Ford Super Duty (2018 year). Manual — part 45

Your vehicle has 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
recommend that the fuel level in your tank
should not drop below ¼ full. This helps
prevent air from entering the fuel system
and stalling the engine.

Your vehicle has a selective catalytic
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, take special care to
prevent damage to the tank. See
Selective Catalytic Reductant System
(page 200).

In cold weather below 32°F (0°C), the
engine may slowly increase to a higher idle
speed if you leave it idling in park (P). As
the engine warms-up, the engine sound
level decreases due to the activation of
PCM-controlled sound reduction features.

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 and ice away from inside the
air filter assembly. Remove the air cleaner
cover and the air filter and remove any
snow or ice. Remove any debris, snow or
ice, on the foam filter by brushing the
surface with a soft brush. Once you have
cleared all of the debris, reinstall the air
filter and cover.

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

WARNING

To reduce the risk of vehicle damage
and personal burn injuries, do not
start your engine with the air cleaner

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.

We recommend the following cold
weather idling guidelines:
•

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, for example
ether, in the air intake system. 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 185).

Idle Control

Your vehicle may have a factory option for
a stationary elevated idle control through
the upfitter switches in the overhead
console. This 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.

Operation in Snow and Rain

Vehicle operation in heavy snowfall or
extreme rain conditions may feed
excessive amounts of snow or water into
the air intake system. This could plug the
air filter with snow and may cause the
engine to lose power and possibly shut
down.

We recommend the following actions after
operating your vehicle up to 200 mi
(320 km) in snowfall or extreme rain:

•

Snow: At the earliest opportunity, open
the hood and clear all the snow and ice
from the air filter housing inlet (do not
remove the foam filter) and reset the
air filter restriction gauge.

Note: Removal of the foam filter degrades
your vehicle performance during snow and
hot weather conditions.

•

Extreme rain: The air filter dries after
about 15–30 minutes at highway
speeds. At the earliest opportunity,
open the hood and reset the air filter
restriction gauge.

Refer to Air filter and restriction gauge in
the Maintenance chapter for more
information. See Changing the Engine
Air Filter (page 364).

Operation in Standing Water

Ingestion of water into the diesel engine
can result in immediate and severe
damage to the engine. If driving through
water, slow down to avoid splashing water
into the intake. If the engine stalls, and you
suspect ingestion of water into the engine,
do not try to restart the engine. Consult
your dealer for service immediately.

Your fuel tank vents to the atmosphere by
valves on top of the tank and through the
fuel cap. If water reaches the top of the
tank, the valves may pull water into the
fuel tank. Water in the fuel can cause
performance issues and damage the fuel
injection system.

SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE
- 6.7L DIESEL

Switch the ignition off.

To help prolong engine life, we
recommended you allow the engine to idle
for three to five minutes, especially after
any of the following:
•

Continuous engine speed.

•

High ambient temperature.

•

High GVW or GCW operation, for
example heavy loads or trailers.

This allows the turbo charged engine to
cool down.

ENGINE IDLE SHUTDOWN

Your vehicle may be equipped with an
engine idle shutdown system. This system
automatically shuts down your engine
when it has been idling in P (Park) or N
(Neutral) for five minutes (parking brake
set) or 15 minutes (parking brake not set).
When the engine idle shutdown process
has started:

•

A chime sounds and the information
display will show ENGINE TURNS OFF
IN 30 (seconds) and start counting
down

•

You can restart the five or 15-minute
timer by changing the position of the
accelerator pedal, brake pedal or the
park brake within the final 30 seconds

•

When the timer reaches zero, the
engine shuts down and this message
will appear in your information display
ENGINE TURNED OFF

•

One minute after the engine has shut
down, the electrical system simulates
key off, even though the ignition is still
in the on position, initiating normal
accessory delay period

•

You must move the ignition to the off
position to reset the system before
restarting your vehicle.

The engine idle shutdown idle timer does
not start if:

•

The engine is operating in power
take-off mode.

•

The engine coolant temperature is
below 60°F (16°C).

•

The exhaust emission control device is
regenerating.

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

(If

Equipped)

WARNINGS

Failure to follow engine block heater
instructions could result in property
damage or serious personal injury.

Do not use your heater with
ungrounded electrical systems or
two-pronged adapters. There is a risk

of electrical shock.

Note: The heater is most effective when
outdoor temperatures are below 0°F
(-18°C).

For cold climates that are below 0°F
(-18°C) needing a temporary battery
installation. Order the cold climate pack.

The heater acts as a starting aid by
warming the engine coolant. This allows
the climate control system to respond
quickly. The equipment includes a heater
element (installed in the engine block) and
a wire harness. You can connect the
system to a grounded 120-volt AC
electrical source.

E236180

We recommend that you do the following
for a safe and correct operation:
•

Make sure your vehicle is parked in a
clean area, clear of combustibles.

•

locate the block heater cord in the front
tow hook pocket.

•

Use a 16-gauge outdoor extension cord
that is product certified by
Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or
Canadian Standards Association
(CSA). This extension cord must be
suitable for use outdoors, in cold
temperatures, and be clearly marked
Suitable for Use with Outdoor
Appliances. Do not use an indoor
extension cord outdoors. This could
result in an electric shock or become a
fire hazard.

•

Use as short an extension cord as
possible.

•

Do not use multiple extension cords.

•

Make sure that when in operation, the
extension cord plug and heater cord
plug connections are free and clear of
water. This could cause an electric
shock or fire.

•

Make sure the heater, heater cord and
extension cord are firmly connected.

•

Check for heat anywhere in the
electrical hookup once the system has
been operating for approximately 30
minutes.

•

Make sure the system is unplugged and
properly stowed before starting and
driving your vehicle. Make sure the
protective cover seals the prongs of the
block heater cord plug when not in use.

•

Make sure the heater system is
checked for proper operation before
winter.

Using the Engine Block Heater

Make sure the receptacle terminals are
clean and dry prior to use. Clean them with
a dry cloth if necessary.

The heater uses 0.4 to 1.0 kilowatt-hours
of energy per hour of use. The system does
not have a thermostat. It achieves
maximum temperature after
approximately three hours of operation.
Using the heater longer than three hours
does not improve system performance and
unnecessarily uses electricity.