered for your
vehicle. Additives and Chemicals
This owner's manual and the Ford
Workshop Manual list the recommended
additives and chemicals for your vehicle.
We do not recommend using chemicals or
additives not approved by us as part of
your vehicle
’s normal maintenance. Please
consult your warranty information.
Oils, Fluids and Flushing
In many cases, fluid discoloration is a
normal operating characteristic and, by
itself, does not necessarily indicate a
concern or that the fluid needs to be
changed. However, a qualified expert, such
as the factory-trained technicians at your
dealership, should inspect discolored fluids
that also show signs of overheating or
foreign material contamination
immediately.
Make sure to change your vehicle ’s oils and
fluids at the specified intervals or in
conjunction with a repair. Flushing is a
viable way to change fluid for many vehicle
sub-systems during scheduled
maintenance. It is critical that systems are
flushed only with new fluid that is the same
as that required to fill and operate the
system or using a Ford-approved flushing
chemical.
Owner Checks and Services
Make sure you perform the following basic
maintenance checks and inspections every
month or at six-month intervals. Check every month
Engine oil level.
Function of all interior and exterior lights.
Tires (including spare) for wear and
correct pressure.
Windshield washer fluid level.
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Check every six months
Battery connections. Clean if necessary.
Body and door drain holes for obstruc-
tions. Clean if necessary.
Cooling system fluid level and coolant
strength.
Door weatherstrips for wear. Lubricate if
necessary.
Front door check arms for correct opera-
tion.
Hinges, latches and outside locks for
correct operation. Lubricate if necessary.
Parking brake for correct operation.
Seatbelts and seat latches for wear and
function.
Safety warning lamps (brake, ABS, airbag
and seatbelt) for operation.
Washer spray and wiper operation. Clean
or replace blades as necessary.
Multi-point Inspection
In order to keep your vehicle running
correctly, it is important to have the
systems on your vehicle checked regularly.
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 correctly. Multi-point inspection
Accessory drive belt(s).
Battery performance.
Engine air filter. Multi-point inspection
Exhaust system.
Exterior lamps and hazard warning
system operation.
Fluid levels *
; fill if necessary.
For oil and fluid leaks.
Horn operation.
Radiator, cooler, heater and A/C hoses.
Suspension component for leaks or
damage.
Steering and linkage.
Tires (including spare) for wear and
correct pressure **
.
Windshield for cracks, chips or pits.
Washer spray and wiper operation.
* Brake, coolant recovery reservoir,
automatic transmission, power steering (if
equipped with hydraulic power assist
steering) and window washer.
** If your vehicle is equipped with a
temporary mobility kit, check the tire
sealant expiration Use By date on the
canister. Replace as needed.
Be sure to ask your dealership service
advisor or technician about the multi-point
vehicle inspection. It is a comprehensive
way to perform a thorough inspection of
your vehicle. Your checklist gives you
immediate feedback on the overall
condition of your vehicle.
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NORMAL SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE
Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor™
Your vehicle is equipped with an Intelligent
Oil-Life Monitor that determines when you
should change the engine oil based on how
your vehicle is used. By using several
important factors in its calculations, the
monitor helps reduce the cost of owning
your vehicle and reduces environmental
waste at the same time.
The following table provides examples of
vehicle use and its impact on oil change
intervals. It is a guideline only. Actual oil
change intervals depend on several factors
and generally decrease with severity of
use.When to expect the oil change message
Vehicle use and example
Interval
Normal
7,500– 10,000 mi
(12,000– 16,000 km) Normal commuting with highway driving.
No, or moderate, load or towing.
Flat to moderately hilly roads.
No extended idling.
Severe
5,000– 7,500 mi
(8,000– 12,000 km) Moderate to heavy load or towing.
Mountainous or off-road conditions.
Extended idling.
Extended hot or cold operation.
Extreme
3,000–5,000 mi
(4,800–8,000 km) Maximum load or towing.
Extreme hot or cold operation.
Normal Maintenance Intervals At every oil change interval as indicated by the information display
1
Change engine oil and filter. **
Rotate tires, inspect tire wear and measure tread depth.
Perform a multi-point inspection (recommended).
Inspect the automatic transmission fluid level (if equipped with dipstick). Consult your
dealer for requirements.
Inspect the brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, brake linings, hoses and parking brake.
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At every oil change interval as indicated by the information display
1
Inspect the engine cooling system strength and hoses.
Inspect the exhaust system and heat shields.
Inspect front axle and U-joints. Lubricate if equipped with grease fittings.
Inspect the steering linkage, ball joints, suspension, tire-rod ends, driveshaft and U-
joints. Lubricate any areas with grease fittings.
Inspect the wheels and related components for abnormal noise, wear, looseness or
drag.
