1996 Ford F250 Owner's Manual - Page 352

Use only power steering fluid that: u meets Ford's Specification ESW-M2C33-F, such as Ford Premium Power Steering Fluid, E6AZ-19582-AA or an equivalent Type F Automatic Transmission Fluid with a Ford registration number (an 8-digit number beginning with "2P" printed on the fluid container). If the power steering fluid is low, do not drive your vehicle for a long period of time before adding fluid. This can damage the power steering pump. 6. When you are finished, put the dipstick back in and make sure that it fits snugly. If you check the power steering fluid when it is cold, make sure that the fluid reaches the FULL COLD range on the dipstick. The reading will only be accurate if the fluid temperature is approximately 50 to 85˚F (10 to 30˚C). NOTE: Do not turn the steering wheel of your vehicle with the engine off. It could force power steering fluid out from the reservoir cap or in extreme cases, it could unseat the cap. 353