Ford F-150 Owners Manual

							3. Raise the hood until the lift cylinders
hold it open.
4. To close, lower the hood and make sure that it is closed properly and fully
latched.
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 2.7L ECOBOOST™
2.7L EcoBoost 308
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing MaintenanceE190266 E176046   
						

							Power distribution box.  See Fuses (page 298).
A.
Battery.  See 
Changing the 12V Battery (page 318).
B.
Engine oil filler cap.  See 
Engine Oil Check (page 312).
C.
Engine oil dipstick.  See 
Engine Oil Dipstick (page 312).
D.
Brake fluid reservoir.  See 
Brake Fluid Check (page 318).
E.
Air filter assembly.  See 
Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 329).
F.
Engine coolant reservoir.  See 
Engine Coolant Check (page 313).
G.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir.  See 
Washer Fluid Check (page 318).
H.
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 3.5L ECOBOOST™ Windshield washer fluid reservoir.  See 
Washer Fluid Check (page 318).
A.
Battery.  See 
Changing the 12V Battery (page 318).
B.
Engine oil filler cap.  See 
Engine Oil Check (page 312).
C.
309
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing MaintenanceA
A
BDEFC
GHE166496   
						

							Engine oil dipstick.  See Engine Oil Dipstick (page 312).
D.
Brake fluid reservoir.  See 
Brake Fluid Check (page 318).
E.
Engine coolant reservoir.  See 
Engine Coolant Check (page 313).
F.
Air filter assembly.  See 
Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 329).
G.
Power distribution box.  See 
Fuses (page 298).
H.
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 3.5L Power distribution box.  See 
Fuses (page 298).
A.
Battery.  See 
Changing the 12V Battery (page 318).
B.
Engine oil filler cap.  See 
Engine Oil Check (page 312).
C.
Engine oil dipstick.  See 
Engine Oil Dipstick (page 312).
D.
Brake fluid reservoir.  See 
Brake Fluid Check (page 318).
E.
Air filter assembly.  See 
Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 329).
F.
310
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing MaintenanceE176214   
						

							Engine coolant reservoir.  See Engine Coolant Check (page 313).
G.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir.  See 
Washer Fluid Check (page 318).
H.
UNDER HOOD OVERVIEW - 5.0L Windshield washer fluid reservoir.  See 
Washer Fluid Check (page 318).
A.
Battery.  See 
Changing the 12V Battery (page 318).
B.
Engine oil filler cap.  See 
Engine Oil Check (page 312).
C.
Engine oil dipstick.  See 
Engine Oil Dipstick (page 312).
D.
Brake fluid reservoir.  See 
Brake Fluid Check (page 318).
E.
Engine coolant reservoir.  See 
Engine Coolant Check (page 313).
F.
Air filter assembly.  See 
Changing the Engine Air Filter (page 329).
G.
Power distribution box.  See 
Fuses (page 298).
H.
311
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing MaintenanceE166494
AAABACADAEAF
AAAGAAAH   
						

							ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
MINA
MAX
B
ENGINE OIL CHECK
1. Make sure that your vehicle is on level ground.
2. Switch 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 in park (P).
4. Open the hood. Protect yourself from engine heat.
5. Locate and carefully remove the engine
oil level dipstick. See Under Hood
Overview (page 310). 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 oil level dipstick back into the oil dipstick tube and ensure it is fully
seated.
Adding Engine Oil
Note: Do not remove the filler cap when
the engine is running.
Note: Do not remove the engine oil level
dipstick when the engine is running.
Note: Do not add oil further than the MAX
mark. Oil levels above the MAX mark may
cause engine damage. 312
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing MaintenanceE161560
AB E142732   
						

							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
370
).
3. Remove the engine oil filler cap and use a funnel to pour the engine oil into
the opening.
4. Wipe off any spilled oil.
5. Recheck the engine oil level. Make sure
the oil level is not above the normal
operating range on the engine oil level
dipstick.
6. Install the engine oil level dipstick and ensure it is fully seated.
7. 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 453).
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.
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 Robinair® Coolant
and Battery Refractometer 75240. We do
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.
313
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing Maintenance  
						

							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
coolant may change color from orange to
pink or light red. As long as the coolant is
clear and uncontaminated, this color change
does not indicate the coolant has degraded
nor does it require the coolant to be drained,
the system to be flushed, or the coolant to
be replaced.
Do not mix different colors or types of
coolant in your vehicle. Mixing of engine
coolants may harm your engine ’s cooling
system. Use prediluted engine coolant
meeting the correct specification.  See
Capacities and Specifications (page
370).  The use of an incorrect coolant may
harm the engine or cooling system
components and may not be covered by
the vehicle Warranty.
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 cooling 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 correct specification.  See
Capacities and Specifications (page
370
).
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
We do not recommend the use of recycled
engine coolant as an 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.
314
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing Maintenance  
						

							Severe Climates
If you drive in extremely cold climates:
•
It may be necessary to have an
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 an
authorized dealer decrease the coolant
concentration to 40%.
• A coolant concentration of 40%
provides improved overheat protection.
Engine coolant concentrations below
40% decrease the freeze and corrosion
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
completely shut down.  Your steering and
braking effort increases in this situation.
When the engine temperature cools, you
can re-start your engine. 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.
315
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing Maintenance    
						

							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.
Contact an authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
Engine Fluid Temperature
Management (If Equipped) WARNINGS
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 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.
316
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing Maintenance  
						

							5. If the coolant is low, add coolant, and
restart the engine. See Adding Engine
Coolant or How Fail-Safe Cooling
Works in this chapter for more
information.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID CHECK
If required, have an authorized dealer check
and change the transmission fluid at the
correct service interval.  See 
Scheduled
Maintenance (page 453).
The automatic transmission does not have
a transmission fluid dipstick.
Refer to your scheduled maintenance
information for scheduled intervals for fluid
checks and changes. Your transmission
does not consume fluid. However, if the
transmission slips, shifts slowly or if you
notice a sign of leaking fluid, contact an
authorized dealer.
Do not use supplemental transmission
fluid additives, treatments or cleaning
agents. The use of these materials may
affect transmission operation and result
in damage to internal transmission
components. TRANSFER CASE FLUID
CHECK
1. Clean the filler plug.
2. Remove the filler plug.
3. Inspect the fluid level. The fluid level
should be within 
0.12 in (3 mm) from
the bottom of the hole.
4. Add fluid through the filler hole.
Use only fluid that meets Ford
specifications.  See 
Capacities and
Specifications (page 370).
317
F-150 (TFC) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 08/2015, First Printing MaintenanceE170444