Ford has been producing Power Stroke diesel engines since 1994. In those 30 years, the engines have been used in various applications, including light trucks, HD trucks, commercial trucks, and agricultural equipment. Over the years, the Ford Power Stroke family of engines has grown to where there are currently five Power Stroke engines available. Ford has a reputation for producing reliable diesel engines that can withstand the rigors of heavy use. Many owners report getting over 200,000 and sometimes over 300,000 miles out of their engines with proper maintenance. But proper maintenance is key. Benna Ford offers these suggestions to keep your Power Stroke diesel working for you for a long time.
Three elements in Power Stroke maintenance are keeping to the schedule, using the right parts and fluids, and being aware of whether your vehicle is undergoing “Special Operating Conditions.” The most notable Special Operating conditions include:
- Frequent or extended idling (over 10 minutes per hour of normal driving)
- Frequent low-speed operation
- Sustained traffic speeds of less than 25 MPH. (One hour of idle time is equal to approximately 25 miles of driving.)
- Sustained vehicle operation in ambient temperatures below -10°F (-23°C) or above 100°F ( 38°C)
- Operating in severe dust or off-road conditions
- Towing a trailer over 1,000 miles
- Sustained, high-speed driving at or near the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- Use of any Biodiesel (B5 is the maximum allowable blend for Power Stroke Diesels, except the all-new 6.7L)
After determining which conditions your Power Stroke engine operates within, you can choose the following service schedule below for your regular maintenance.
Normal Operating Conditions
Ford Recommended Maintenance Levels
| Power Stroke Engine | ||||
| 6.0-liter | 6.4-liter | 6.7-liter | 6.9-liter & 7.3-liter | |
| Change
Oil & Oil Filter |
Every 7,500 miles | Every 10,000 miles | Change according to message center in instrument cluster | Every 5,000 miles |
| Change
Fuel Filter |
Every 15,000 miles | Every 20,000 miles | Every 3rd Oil change or 22,250 miles, whichever comes first | Every 15,000 miles |
| Inspect / Change
Air Filter |
Inspect filter minder every 7,500 miles
Change is needed |
Inspect filter minder every 10,000 miles
Change is needed |
Inspect filter minder every 10,000 miles
Change is needed |
Inspect filter minder every 5,000 miles
Change is needed |
| Check / Change
Coolant |
Every six months, with initial change at 100,000 miles
Subsequent changes every 45,000 miles |
Every six months, with initial change at 100,000 miles
Subsequent changes every 50,000 miles |
Initial change at 105,000 miles or 72 months
Subsequent changes every 45,000 miles |
Every 15,000 miles |
| Check
Coolant Nitrite Strength |
Optional check at 15,000 miles or 600 engine hours | Optional check at 20,000 miles or 800 engine hours | Check at 15,000 miles or 600 engine hours | Every 15,000 miles |
Special Operating Conditions
Ford Recommended Maintenance Levels
| Power Stroke Engine | ||||
| 6.0-liter | 6.4-liter | 6.7-liter | 6.9 & 7.3-liter | |
| Change
Oil & Oil Filter |
Every 5,000 miles
or 200 engine hours |
Every 5,000 miles
or 200 engine hours |
Change according to message center in instrument cluster | Every 3,000 miles
or three months |
| Change
Fuel Filter |
Every 10,000 miles
or 400 engine hours (every other oil & oil filter change) |
Every 10,000 miles
or 400 engine hours (every other oil & oil filter change) |
Every 5,000 miles
Replace as needed |
Every 15,000 miles |
| Inspect / Change
Air Filter |
Inspect filter minder every 5,000 miles.
Change is needed. |
Inspect filter minder every 5,000 miles.
Change is needed. |
Inspect filter minder every 10,000 miles.
Change is needed. |
Inspect filter minder every 3,000 miles.
Change is needed. |
| Check / Change
Coolant |
Check every 15,000 miles or 600 engine hours.
Change every 45,000 miles or 1,800 engine hours. |
Check every 20,000 miles or 800 engine hours.
Change every 60,000 miles or 2,400 engine hours. |
Initial change 60,000 miles or 2,400 engine hours
Subsequent changes every 45,000 miles or 1800 hours |
Change every 15,000 miles |
| Check
Coolant Nitrite Strength |
Optional check at 15,000 miles or 600 engine hours | Optional check at 20,000 miles or 800 engine hours | Check every 15,000 miles or 600 hours | Every 15,000 miles |
For regular maintenance of your Power Stroke engine, Ford recommends its line of Motorcraft brand filters, oil, coolant, and Cetane and anti-gel fuel additives, all of which are designed and formulated specifically for Ford Power Stroke engines. You can find all these maintenance supplies at Benna Ford’s Service Department. If you have any maintenance questions, don’t hesitate to inquire with the Benna Ford service professionals.
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