2021 Ford F-350 Owners Manual - Starting and Stopping the Engine

Starting and Stopping the Engine

If you disconnect the battery, your vehicle may exhibit some unusual driving characteristics for approximately 5.0 mi (8 km) after you reconnect it. This is because the engine management system must realign itself with the engine. You can disregard any unusual driving characteristics during this period.

The powertrain control system meets all Canadian interference-causing equipment standard requirements regulating the impulse electrical field or radio noise.

When you start the engine, avoid pressing the accelerator pedal before and during operation. Only use the accelerator pedal when you have difficulty starting the engine.

If your vehicle is operated in a heavy snow storm or blowing snow conditions, the engine air induction may become partially clogged with snow and ice. 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 the air induction inlet.

0 (off) - The ignition is off.

Note: When you switch the ignition off and leave your vehicle, do not leave your key in the ignition. This could cause your vehicle battery to lose charge.

(accessory) - Allows the electrical accessories, such as the radio, to operate while the engine is not running.

Note: Do not leave the ignition key in this position for too long. This could cause your vehicle battery to lose charge.

(on) - All electrical circuits are operational and the warning lamps and indicators illuminate.

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(start) - Cranks the engine.

Note: The keyless starting system may not function if the key is close to metal objects or electronic devices such as cellular phones.

Note: A valid key must be located inside your vehicle to switch the ignition on and start the engine.

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The keyless starting system has three modes:

Off: Turns the ignition off.

Without applying the clutch pedal for manual transmissions, or brake pedal for automatic transmissions, press and release the button once when the ignition is in the on mode, or when the engine is running but the vehicle is not moving.

On: All electrical circuits are operational and the warning lamps and indicators illuminate.

Without applying the clutch pedal for manual transmissions, or brake pedal for automatic transmissions, press and release the button once.

Start: Starts the vehicle.

Press the clutch pedal for manual transmissions, or brake pedal for automatic transmissions, and then press the button for any length of time. An indicator light on the button illuminates when then ignition is on and when the engine starts.

When you start the engine, the idle speed increases. This helps to warm up the engine.

If the engine idle speed does not slow down, see an authorized dealer.

Before starting the engine check the following:

Make sure all occupants fasten their seat belt.

Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.

Make sure the parking brake is on.

Make sure the transmission is in park (P).

Turn the ignition key to the on position.

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

Fully press the brake pedal.

Turn the key to the start position to start your vehicle.

When the engine starts, release the key and then gradually release the brake pedal as the engine speed increases.

Note: The engine may continue cranking for up to 15 seconds or until it starts.

Note: If you cannot start the engine on the first try, wait for a short period and try again.

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

1. Fully press the brake pedal.

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Turn the key to position III to start the engine.

When the engine starts, release the brake pedal.

Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds as starter damage may occur. If the engine does not start, switch the ignition off and wait 30 seconds before trying again.

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

Note: If you press the push button ignition switch again prior to the engine starting, the ignition switches to accessory mode and will not start.

Note: If you release the brake pedal before the engine starts, follow the engine start sequence again.

Fully press the brake pedal.

Press the center of the push button ignition switch.

When the engine starts, release the brake pedal.

If you cannot start the engine after three attempts, wait 10 seconds and follow this procedure:

Fully press the brake pedal.

Fully press the accelerator pedal and hold it there.

Start the engine.

When your vehicle has stopped, shift into park (P) and switch the ignition off.

Apply the parking brake.

Put the transmission into neutral (N) and use the brakes to bring your vehicle to a safe stop.

When your vehicle has stopped, shift into park (P) and switch the ignition off.

Apply the parking brake.

If your vehicle has a keyless ignition, it has a feature that shuts down the engine if it has been idling for an extended period of time. The ignition also turns off in order to save battery power. Before the engine shuts down, a message appears in the information display showing a timer counting down from 30 seconds. If you do not intervene within 30 seconds, the engine shuts down. Another message appears in the information display to inform you that the engine has shut down in order to save fuel. Start your vehicle as you normally do.

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The starting characteristics of all grades of E85 ethanol make it unsuitable for use when ambient temperatures fall below 0°F (-18°C). Consult your fuel distributor for the availability of winter grade ethanol. As the outside temperature approaches freezing, ethanol fuel distributors should supply winter grade ethanol, the same as with unleaded gasoline.

If summer grade ethanol is used in cold weather conditions, 0°F (-18°C), you may experience increased cranking times, rough idle or hesitation until the engine has warmed up.

You may experience a decrease in performance when the engine is cold when operating on E85 ethanol.

Do not use starting fluid such as ether in the air intake system. Such fluid could cause immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible personal injury.

