A gauge on the vehicle instrument cluster that indicates the engine’s speed measured in crankshaft revolutions per minute (rpm).

The door at the end of the truck bed which can be lowered for easier cargo loading, and quickly removed for special loading conditons. It can be laid down for a cargo bed extender used for cargo that is too long for the truck bed to hold with the tailgate in the upright and locked position.

Also known as valve lifters. A tappet is a device in the valve system that transmits the action of the cam to the valve or the pushrod. Hydraulic lifters are designed to automatically take up the clearance that exists between the valve and the lifter. This is known as valve lash.

See Air Conditioner.

Features that are repeatedly praised by vehicle owners, identified through surveys and research.

A ratio that measures the number of reported problems per 100 vehicles, identified through surveys and research.

A housing containing a valve to regulate the airflow through the intake manifold and usually located between the air cleaner and the intake manifold.

Most Ford car and light truck tires carry a P-metric designation such as P185/70R14 or an LT- metric designation such as LT235/70R16. In the charts below, the alphabetical or metric and load range letters used are obtained from Tire and Rim Association Standard Tables.
P-metric Steel-belted Radial-ply
All Ford cars and most light trucks have P-metric steel-belted radial-ply tires as standard equipment. They are designed in accordance with nationally accepted dimensional standards. Benefits include:

• Improved fuel economy through increased inflation pressure (up to 35 psi; 44 psi for some light trucks)
• Lighter weight
• Tread compounds designed for reduced rolling resistance

LT-metric Steel-belted Radial Tires
LT-metric designates a light truck radial tire with a metric tire designation. The LT tires are available with both all-season and all-terrain tread patterns for greater versatility. LT tires are designed to support larger vehicles and heavier loads.

Tire Terms
All-season Tires
Most Ford vehicles use all-season tires with a wraparound block-type tread design that offers the following benefits:

• Increased traction in mud and snow
• May be used year-round as standard passenger car or light truck tires
• The tread compounds and tire construction used with the all-season tires are formulated to convert less energy to heat when flexing compared to previous compounds. This helps reduce rolling resistance compared to previously designed steel-belted radial-ply tires.

All-terrain Tires
All-terrain tires are available on several light trucks, primarily on 4x4 models. As their name indicates, all-terrain tires are designed for both on- and off-road use over a variety of surfaces. Generally, they have a deeper, wider tread design than all-season tires for better gripping on a variety of surfaces

Aspect Ratio
A term relating to the size of tires:

• The measurement of a tire’s unloaded sidewall height divided by its width
• As an example, a tire with an aspect ratio of 75 would have a section height that is 75 percent of the tire’s width
• A lower aspect ratio reflects a shorter, wider tire that offers greater contact with the road

Flotation Tires
Tires with an extra-wide tread width are often referred to as flotation tires. Usual applications are for off-road operation where soft sand, mud, marshy or snowy conditions are typical.

Performance Tires, All-season
Performance tires generally have aggressive tread designs and are distinguished by large, solid tread blocks separated by open channels to promote water drainage and prevent hydroplaning. A key benefit of performance tires is optimized steering response and adhesion during acceleration, braking and cornering, usually with some small penalty in ride harshness and tread noise.

• H-rated tires are laboratory wheel-tested for speeds up to and including 129 mph at specified load and inflation pressure
• V-rated tires are laboratory wheel-tested for speeds up to and including 149 mph at specified load and inflation pressure
• Z-rated tires are laboratory wheel-tested for speeds over 149 mph at specified load and inflation pressure

Unidirectional Tires
A tread pattern designed for rotation in the direction indicated on the sidewall and used in some performance tire designs, e.g., Goodyear Eagle VR60 tires.

Ply Rating (PR), Load Range (B) Load Index/Speed Designation (97V) or Standard Load Rating (SL or XL)
The ply rating is a standard unit of tire casting strength, based on the strength of cord plies.

