maintenance
100K Service
for 2012 Ford F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost · 4WD
Difficulty
Advanced
Time
6.0 h
Tools
13
Steps
11
Complete 100,000 mile service including engine oil and filter, air filter, cabin filter, spark plugs, transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, front and rear differential fluid, coolant, brake fluid flush, and full inspection.
Warnings
⚠️Engine and exhaust components will be extremely hot. Allow engine to cool completely before beginning service.
⚠️Vehicle must be securely supported on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a floor jack.
⚠Do not mix different types of coolant. Use only Motorcraft Orange coolant compatible with this engine.
⚠Brake fluid is extremely corrosive to paint. Protect painted surfaces and wash immediately if spilled.
⚠Spark plugs on EcoBoost engines are prone to seizing. Do not force removal if resistance is encountered.
ℹ️This service requires approximately 6 hours. Plan accordingly and work in a well-ventilated area.
Tools required
Floor jack and jack stands rated for vehicle weightEssential
Torque wrench (10-150 Nm range)Essential
Socket set (metric)Essential
Oil drain pan (12 quart minimum capacity)Essential
Fluid pump for differentials and transfer caseEssential
Coolant refill funnel kitEssential
Brake fluid bleeder kit or vacuum bleederEssential
Spark plug socket (14mm with rubber insert)Essential
Spark plug gap toolEssential
Transmission fluid pump
Oil filter wrench
Pliers for hose clampsEssential
Turkey baster or fluid extractor
Parts
- Engine oil filter × 1 — Motorcraft FL-910S or equivalent
- Oil drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
- Engine air filter × 1 — Motorcraft FA-1927 or equivalent
- Cabin air filter × 1 — Motorcraft FP-67 or equivalent
- Spark plugs × 6 — Motorcraft SP-520 or equivalent (0.035 inch gap)
- Front differential drain plug gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
- Rear differential drain plug gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
- Transfer case drain plug gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
Fluids
- Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend engine oil — 6 qt
- Motorcraft MERCON LV ATF — 11 qt
- Motorcraft Transfer Case Fluid — 2.5 qt
- 75W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil (front differential) — 1.5 qt
- Motorcraft 75W-140 Synthetic Gear Oil (rear differential) — 2 qt
- Motorcraft Orange Coolant — 13 qt
- Motorcraft DOT 4 LV Brake Fluid — 1 qt
Preparation
- Ensure engine is completely cool before beginning work
- Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
- Gather all fluids, filters, and parts before starting
- Raise vehicle and support securely on jack stands at all four corners
- Remove all four wheels and set aside
- Place appropriate drain pans under vehicle
Procedure
- 1Engine oil and filter changeLocate oil drain plug on bottom of oil pan. Remove drain plug and allow oil to drain completely into pan. Remove oil filter using filter wrench if necessary. Install new oil filter hand-tight plus 3/4 turn. Clean drain plug and install new crush washer. Install drain plug and torque to specification. Lower vehicle and fill engine with 6 quarts of 5W-20 oil through filler cap. Start engine and check for leaks. Shut off and recheck oil level after 5 minutes.
- 2Replace engine air filterOpen hood and locate air filter housing on passenger side of engine bay. Release air box clips securing top cover. Lift cover and remove old air filter. Clean any debris from housing. Install new air filter ensuring proper seating. Replace cover and secure clips.
- 3Replace cabin air filterLocate cabin filter access panel behind glove box. Remove glove box stops to allow box to drop down. Remove filter access cover. Slide old cabin filter out noting direction of airflow arrows. Install new filter with arrows pointing in correct airflow direction. Replace cover and reinstall glove box stops.
- 4Replace spark plugsRemove engine cover by pulling upward on cover. Locate all six ignition coils on top of engine. Disconnect electrical connectors from each coil. Remove coil mounting bolts and carefully pull coils straight up out of spark plug tubes. Use compressed air to clean debris from spark plug wells. Using spark plug socket, carefully remove old plugs (turn counterclockwise). If resistance is felt, apply penetrating oil and wait 15 minutes before continuing. Gap new plugs to 0.035 inch. Apply small amount of anti-seize to plug threads. Install new plugs finger-tight, then torque to 15 Nm (11 lb-ft). Reinstall ignition coils and connectors.
