How to Check Fluid Levels on 2011-16 Ford F250 Diesel
Created on: 2017-04-26
How to check and refill the power steering, brake, and washer fluid, coolant, and engine oil on the 13 Ford F250
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step 1 :Checking the Brake Fluid
- Check that the brake fluid level is between the min and max lines
- Check that the fluid is clear
- If the fluid is murky, flush and replace it
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step 2 :Checking the Coolant
- Slowly twist off the primary coolant overflow cap
- Check the coolant level with a flash light
- Add fluid as necessary
- Check that the fluid is clear
- If the fluid is murky, flush and replace it
- Twist on the primary coolant overflow cap
- Slowly twist off the secondary coolant overflow cap
- Check the coolant level with a flash light
- Add fluid as necessary
- Check that the fluid is clear
- If the fluid is murky, flush and replace it
- Twist on the secondary coolant overflow cap
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step 3 :Checking the Power Steering Fluid
- Twist off the power steering cap
- Check the fluid level with a flash light
- Add fluid as necessary
- Twist on the power steering cap
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step 4 :Checking the Washer Fluid
- Open the washer fluid cap
- Check the washer fluid level
- Add fluid as necessary
- Clip on the washer fluid cap
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step 5 :Checking the Oil
- Remove the oil dipstick
- Wipe off the dipstick
- Insert the dipstick
- Remove the dipstick
- Check the oil level
- Install the dipstick
- Twist off the oil fill cap
- Add oil as necessary
- Twist on the oil fill cap
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step 6 :Checking the Transmission Fluid
- Start the engine
- Hold the brake
- Shift the transmission through each gear, holding each for three seconds
- Shift the transmission through the gears in reverse order
- Leave the transmission in park
- Leave the engine running
- Remove the transmission fluid dipstick
- Wipe off the dipstick
- Insert the dipstick
- Remove the dipstick
- Check the transmission fluid level
- Install the dipstick
- Add fluid as necessary
Tools needed
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Windshield Washer Fluid
Power Steering Fluid
Paper Towels
Transmission Fluid
Flashlight
Anti-Freeze
Engine Oil
Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. We've been selling auto parts for over 30 years. We're dedicated to delivering quality auto parts, expert customer service, fast and free shipping, all backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit us at 1AAuto.com, your trusted source for quality auto parts.
In this video, we're going to be working with our 2013 Ford F-250 with the 6.7 power stroke diesel. We're going to show you how to inspect the level and condition of all your under hood fluids to make sure your vehicle is in good shape and stays that way. If you like this video, please click subscribe. We have a ton more information on this and many other vehicles and if you ever need parts for your truck you can follow the link down in the description over to 1AAuto.com.
Under the hood of your 2013 F250 you'll find the – It helps to use a flashlight to check the level of the fluid. Ours is right between the min and max line, which is perfectly acceptable because this truck has disc brakes and trucks and other vehicles with disc brakes will actually keep a little bit of that fluid in the caliper as it moves further and further out as your pads wear down. So the only time you'll want to top this fluid up is when it's had all four brake calipers compressed. You'll also want to inspect the color and condition and we can see here this is just about a green tea color, which is exactly what we want. For anything really dark or contaminated or if anything smells burnt or has particles in it, you'll want to change out your fluid.
Slowly remove the cap, and that's why. You can hear that pressure releasing there. Remove the primary coolant overflow cap. Once again, use a flashlight to help see where that level is. This is our cold full. And our fluid is right about there. You'll also want to check the color and condition. Ours is a little dirty but not terribly so.
You'll notice your truck has a second coolant reservoir in it. This is actually a really cool feature on these trucks. This reservoir is responsible for a secondary cooling system, which uses its own thermostats (and it does have multiple thermostats), its own radiator, its own water pump and is responsible for cooling pretty much everything other than the engine block itself. This does our transmission cooler, our fuel cooler, the oil and EGR. It does a whole bunch of the systems individually and it actually works on the vehicle's air to water inter-cooler system which uses water to cool the air charge coming from the turbo as opposed to the old style air to air set up.
Carefully remove the cap, as this will pressurize as well. Put the flashlight on the top and check the full level on the side here. Again, this is separate from your other cooling system. So be sure to use the correct fluids in there and to make sure they're clean and in good condition.
Remove the cap on the power steering fluid reservoir and again we'll put our flashlight over the top so you can see the min and max levels. Ours is right about at the max level. So we'll leave that alone but you top it up through that opening if necessary.
Remove the cap on your washer fluid reservoir, which is on the passenger side of the firewall, just behind the secondary battery. Fill that up to capacity.
Remove the oil dipstick, which is closer to the center of the truck, and wipe it clean. Reinstall the oil dipstick fully. Remove it, and check the level of your oil against the dipstick. Our level is just about full. If yours is lower you want to refill the oil through the fill cap, which is located here, with the appropriate oil for your truck.
The transmission fluid dipstick works just like your oil dipstick with the exception of the vehicle needing to be running at park and at operating temperature. Before checking the fluid make sure to cycle the shifter through each gear for about three seconds with your foot on the brake and cycle it back through to park. Then check the fluid level with the vehicle running in park. We're not going to do this because it would be nearly impossible for you to hear us over the truck if we were to do it that way, but it works just like the oil dipstick. Remove it. Wipe it. Install it. Remove it and check it.
Thanks for watching. Visit us at 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts, fast and free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry.
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