Tips & Advice Archives

The Battery Life of Ford F-150- Things You Need About

Ford F-150 is a series of pickup trucks that cater to load requirements. The range of trucks in this series comes with their features and mechanism and keeps changing as the evolving technology. A battery plays a vital role in the operation of these trucks, although it is a silent member.

A good quality battery cranks the vehicle’s engine at extreme temperature and keeps the electronics functional. It is necessary first to understand the car need and then get a battery. There are wide varieties of batteries available for Ford F-150 that perform according to their capabilities. It is crucial to choose the right battery for f-150.

How is battery essential for your vehicle?

The battery is a powerful component of an automobile. You may have the best exhaust system for a truck, but it is of no use unless there is a good quality battery present in your truck. The battery supplies power to a vehicle regardless of the weather. You enjoy the roar of your car with the first turn of the key.

How long the battery of Ford F-150 works effectively?

Under appropriate conditions, the Ford F-150 battery lasts for four to seven years.
Expect a battery to last between 30,000 -50,000 miles
The battery life depends on the place where you stay, the way you drive, the charging system, and other factors. Once the battery is out of order, your vehicle dies. It might be possible that your battery gives out before this time or lasts for several years because of the chemical cocktail present inside it.
A battery quality determines the time it holds a charge and how well it recharges.

How to know that Ford Battery needs replacement?

Some signs make you aware that the battery is not working as it should be. One of them is a sluggish, slow engine’s cranking when you try to turn it because it needs lots of energy to start your truck. So if your battery is dying, then it will take longer to start your vehicle.

Also, the check engine light of your vehicle will come on. If it is like, then pop the hood of your f-150 as long as it is safe. If you see swollen battery case, leakage, or low fluid level, get ready to change the battery in the coming days. There are higher chances of increased battery life if you keep it charged fully and drive daily.

Climate and Battery Life

Weather is vital when it comes to battery life. A battery performs fine when there is no extreme humidity or high temperature if you are an off-road enthusiast and thinking of buying a truck topper for camping than wait! A good battery must be your priority as you cannot enjoy camping without an efficient battery on your ford F-150.
In warmer climates, the automobile batteries wear down faster. The hot temperature will drain out the battery more quickly. So, any extreme temperature will harm battery life.
In general, a cooler climate is more favorable as a humid and hot climate will lead to water loss.

How to take care of a battery?

Taking good care of your battery will extend its life.

Focus on battery check-up every time your vehicle goes for routine maintenance.
Keep the battery fully charged
Unplug the accessories from the power port
Switch off the radio, air-conditioner when not in use to keep the battery drain low

Use charger pack to jump-start your Ford F-150 battery

It is essential to keep some jumper cables or a portable battery pack all the time in your vehicle. These should be in proper condition.

There are two cables on a battery pack, i.e., red and black. These are the positive and negative terminals, as in your battery. Attach them correctly, or a battery explosion is possible if connected backward.
A portable charger must have a power switch. Turn it on, so that electric charges flow, giving enough power to the Ford model’s battery, and it attempts to turn on your vehicle.
Now, as the engine turns over, keep the battery pack off and disconnect the negative terminal first. Close the hood of your Ford model battery.
Once the vehicle starts, keep it running for about half an hour so that battery gets recharged.

Simple Tricks to Make Exhaust Tips Clean and Shiny

Fast and loud Ford F-150 is exciting to drive. An aftermarket exhaust system for 3.5 Ecoboost F150 is an easy and appropriate way to get enormous power down to the wheels, along with providing it an intense tone. The engine is the heart of a vehicle, so it is essential to take care of it.

An air filter is a significant component, and it keeps the engine clean by providing clean air. It prevents contaminants from getting pulled into the vehicle’s engine and protects the engine from damage. If you are a proud owner of F-150, then it is necessary to use the best air filter for your truck.

Exhaust tips look great, but they quickly get dirty. A driving enthusiast is always bothered by a black exhaust tip. Let us find out why an exhaust tip gets dirty, and what are the ways to clean it for a shiny look?

What makes exhaust tip black?

Exhaust tip turns black because of black soot. The black soot contains hydrocarbons and is a byproduct of the combustion cycle. This black stuff is an unburnt fuel that is caused by engine boost. These minute carbon particles get accumulated in the crankcase oil, and after some time, the soot builds up in the oil leading to many problems.

The accumulated soot in the oil completely traps the oil filter, and it is a challenge to keep the soot under control. In the case of small turbo engines, manufacturers tune engines to make use of more fuel to escape from overheating. It is a processs of cooling.

Motor oil nourishes the engine; thus, it is essential to choose the oil for your car wisely. Moving engine parts are prone to wear and tear, and the oil prevents the engine from debris and dirt. Changing engine oil is necessary. The motor oil comes with extra additives that work as detergents in engine cleaning. Thus good quality motor oil keeps the vehicle’s engine clean for a long time.