If you should experience cold weather starting problems on E85 ethanol, and neither an alternative brand of E85 ethanol nor an engine block heater is available, the addition of unleaded gasoline to your tank improves cold starting performance. Your vehicle is designed to operate on E85 ethanol alone, unleaded gasoline alone, or any mixture of the two.

Press the accelerator pedal down one-third to one-half of its travel, and then crank the engine.

When the engine starts, release the key, then gradually release the accelerator pedal as the engine speed increases. If the engine still does not start, repeat Step 1.

Important Ventilating Information

If you stop your vehicle and then leave the engine idling for long periods of time, we recommend that you do one of the following:

Open the windows at least 1 in (2.5 cm).

Set your climate control to outside air.

Read all starting instructions carefully before you start your vehicle.

For temperatures below 32°F (0°C), the use of the correct grade engine oil is essential for proper operation. Refer to engine oil specifications for more information. See Engine Oil Capacity and Specification (page 449).

Your vehicle may have a cold weather starting strategy that prevents severe engine damage by assisting in engine lubrication warm-up. In extremely cold ambient temperatures, this strategy activates and prevents the accelerator pedal from being used for 30 seconds after you start your vehicle. A message appears in the information display as your vehicle warms up. By not allowing the accelerator pedal to be used, the engine oil is allowed to properly lubricate the bearings

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preventing engine damage due to lack of proper lubrication. After the 30 second warm-up period, the accelerator pedal becomes operational again and a message appears informing you the vehicle is ok to drive.

When you start the engine in extremely cold temperatures -15°F (-26°C), we recommend that you allow the engine to idle for several minutes before you drive the vehicle.

Before starting the engine check the following:

• Make sure all occupants fasten their seatbelt.

• Make sure the headlamps and electrical accessories are off.

• Make sure the parking brake is on.

• Make sure the transmission is in park (P).

Note: Do not press the accelerator during starting.

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

Fully press the brake pedal.

Turn the key to position II

Note: A message appears: Engine Start Pending, Please Wait.

Wait until the engine glow-plug indicator turns off.

Turn the key to position III to start the engine.

When the engine starts, release the brake pedal.

Do not crank the engine for more than 10 seconds as starter damage may occur. If the engine does not start, switch the ignition off and wait 30 seconds before trying again.

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

Note: If the push button ignition switch is pressed again prior to the engine starting, the ignition switches to accessory mode and does not start.

Note: If you release the brake pedal before the engine starts, follow the engine start sequence again.

Fully press the brake pedal.

Press the center of the push button ignition switch.

Note: A message appears: Engine Start Pending, Please Wait.

When the engine starts, release the brake pedal.

The diesel engine glow system consists of:

• Eight glow plugs, one per cylinder.

• Glow Plug Control Module.

• Engine Coolant Temperature sensor.

• Barometric pressure sensor.

• Environmental temperature sensor.

The powertrain and glow plug control modules electronically control the glow plug system. After you switch the ignition on, the glow plug control module immediately energizes the glow plugs. The glow plug control module uses the engine coolant temperature, barometric pressure sensor and environmental temperature sensor to determine how long the glow plugs stay energized. The required time for the glow plugs to be energized decreases as the coolant temperature, barometric pressure and environmental temperature increase.

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If your vehicle is equipped with a keyless ignition, it has a feature that automatically shuts down the engine if it has been idling for an extended period. The ignition also turns off in order to save battery power.

Before the engine shuts down, a message appears in the information display showing a timer counting down from 30 seconds. If you do not intervene within 30 seconds, the engine shuts down. Another message appears in the information display to inform you that the engine has shut down in order to save fuel. Start your vehicle as you normally do.

We recommend that the engine block heater be used for starting when the temperature is -9°F (-23°C) or colder. See Engine Block Heater (page 182).

When operating in cold weather, you may use Motorcraft® cetane improvers or

non-alcohol-based cetane improvers from a reputable manufacturer as needed.

Switch the ignition on. Do not start the engine until the glow-plug indicator turns off.

When the glow plug pre-heat indicator turns off, turn the key to start. After you start the engine, the glow plugs may remain on for a period. If you do not start the engine before the glow plug activation time ends, you need to reset the glow plugs by switching the ignition off. After the engine starts, allow it to idle for about 15 seconds. This protects the engine. Do not increase engine speed until the oil pressure gauge indicates normal pressure.

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.

Change to a lighter grade engine oil to make starting easier under these conditions. Refer to engine oil specifications. See Engine Oil Capacity and Specification (page 449).

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 Engine Oil Capacity and Specification (page 449).

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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 197).

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.

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.

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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.

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

The use of the factory engine block heater assists in engine starting in extreme cold ambient temperatures See Engine Block Heater (page 182).

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.

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 358).

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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.

- 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 (IF EQUIPPED)

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)

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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.

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 near the center of the lower front fascia.

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.

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.

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