• The term is used to indicate the load-carrying ability of a given tire.
• It is an index of tire strength and does not necessarily represent the number of cord plies in the tire.
• Ply rating is indicated as 4PR, 6PR, 8PR, etc.
• Load range (B, C, D, etc.) is gradually replacing the term ply rating
• Load index/speed designation (92T, 97H, 97V, etc.)
• P-metric passenger-type tires are offered with a standard load rating (SL up to 35 psi) or extra load rating (XL up to 41 psi)

Radial Ply Tires
A type of tire that has one or more rubberized plies of cords running from bead to bead at right angles to the tread and parallel to each other, plus two or more plies of reinforced belts that encircle the tire under the tread.

Rim Width
The distance between the inside surfaces of the rim flanges.

Tire Load Radius
The distance from the center of the wheel to the road with tire loaded to rated capacity Static radius applied when vehicle is at rest

Tire Revolutions per Mile
The term used for the number of times the tire revolves when traveling one mile.

Tire Section Width
The maximum outer width of an inflated new tire from sidewall to sidewall, exclusive of ribs, bars, decorations, etc.

Tread (Track) Width
The lateral distance between the centers of the front or rear tires at points where contact with road surface is made.

Vehicle Clearance
The distance between the tire sidewall or tread and the nearest part of the vehicle’s chassis or body.

Dual Spacing
The distance between the center lines of both tires on a dual-rear setup.

Offset
On dual wheels, the distance from the center of the rim midway between the flanges to the outer mounting face of the wheel. On single wheels, this is the distance from the center of the rim to the wheel-mounting surface.

Toe-in
See Alignment.

OWL Tires
Outline White Letter tires

BSW tires
Black Side Wall tires

This is another critical measurement that must be made before towing. It refers to the amount of the trailer's weight that presses down on the trailer hitch. Too much tongue weight can cause suspension/drivetrain damage, and can press the vehicle down in back causing the front wheels to lift to the point where traction, steering response and braking are severely decreased. Too little tongue weight can reduce rear-wheel traction and cause instability which may result in tail wagging or jackknifing. For proper handling, tongue loads must meet the following requirements*:

• For trailers up to 2,000 lbs., not to exceed 200 lbs.
• For trailers over 2,000 lbs., 10 - 15% of trailer weight.
• For fifth-wheel trailers, approximately 25% of trailer weight.

Cover that fits over the truck bed to protect cargo from outside elements such as rain. Can be made of a durable, yet flexible vinyl or a harder, stiffer material.

A turning or twisting force that produces rotation, expressed in pound-feet. Torque affects the vehicle’s performance when accelerating, when carrying heavy loads or when towing a trailer.

A device in an automatic transmission/transaxle that transforms mechanical power (torque) from the engine into hydrokinetic (fluid) power to the transmission.

• The torque converter serves as a hydraulic clutch
• The engine is mechanically linked to an impeller, which is made up of a series of blades within a housing filled with transmission fluid
• The impeller responds directly to engine speed, which transfers energy to the fluid
• A turbine, which consists of a separate series of blades, absorbs this fluidic energy and transmits power to the transmission
• This mechanism allows for a smooth transfer of power from the engine to the transmission

The measure of an engine’s power capability whereby the amount of twisting or rotating effort being exerted on the crankshaft is expressed in pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of force. The unit pound-feet represents the force of one pound acting at a right angle to the rotating crankshaft at a distance of one foot in length.

An unwanted imbalance of driving force between the front wheels of a front-wheel-drive vehicle that causes the car to pull to the left or right under heavy acceleration. The driver senses torque steer as a turning force at the steering wheel when the vehicle is accelerating from a start. Under normal driving conditions, torque steer has been virtually eliminated in Ford vehicles.

A long straight bar fastened to the frame at one end and to a suspension part at the other. In effect, a torsion bar is merely an uncoiled spring, and spring action is produced by twisting the bar. The main advantage of the torsion bar over the coil spring in the front suspension is the ease of adjusting the front suspension height.

