Ford F-650/750 (2018 year). Manual — part 36

BREAKING-IN

You need to break in new tires for
approximately 300 mi (480 km). During
this time, your vehicle may exhibit some
unusual driving characteristics.

Avoid driving too fast during the first
1,000 mi (1,600 km). Vary your speed
frequently and change up through the
gears early. Do not labor the engine.

Drive your new vehicle at least 1,000 mi
(1,600 km) before towing a trailer. Make
sure you use the specified engine oil. See
Capacities and Specifications (page
269).

Do not add friction modifier compounds
or special break-in oils during the first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation.
These additives may prevent piston ring
seating.

GENERAL DRIVING POINTS

General Information

•

Accelerate smoothly and evenly. Rapid
acceleration increases fuel
consumption without increasing engine
performance.

•

When approaching a hill, press the
accelerator smoothly to start the
incline at full power, and then shift
down as needed to maintain vehicle
speed.

•

When going down a hill, or long steep
grades, prevent overspeeding of the
engine. Normally, choose the same
gear to descend the hill that you use to
ascend the hill. The engine governor
has no control over engine speed when
it is being pushed by a loaded vehicle.

•

Do not operate in a gear that permits
an engine speed more than the
maximum governed speed or high-idle
RPM (no load).

•

Always shift to a lower gear at high
altitudes to prevent engine smoking.

Backing Up

WARNINGS

All vehicles have blind spots. To
reduce the risk of severe injury or
property damage, never move your

vehicle to the side or rear or change lanes
without being sure your way is clear on
both sides and to your rear.

To reduce the risk of the possibility
of personal injury while backing up
the vehicle, always be sure your

vehicle’s path is clear.

Before backing up your vehicle, be sure you
can do so safely. If anything behind the cab
limits your view, do not rely on mirrors
alone to make sure that your intended path
is clear. If other people are in the vicinity,
have someone standing well behind your
vehicle and outside of your intended path
(visible through an exterior mirror) guide
you as you back up.

Although OSHA or some governmental
regulations may require the use of an
electrical or mechanical back up alarm to
warn bystanders, such an alarm does not
guarantee that the intended path is clear.
When in doubt, get out of your vehicle and
visually check the intended path is clear.
Back up slowly as to allow others time to
move, if necessary.

If you install an electrical back up alarm,
connect it to the backup lamp circuit.

Parking

WARNING

When parking your vehicle, do not
leave the transmission in gear; if the
key is in the on position and the

vehicle rolls, the engine could start. Failure
to follow these instructions could result in
an unattended vehicle moving, possibly
causing personal injury or property
damage.

Always use the parking brake. When
parking on a grade, block the wheels and
turn the front wheels to one side so that if
your vehicle rolls, the front tires act against
the curb to stop your vehicle. The front
wheels are more effective at stopping a
rolling vehicle than the rear wheels.

ECONOMICAL DRIVING

Your fuel economy is affected by several
things, such as how you drive, the
conditions you drive under, and how you
maintain your vehicle.

You may improve your fuel economy by
keeping these things in mind:
•

Accelerate and slow down in a smooth,
moderate fashion.

•

Drive at steady speeds without
stopping.

•

Anticipate stops; slowing down may
eliminate the need to stop.

•

Close the windows for high-speed
driving.

•

Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling
at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15% less
fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105
km/h]).

•

Keep the tires properly inflated and use
only the recommended size.

•

Use the recommended engine oil.

•

Perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance.

Avoid these actions; they reduce your fuel
economy:
•

Sudden accelerations or hard
accelerations.

•

Warm up your vehicle on cold
mornings.

•

Use the air conditioner or front
defroster.

•

Use the speed control in hilly terrain.

•

Rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving.

•

Carry unnecessary weight
(approximately 1 mpg [0.4 km/L] is
lost for every 400 lb [180 kilogram] of
weight carried).

•

Driving with the wheels out of
alignment.

Conditions
•

Adding certain accessories to your
vehicle (for example bug deflectors,
rollbars, light bars, running boards, ski
racks or luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.

•

Using fuel blended with alcohol may
lower fuel economy.

•

Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 5–10 mi
(12–16 km) of driving.

•

Driving on flat terrain offers improved
fuel economy as compared to driving
on hilly terrain.

•

Transmissions give their best fuel
economy when operated in the top
cruise gear and with steady pressure
on the gas pedal.

COLD WEATHER
PRECAUTIONS

Note: Idling in cold weather does not heat
the engine to its normal operating
temperature. Long periods of idling,
especially in cold weather, can cause a
buildup of deposits which can cause engine
damage.