1 Do not exceed one year or 10,000 mi (16,000 km) between service intervals.
** Reset the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor after engine oil and filter changes. Brake fluid maintenance
1
Change the brake fluid. 2
Every 3 years
1 Perform this maintenance item every 3 years. Do not exceed the designated time for
the interval.
2 Brake fluid servicing requires special equipment available at your authorized dealer. Other maintenance items
1
Replace cabin air filter.
Every
20,000 mi
(32,000 km)
Torque rear axle U-bolts to specification.
Every
30,000 mi
(48,000 km) Replace engine air filter.
Change engine coolant.2
At
200,000 mi
(320,000 km)
Replace spark plugs.
Every
100,000 mi
(160,000 km) Inspect accessory drive belt(s). 3
Change automatic transmission fluid and filter.
Every
150,000 mi
(240,000 km) Change front axle fluid.
Change rear axle fluid.
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Other maintenance items
1
Change the transfer case fluid. 4
Replace accessory drive belt(s).
1 Perform these maintenance items within 3,000 mi (4,800 km) of the last engine oil
and filter change. Do not exceed the designated distance for the interval.
2 Initial replacement at ten years or
200,000 mi (320,000 km), then every five years or
100,000 mi (160,000 km).
3 After initial inspection, inspect every other oil change until replaced.
4 Four-wheel drive only.
SPECIAL OPERATING
CONDITIONS SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE
If you operate your vehicle primarily
in any
of the following conditions, you need to
perform extra maintenance as indicated.
If you operate your vehicle
occasionally
under any of these conditions, it is not
necessary to perform the extra
maintenance. For specific
recommendations, see your dealership
service advisor or technician. Perform the services shown in the
following tables when specified or within
3000 miles (4800 kilometers) of the oil
change required message appearing in the
information display.
•
Example 1
: The message appears at
28,750 mi (46,270 km). Perform the
30,000 mi (48,000 km) automatic
transmission fluid replacement.
• Example 2
: The message does not
appear, but the odometer reads
30,000 mi (48,000 km) (for example,
the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor was
reset at
25,000 mi (40,000 km)).
Perform the engine air filter
replacement. Towing a trailer or using a car-top carrier
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the information
display and perform services listed in the Normal Scheduled
Maintenance chart.
As required
Inspect and lubricate U-joints.
Inspect frequently,
service as required
See axle maintenance items under
Exceptions.
Replace spark plugs.
Every 60000 miles
(96000 km)
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Extensive idling or low-speed driving for long distances, as in heavy commercial use
(such as delivery, taxi, patrol car or livery)
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the information
display and perform services listed in the Normal Scheduled
Maintenance chart.
As required
Replace engine air filter.
Inspect frequently,
service as required
Replace spark plugs.
Every 60000 miles
(96000 km) Operating in dusty or sandy conditions (such as unpaved or dusty roads)
Replace engine air filter.
Inspect frequently,
service as required
Inspect the wheels and related components for abnormal
noise, wear, looseness or drag.
Every 5000 miles (8000
km)
Rotate tires, inspect tires for wear and measure tread depth.
Change engine oil and filter. *
Every 5000 miles (8000
km) or six months
* Reset your Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor after each engine oil and filter change. Off-road operation
Inspect steering linkage, ball joints and U-joints. Lubricate if
equipped with grease fittings.
Inspect frequently,
service as required
Replace engine air filter.
Change engine oil and filter. *
Every 5000 miles (8000
km) or six months
Inspect the wheels and related components for abnormal
noise, wear, looseness or drag.
Rotate tires, inspect tires for wear and measure tread depth.
* Reset your Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor after each engine oil and filter change.
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Exclusive use of E85 (Flex fuel vehicles only)
If ran exclusively on E85, fill the fuel tank full with regular
unleaded fuel.
Every oil change interval
Exceptions
There are several exceptions to the Normal
Schedule:
Axle and Transfer Case Maintenance
Axle(s) and transfer case (Four-wheel
drive vehicles) fluid changes or level
checks are not required unless a leak is
suspected or the assembly has been
submerged in water. Contact an authorized
dealer for service.
California fuel filter replacement
If you register your vehicle in California, the
California Air Resources Board has
determined that the failure to perform this
maintenance item does not nullify the
emission warranty or limit recall liability
before the completion of your vehicle's
useful life. Ford Motor Company, however,
urges you to have all recommended
maintenance services performed at the
specified intervals and to record all vehicle
service.
Hot climate oil change intervals
Vehicles operating in the Middle East,
North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa or
locations with similar climates using an
American Petroleum Institute (API)
Certified for Gasoline Engines (Certification
mark) oil of SM or SN quality, the normal
oil change interval is 5,000 mi (8,000 km).
If the available API SM or SN oils are not
available, then the oil change interval is
3,000 mi (4,800 km)
. Engine air filter replacement
The life of the engine air filter is dependent
on exposure to dusty and dirty conditions.
Vehicles operated in these conditions
require frequent inspection and
replacement of the engine air filter.
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