This procedure covers draining the engine oil, replacing the oil filter and drain plug crush washer, and refilling with the correct specification oil for the 2021-2024 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Oil filter cartridge × 1 — Motorcraft FL-500-S or equivalent
• Oil drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Engine oil × 6 — Motorcraft 0W-20 Full Synthetic

Fluids

• Motorcraft 0W-20 Full Synthetic — 6 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Allow engine to cool if recently operated (minimum 30 minutes)
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack and support securely on jack stands
5. Verify vehicle stability before working underneath
6. Locate oil drain plug on passenger side of oil pan
7. Locate oil filter housing cap on top of engine, driver side near front

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove skid plate if equipped
   If vehicle is equipped with an underbody skid plate, remove the mounting bolts using a socket wrench. Set skid plate and bolts aside for reinstallation.
2. 2

   Drain engine oil
   Position oil drain pan beneath the oil drain plug on the passenger side of the oil pan. Using a 15mm socket, loosen the drain plug slowly. Once loose, carefully unscrew by hand and allow oil to drain completely. This will take approximately 5-7 minutes for complete drainage.
   ⚠Oil may still be warm. The drain plug will drop into the pan once fully unscrewed - maintain control to avoid oil splash.
   Torque spec

   Oil Drain Plug35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Inspect and replace drain plug washer
   Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and discard. Clean the drain plug threads with a shop rag. Install the new crush washer onto the drain plug. Verify drain plug threads and oil pan threads are clean and undamaged.
4. 4

   Reinstall oil drain plug
   Thread the drain plug with new crush washer into the oil pan by hand to ensure proper thread engagement. Once hand-tight, use a torque wrench and 15mm socket to tighten to specification.
   Torque spec

   Oil Drain Plug35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove oil filter housing cap
   From the top of the engine, locate the oil filter housing cap on the driver side near the front. Using a 76mm 15-flute oil filter wrench, turn the housing cap counterclockwise to remove. Lift the cap straight up to extract the old filter cartridge.
   ℹ️Some oil will drain from the filter housing. Have a shop rag ready to catch spillage.
   Torque spec

   Oil Filter Housing Cap25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Replace oil filter cartridge
   Remove the old filter cartridge from the housing cap. Clean the housing cap and sealing surface with a clean shop rag. Inspect the O-ring seal on the housing cap and replace if damaged. Install the new filter cartridge into the housing cap, ensuring it seats properly.
7. 7

   Reinstall oil filter housing cap
   Verify the O-ring seal is properly positioned in the housing cap groove. Apply a light coating of clean engine oil to the O-ring. Insert the housing cap with new filter straight down into the housing. Thread the cap clockwise by hand until fully seated, then use the oil filter wrench and torque wrench to tighten to specification.
   Torque spec

   Oil Filter Housing Cap25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Reinstall skid plate if equipped
   If skid plate was removed, align it to the mounting points and install the bolts. Tighten to specification using a torque wrench.
9. 9

   Lower vehicle and refill engine oil
   Lower the vehicle from jack stands. Remove the oil filler cap from the valve cover. Insert a funnel and add 5.5 quarts of Motorcraft 0W-20 Full Synthetic engine oil. Install oil filler cap hand tight. Wait 2 minutes for oil to settle, then check dipstick level.
   ℹ️The 3.5L EcoBoost has a total capacity of 6 quarts. Start with 5.5 quarts to avoid overfilling, then add remaining oil as needed after checking level.
10. 10

    Check oil level and adjust
    Remove the engine oil dipstick, wipe clean, reinsert fully, and remove again to check level. The level should be between the MIN and MAX marks. Add remaining oil in small increments (0.25 quart) until the level reaches the MAX mark. Do not overfill.
11. 11

    Start engine and verify
    Start the engine and allow it to idle for 1 minute. Observe the oil pressure gauge to verify normal pressure. Shut off the engine and wait 2 minutes for oil to settle. Recheck oil level on dipstick and adjust if necessary. Inspect underneath the vehicle for any oil leaks at the drain plug and filter housing.
    ⚠The oil pressure warning light should extinguish within 2-3 seconds of starting. If it remains illuminated, shut off engine immediately and verify oil level and filter installation.

Reassembly

1. Ensure oil filler cap is installed hand tight
2. Verify no tools or rags are left in engine compartment
3. Record mileage and date for maintenance tracking

Verification

• Oil level should read at or near MAX mark on dipstick when checked on level ground with engine off for at least 2 minutes
• No oil leaks visible at drain plug or filter housing after engine operation
• Oil pressure gauge shows normal reading during idle
• Oil pressure warning light extinguishes within 2-3 seconds of engine start
• Reset oil life monitoring system through instrument cluster menu if applicable

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