- 5Drain and refill transmission fluidLocate transmission fluid pan under vehicle. Remove drain plug from pan and allow fluid to drain completely (approximately 5-6 quarts will drain). Clean and reinstall drain plug. Locate transmission fill plug on side of transmission case. Remove fill plug. Using fluid pump, add MERCON LV ATF through fill hole until fluid begins to drip out. Install fill plug. Start engine and shift through all gears, pausing 2 seconds in each. With engine running and transmission in Park, recheck fluid level and top off as needed.
- 6Service transfer caseLocate transfer case between transmission and rear driveshaft. Position drain pan under transfer case. Remove drain plug from bottom of case and allow fluid to drain completely. Install new drain plug gasket and reinstall drain plug. Remove fill plug from side of transfer case. Using fluid pump, add 2.5 quarts of Motorcraft Transfer Case Fluid through fill hole until fluid reaches bottom of fill hole. Install fill plug with new gasket.
- 7Service front differentialLocate front differential drain plug on bottom of front axle housing. Remove drain plug and allow 75W-90 gear oil to drain completely. Install new drain plug gasket and reinstall plug. Locate fill plug on front of differential housing. Remove fill plug. Using fluid pump, add 1.5 quarts of 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil through fill hole until fluid reaches bottom of fill hole. Install fill plug with new gasket.
- 8Service rear differentialLocate rear differential drain plug on bottom of rear axle housing. Remove drain plug and allow gear oil to drain completely. Install new drain plug gasket and reinstall plug. Remove fill plug from back of differential housing. Using fluid pump, add 2.0 quarts of Motorcraft 75W-140 synthetic gear oil through fill hole until fluid reaches bottom of fill hole. Install fill plug with new gasket.
- 9Flush and replace coolantEnsure engine is completely cool. Remove radiator cap slowly to release any residual pressure. Locate radiator drain petcock at bottom of radiator and attach drain hose. Open petcock and drain coolant into appropriate container. Close petcock when empty. Remove coolant reservoir and empty completely. Reinstall reservoir. Using coolant refill funnel kit attached to radiator neck, slowly add new Motorcraft Orange coolant until system is full (approximately 13 quarts total). Start engine with funnel still attached and allow to warm to operating temperature. Add coolant as level drops during burping process. When no more air bubbles appear and coolant level stabilizes, remove funnel and install radiator cap. Check coolant level in reservoir and fill to FULL COLD mark.
- 10Flush brake fluidLocate brake fluid reservoir under hood and remove cap. Using turkey baster or fluid extractor, remove old brake fluid from reservoir. Refill with fresh Motorcraft DOT 4 LV brake fluid. Starting with right rear wheel, attach brake bleeder to bleeder screw. Have assistant pump brake pedal three times and hold. Open bleeder screw and allow old fluid to drain until new clean fluid appears. Close bleeder before pedal reaches floor. Repeat process for left rear, right front, then left front wheels. Keep reservoir full throughout process. When complete, ensure pedal is firm and reservoir is at MAX level.
- 11Reinstall wheels and perform final inspectionClean wheel mounting surfaces on hubs. Install wheels and thread lug nuts by hand. Lower vehicle until wheels just touch ground. Torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern. Fully lower vehicle and remove jack stands. Double-check all drain plugs, fill plugs, and filter installations for proper torque and leak prevention. Start engine and inspect for any fluid leaks under vehicle. Check all fluid levels and top off as necessary.
Reassembly
- Ensure all drain and fill plugs are properly torqued and not leaking
- Verify all electrical connectors for ignition coils are fully seated
- Confirm engine cover is properly installed
- Check that all wheels are torqued to specification in star pattern
- Verify all fluid levels are correct with engine at operating temperature
Verification
- Start engine and allow to reach full operating temperature while monitoring for any leaks
- Check engine oil level on dipstick with engine off - should be between MIN and MAX marks
- Verify transmission fluid level with engine running in Park on level ground
- Test drive vehicle for 10-15 minutes, cycling through all gears and engaging 4WD
- After test drive, recheck all fluid levels and inspect under vehicle for any leaks
- Verify brake pedal feels firm with no sponginess
- Check coolant level in reservoir - should be at FULL HOT mark when warm
- Reset maintenance reminder in instrument cluster if equipped