Ford F-150 (2018 year). Manual - part 93

We engineer and test all motor vehicles
and their components for reliable, regular
driving. Under various conditions,
long-term storage may lead to degraded
engine performance or failure unless you
use specific precautions to preserve engine
components.

General

•

Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated
place.

•

Protect from sunlight, if possible.

•

If vehicles are stored outside, they
require regular maintenance to protect
against rust and damage.

Body

•

Wash your vehicle thoroughly to
remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing
and the underside of front fenders.

•

Periodically wash your vehicle if it is
stored in exposed locations.

•

Touch-up exposed or primed metal to
prevent rust.

•

Cover chrome and stainless steel parts
with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent
discoloration. Re-wax as necessary
when you wash your vehicle.

•

Lubricate all hood, door and luggage
compartment hinges and latches with
a light grade oil.

•

Cover interior trim to prevent fading.

•

Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents.

Engine

•

Change the engine oil and filter prior to
storage because used engine oil
contains contaminates which may
cause engine damage.

•

Start the engine every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast idle
with the climate controls set to defrost
until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.

•

With your foot on the brake, shift
through all the gears while the engine
is running.

•

We recommend that you change the
engine oil before you use your vehicle
again.

Fuel system

•

Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the
fuel pump nozzle.

Cooling system

•

Protect against freezing temperatures.

•

When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.

Battery

•

Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.

•

If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting.

Note: It is necessary to reset memory
features if battery cables are disconnected.

Brakes

•

Make sure the brakes and parking brake
release fully.

Tires

•

Maintain recommended air pressure.

Miscellaneous

•

Make sure all linkages, cables, levers
and pins under your vehicle are covered
with grease to prevent rust.

•

Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)
every 15 days to lubricate working parts
and prevent corrosion.

Removing Vehicle From Storage

When your vehicle is ready to come out of
storage, do the following:
•

Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt
or grease film build-up on window
surfaces.

•

Check windshield wipers for any
deterioration.

•

Check under the hood for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage such as mice or squirrel
nests.

•

Check the exhaust for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage.

•

Check tire pressures and set tire
inflation per the Tire Label.

•

Check brake pedal operation. Drive
your vehicle 15 ft (4.5 m) back and
forth to remove rust build-up.

•

Check fluid levels (including coolant,
oil and gas) to make sure there are no
leaks, and fluids are at recommended
levels.

•

If you remove the battery, clean the
battery cable ends and check for
damage.

Contact an authorized dealer if you have
any concerns or issues.

BODY STYLING KITS

The distance between the underside of
your vehicle and the ground is less than
that of other models.  Drive with extreme
care to avoid damage to your vehicle.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Notice to utility vehicle and truck
owners

WARNINGS

Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles.

Vehicles with a higher center of
gravity (utility and four-wheel drive
vehicles) handle differently than

vehicles with a lower center of gravity
(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,
excessive speed and abrupt steering in
these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously
increases the risk of losing control of your
vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seatbelt.

Note: Do not become overconfident in the
ability of four-wheel drive vehicles. Although
a four-wheel drive vehicle may accelerate
better than a two-wheel drive vehicle in low
traction situations, it won't stop any faster
than two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive
at a safe speed.

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Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in the
various driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways and
off-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are not
designed for cornering at speeds as high
as passenger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions.

Study your owner's manual and any
supplements for specific information about
equipment features, instructions for safe
driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious
injury.

Four-wheel drive system (if
equipped)

A vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive
(when selected) has the ability to use all
four wheels to power itself. This increases
traction which may enable you to safely
drive over terrain and road conditions that
a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle
cannot.

On some four-wheel drive models, the
initial shift from two-wheel drive to
four-wheel drive while the vehicle is
moving can cause a momentary clunk and
ratcheting sound. These sounds are normal
as the front drivetrain comes up to speed
and are not cause for concern.

Note: In four-wheel drive vehicles, the size
of the spare tire relative to the remaining
tires can have an effect on the 4x4 system.
If there is a significant difference between
the size of a spare and the remaining tires,
four-wheel drive functionality may be
limited. See Using Four-Wheel Drive (page
208).

How your vehicle differs from
other vehicles

Sport utility vehicles and trucks can differ
from some other vehicles in a few
noticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:

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Higher - to allow higher load carrying
capacity and to allow it to travel over
rough terrain without getting hung up
or damaging underbody components.

•

Shorter - to give it the capability to
approach inclines and drive over the
crest of a hill without getting hung up
or damaging underbody components.
All other things held equal, a shorter
wheelbase may make your vehicle
quicker to respond to steering inputs
than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.

•

Narrower - to provide greater
maneuverability in tight spaces,
particularly in off-road use.

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