Way to clean exhaust tip for a shiny look

Cleaning the excessive black soot

The release of unburnt fuel during combustion results in carbon deposition, and it is challenging to remove. Let us discuss the steps to clean this stubborn soot.
First of all, put on gloves and eyewear. Now take the wheel bucket, wheel woolies, and brushes that you used for scrubbing your wheels.
Use an all-purpose cleaner and spray it on the tips. Allow it to rest for two minutes, but make sure it should not dry. Now dip the scrubber in strong wheel soap and scrub the inner lip. Rinse and see the result.

Wash Routine

Avoid shooting/spraying water directly on the exhaust chamber. Once you cleaned the exhaust tip using the above process, check whether all the carbon is washed off or not. If it is not perfect, then again soak the tips with a cleaner. Use steel wool on carbon buildup.
Apply medium pressure and clean it by rotating the wool. Do not overdo as it can lead to scratch. Reassess again, and if more work is required, then generously repeat the above process.

Polishing for shine and luster

Using steel wool aggressively can sometimes result in scratches. So you can use metal polish to faint these scratches. Put this polish on a microfiber towel and rotate the towel on the surface.

Protecting the polish

At last, protect the polish of an exhaust tip using a wheel sealant or metal coating. It makes cleaning easy in the future. Apply two to three layers for extra protection. This is an optional step but recommended because it keeps the exhaust tips protected for a long time. Polishing the exhaust tips will always be necessary, but adding an extra layer of protection is not a bad idea.

Final Words

Many exhaust tips are now made of titanium, and they produce somewhat a bluish gradient color, which can be lost in polishing. If you love this look, then only use a degreaser and water for removing the soot and apply a sealant for extra protection. In most cases, using the steel wool followed by a metal polish do the work and gives the desired result. Attentively cleaning your exhaust tips will keep them looking new for many years.

Check Best Spark Plugs for jeep if you need.

How to Change the Ford F150 battery?

Most of the vehicle enthusiasts have experienced a bad battery. The Ford F-series trucks are no exception. Many updates came over the years, but the battery removal remains the standard operation. A good battery is one of the significant components for vehicle operation as it assists in starting the engine and keeping the electronics in pace. It is because of a battery-only that you can play music and charge your phone even when the F-150 engine is not in use.

Like every component, the battery also loses power gradually over time, especially in the cold weather. It is necessary to buy the best battery for f150 and get it tested from time to time.

How do F-150 batteries work?

The batteries of Ford F-150 produce energy to power your accessories, lights, and engine. Most of the automotive batteries rely on an acid-lead chemical reaction. These batteries come in the category of SLI means to start, light, and ignition. Once the energy from the batteries reaches the engine, the alternator provides power.

Changing the Battery of Ford F-150

Let us discuss the ways to change a battery of Ford F-150.

Know the details of the engine compartment

The first step is to carefully note down the battery dimensions and the connection types of the terminal. You must also see the amp-hour rating, which is the number indicated on the battery. It is necessary to replace the battery that has a larger rating or the same size.

Detach the battery

Now hold the rubber tubing and remove the negative terminal and then the positive terminal. Be aware of the metal terminal to avoid the shock.

Remove the battery

Take 8mm socket wrench and remove the battery by holding down clamp. Batteries have caustic sulfuric acid that emits hydrogen gas, which is extremely flammable and can lead to an explosion. Thus, it is crucial to handle the battery carefully.

Cleaning the battery terminals

Clean and carefully inspect the battery terminals. You can use any of the products that are made specifically for cleaning the battery terminals. Make sure to remove any dirt or acid buildup in the compartment. Now sprinkle a small amount of baking soda over the battery compartment and then flush it with clean water.

Installing the new battery

Place the new battery of Ford F-150 in the tray and then tighten the clamps. Attach the cable on the positive terminal.

Important Points to Consider While Changing the Battery

When you install a new battery, make sure to connect the positive red-wired cable before the negative black cable. This reduces the chance of electrical sparks.
Ensure wearing safety goggles and gloves when you are ready to replace a battery. This is necessary to protect you from an unlikely event of a battery explosion.
Do not touch the wrenches between the terminal and other parts
You should discard the old battery as per the local laws
Carefully read and understand the owner’s manual to determine the reset process for a vehicle.
Collect all the necessary items such as a battery, 8mm socket wrench, wire brush, battery terminal cleaner, water, and baking soda before starting the process of changing the battery.

When should you replace a Ford F-150 battery?

Choosing the best battery, an exhaust system for your truck and oil for your car is extremely important for the proper operation of your vehicle. The battery of Ford F-150 lasts for 3-5 years, and it is necessary to test the battery frequently. Typically an average battery of Ford F-150 carries 12 to 13 volts, and thus anything higher than 13 volts indicates that your battery is faulty. So once the period is over, or your battery begins to show inappropriate voltage ratings, you should replace the battery.

What are the signs that Ford F-150 needs a new battery?

The most common signs of bad batteries are if your f-150 is slow to start once you turn the key or if the battery connectors and cables are corroded. You may hear the clicking sound when you turn the key or if electronics work appropriately, but the vehicle does not start.