Engine Oil is one of the most important fluids your vehicle uses. It keeps your engine running smoothly, and without it you would have catastrophic engine failure before long. Although all oils essentially do the same thing for your vehicle, not every vehicle uses the same type of oil.
Different vehicles have different engines, and each engine usually requires a different type of oil to run properly. Some types of oil are thicker than others; if your engine has smaller holes and valves for the oil to pass through, thicker types of oil can be inefficiently pumped throughout your engine, which ends up causing metal-on-metal contact and leading to terrible engine failure. This also voids your warranty in most cases, leaving you to pay for repairs for a brand new vehicle out of your own pocket.
Where to Find Out What Oil Your Vehicle Needs
Since the consequences of using the wrong oil are so extreme, Ford manufacturers have made it extremely easy to find an answer to the question, “What kind of oil does a Ford F-150 take?” The answer is easily found in a couple of different places.
First and foremost, the easiest place to learn what kind of oil your vehicle takes is right on the cover of your oil fill cap. Oil comes in varying weights, and the weight you’ll need will be clearly displayed on the oil fill cap. For Ford F-150s specifically, the owner’s manual also contains the necessary information regarding the correct weight of oil.
What Kind of Oil Does a Ford F-150 Take?
As stated above, oil comes in different weights such as:
- 5W-20
- 15W-40
- 5W-30
For Ford F-150s the best type of oil is 5W-20. Anything heavier can result in severe complications. All Ford-F150s manufactured from 2004 to 2014 will take this type of oil; the exception is the Ford F-150 with an Ecoboost 3.5L V6 engine. These engines need the slightly heavier – 5W-30 oil.
When it comes to picking a brand, nearly any brand of oil will do as long as it’s the correct weight; however, Ford does prefer that its customers use the Motorcraft brand of oil. The good news is that even if you don’t use Motorcraft you can still get a warranty on your Ford, unless — as previously mentioned — you were using the wrong weight of oil.
One important thing to note about picking an oil is that only brands with an API rating are considered legitimate. You might find one without an API rating that works, but it’s very risky to buy an oil that hasn’t been approved by the American Petroleum Institute.
Parting Thoughts
A Ford F-150 usually takes only one kind of oil, unless it has an EcoBoost engine that requires a heavier oil. Whether you look on the oil cover cap or in the owner’s manual, you now have the information you need to give your Ford F-150 the right oil to help it run smoothly for many years to come.
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Ford, check out Pines Ford in Pembroke Pines, FL. They offer a variety of different Ford models, as well as tons of great deals like no-money-down, monthly ads, and pre-owned specials.
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