Most vehicles can tow a moderate amount of weight (1000 lbs. or less) without too much trouble.(See the owners guide for towing recommendations and load limits) Overload or air-assist shocks can keep the rear end from sagging, and a stabilizer bar on the trailer hitch can reduce swaying. Automatic transmissions should be equipped with an oil cooler to protect the transmission against overheating. A larger radiator or a larger fan may be required to keep the engine from overheating.

Using the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in combination with engine intervention, this system offers improved vehicle control during acceleration in poor driving conditions by using electronic controls to limit wheel spin.

• Wheel-speed sensors detect variations in rotational speed between front and rear wheels, and activate the system
• The system is functional at all speeds using both engine and brake intervention. The Traction Control actuator pulses the brake calipers at the drive wheels to reduce wheel slip. The driver may feel a slight pulsing in the accelerator pedal
• The system utilizes much of the hardware of the Anti-lock Braking System, including the wheel-speed detectors and ABS computer
• Traction Control is not available without ABS

A rear-wheel-drive mechanical system that operates within the differential. Traction-Lok provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when one rear drive wheel has poor traction. Limited Slip is not offered on front-wheel-drive vehicles.

A performance driving technique in which the driver begins to brake before entering a turn and then continues to brake as he/she eases into the corner. As cornering forces build, the driver gently lifts off the brake, trading off, or balancing, braking power with cornering grip.

CLASS I - LIGHT-DUTY

• 2,000-lb. maximum weight (trailer and cargo combined)
• Folding camping trailers and trailers for small boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles
• Many Ford vehicles can handle easily
• Weight-carrying hitch

The weight in pounds that a trailer (loaded or unloaded) exerts directly on the hitch ball attached to the towing vehicle. This load is considered in maintaining the loading limits of the vehicle.

A suspension element that consists of a longitudinal member that pivots from the body at its forward end and has a wheel hub rigidly attached to its trailing end. Similar to a semi-trailing arm, except that its pivot axis is perpendicular to the car’s longitudinal center.

A suspension link that is mounted ahead of a wheel and aligned to resist longitudinal motions in the wheel.

A transmission and differential combined in one integrated assembly, eliminating the need for a separate connecting drive shaft. This configuration is typical in front-wheel-drive vehicles.

An auxiliary device on a four-wheel-drive vehicle that allows power to be delivered to front and rear axles.

A powertrain layout design in which the engine crankshaft centerline is aligned parallel to the drive axle(s). The engine is mounted sideways in the engine compartment, usually allowing additional interior room.

These engines put the torque where it’s needed most, delivering 90 percent at or below 2000 rpm. And their single-overhead-cam design uses a maintenance-free silent chain drive, which eliminates push rods, helping to increase horsepower and torque.

These engines put the torque where it’s needed most, delivering 90 percent at or below 2000 rpm. Their single-overhead-cam design uses a maintenance-free silent chain drive which eliminates push rods, helping to increase horsepower and torque.

Intake and/or exhaust systems that harness the pressure pulses and resonances inside various passages and chambers in the intake and exhaust manifolds to increase the flow of the intake charge into and out of the combustion chambers.

Rotary compressor or pump that pressurizes engine intake air. It is driven by the flow of exhaust gases. The increased pressure forces more air into the cylinder than it could normally draw, allowing the engine to burn more fuel and in turn produce more power.

A performance driving term denoting the moment of transition between driving straight ahead and cornering.

The diameter within which a vehicle can turn completely in a circle as measured in one of two ways:

• The curb-to-curb turning diameter is made at the outside of the outer front tire
• The wall-to-wall turning diameter is measured from the point of most extreme front-end overhang, generally the bumper.

Ranger’s pickup box and most F-Series boxes feature the advantage of two-tiered loading capability. By placing 2x4’s across the box in special depressions and lowering the tailgate, Ranger styleside can accommodate flat loading of 4x8-foot plywood sheets. Additional cargo can be placed under the plywood.