Changing to a lighter grade engine oil also
makes starting easier under these
conditions. Refer to Engine oil
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 269).

Diesel fuel is adjusted seasonally for cold
temperatures. Diesel fuel which has not
been properly formulated for the ambient
conditions may gel which can clog the fuel
filters. One indication that the fuel filter(s)
may be clogged is if the engine starts, stalls
after a short time, and then does not
restart. If you have been using biodiesel,
you may need to use a fuel with lower
biodiesel content, try another brand, or
discontinue using biodiesel. Do not use
alcohol based additives to correct fuel
gelling. This may result in damage to the
fuel injectors and system. Use the proper
anti-gel and performance improvement
product. See Capacities and
Specifications (page 269).

Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel and
water separator that recirculates fuel from
the engine to help prevent fuel filter
clogging. To avoid engine fuel starvation
during cold weather operation of 32°F
(0°C) or below, we recommended that
the fuel level in your tank should not drop
below 1⁄4 full. This helps prevent air from
entering the fuel system and stalling the
engine.

Your vehicle is equipped with a selective
catalyst reduction system that uses Diesel
Exhaust Fluid (DEF) to operate properly.
You need to replenish your vehicle’s DEF
at certain intervals. When filling your
vehicle’s DEF tank in cold weather, you
must take special care to prevent damage
to the tank. See Selective Catalytic
Reductant System (page 105).

In cold weather below 32°F (0°C), the
engine may slowly increase to a higher idle
speed if left idling in park (P) or neutral
(N).

If you operate your vehicle in a heavy
snowstorm or blowing snow conditions,
snow and ice can clog the engine air
induction. If this occurs, the engine may
experience a significant reduction in power
output. At the earliest opportunity, clear
all the snow or ice away from inside the air
filter assembly. Remove the air cleaner
cover and the pleated paper filter, leaving
the foam filter in and remove any snow or
ice. Make sure you install the foam filter
correctly in place. Remove any debris,
snow or ice on the foam filter by brushing
the surface with soft brush. Once you have
cleared all of the debris, reinstall the air
filter and assembly.

Do not use water, solvents, or a hard brush
for cleaning the foam filter.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of vehicle damage
and/or personal burn injuries do not
start your engine with the air filter

removed and do not remove it while the
engine is running.

In order to operate the engine in
temperatures of 32°F (0°C) or lower, read
the following instructions:
•

Make sure that the batteries are of
sufficient size and are fully charged.
Check other electrical components to
make sure they are in optimum
condition

•

Use the proper coolant solution at the
concentration recommended
protecting the engine against damage
from freezing

•

Try to keep the fuel tank full as much
as possible at the end of operation to
prevent condensation in the fuel
system

•

Make sure you use proper cold weather
engine oil and that it is at its proper
level. Also, if necessary, make sure to
follow the engine oil and filter change
schedule found under the Special
operating conditions section listed in
the scheduled maintenance
information

•

At temperatures of -9°F (-23°C) or
below, it is recommended that you use
an engine block heater to improve cold
engine starting

•

If operating in arctic temperatures of
-20°F (-29°C) or lower, consult your
truck dealer for information about
special cold weather equipment and
precautions

The following cold weather idling
guidelines are recommended:
•

You can use Motorcraft® cetane
improvers or non-alcohol-based
cetane improvers from a reputable
manufacturer as needed.

•

Maintain the engine cooling system
properly.

•

Avoid shutting the engine down after
an extensive idling period. Drive your
vehicle for several miles with the
engine at normal operating
temperatures under a moderate load.

•

Consider using an engine block heater.

•

For extended idle times use an
approved idle speed increase device.

Winter Operating Tips for Arctic
Operation -20°F (-29°C) and
Below

The following information is a guideline
only and is not to be the only source of
possible solutions in resolving extreme
cold temperature issues.

Starting Aids

WARNING

Do not use starting fluid, such as
ether, in the air intake system (see
air filter decal). Such fluid could

cause immediate explosive damage to the
engine and possible personal injury.

The use of the factory engine block heater
assists in engine starting in extreme cold
ambient temperatures. See Engine Block
Heater (page 90).

Idle Control

Your vehicle may have a factory option for
a stationary elevated idle control through
dash-mounted upfitter switches that
allows the operator to elevate the idle rpm
for extended idle periods, as well as
aftermarket equipment such as PTO
operation. You must configure this feature
even if ordered from the factory. See your
authorized dealer for required upfitting.