🔧 F-150 - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This service drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your F-150 with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the turbocharged 2.7L engine, timing components, and bearings from wear.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-75 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface and let the engine cool until warm, not hot.
• ⚠️ Use jack stands if lifting the truck. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses. Used engine oil can irritate skin and eyes.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the exhaust and belts. Wipe spills before starting the engine.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this oil change.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 15mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• Torque wrench, 3/8-inch drive
• Oil filter cap wrench, 27mm
• Drain pan, 8-quart minimum
• Funnel
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Floor jack, rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands, rated 3-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil, SAE 5W-30 full synthetic - Qty: 6 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug gasket - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 📋 Park your F-150 on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• 📋 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels if lifting the front.
• 📋 Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• 📋 Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap to help the oil drain smoothly.
• 📋 A torque wrench tightens bolts to a measured tightness so parts are not under- or over-tightened.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and Secure the Front

• Use a floor jack, rated 3-ton minimum to lift the front of your F-150 only if you need extra room underneath.
• Place jack stands, rated 3-ton minimum under the front frame support points.
• Gently lower the truck onto the jack stands and lightly shake the truck to confirm it is stable.
• Never trust the jack alone.

Step 2: Position the Drain Pan

• Put on nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
• Slide the drain pan, 8-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug at the bottom of the oil pan.
• Keep shop towels nearby because the oil may come out quickly at first.

Step 3: Remove the Oil Drain Plug

• Use a 15mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug.
• Finish removing the plug by hand while keeping inward pressure on it, then pull it away quickly.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to occasional drips.
• Inspect the drain plug and remove the old drain plug gasket.

Step 4: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Install a new oil drain plug gasket on the drain plug.
• Wipe the oil pan sealing surface clean with shop towels.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a 15mm socket and torque wrench, 3/8-inch drive to tighten the drain plug to Torque to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).
• Hand-start bolts before using tools.

Step 5: Remove the Oil Filter

• Move the drain pan, 8-quart minimum under the oil filter area.
• Use an oil filter cap wrench, 27mm with the 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the cartridge-style oil filter cap.
• A cartridge filter is a paper filter element inside a reusable cap/housing instead of a metal spin-on can.
• Remove the filter cap slowly and let oil drain into the pan.
• Pull the old filter element out of the cap by hand.

Step 6: Install the New Oil Filter

• Use shop towels to wipe the oil filter cap and housing area clean.
• Remove the old O-ring from the filter cap by hand. An O-ring is a round rubber seal that prevents leaks.
• Lightly coat the new O-ring with fresh SAE 5W-30 full synthetic engine oil.
• Install the new O-ring in the same groove where the old one was located.
• Push the new engine oil filter into the cap until it seats fully.
• Thread the cap into the housing by hand.
• Use the oil filter cap wrench, 27mm and torque wrench, 3/8-inch drive to tighten the oil filter cap to Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Refill the Engine Oil

• Place a funnel into the engine oil filler opening.
• Pour in about 5.5 quarts of SAE 5W-30 full synthetic engine oil.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap by hand.
• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds while checking underneath for leaks.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes so the oil can drain back into the pan.

Step 8: Check and Top Off the Oil Level

• Pull the dipstick, wipe it clean with shop towels, reinstall it fully, then pull it again to read the level.
• Add oil through the funnel in small amounts until the level reaches the full mark.
• The total refill is typically about 6 quarts with filter replacement.
• Do not overfill. Too much oil can cause engine damage.

Step 9: Reset the Oil Life Monitor

• Use the steering wheel controls to turn the ignition on without starting the engine.
• On the instrument cluster, go to Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset.
• Press and hold OK until the oil life resets to 100%.
• If your cluster layout differs, use Settings > Advanced Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the engine and let it idle for 1 minute.
• ✅ Check around the drain plug and oil filter cap for leaks.
• ✅ Shut the engine off, wait 5 minutes, and recheck the dipstick level.
• ✅ Lower the truck using the floor jack, rated 3-ton minimum after removing the jack stands, rated 3-ton minimum.
• ✅ Pour the used oil into a sealed container and recycle it with the old filter at an approved oil recycling center.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $95-$160 USD equivalent (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$85 USD equivalent (parts only)

You Save: $50-$75 USD equivalent by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.4-0.7 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.