Ford Maintenance Schedule, things to stay on top of.

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Hey everyone,

I am still learning what is going to be the top things to be aware of for scheduled maintenance and what to look out for. My truck is rolling over at 30k and I spoke to one guy I trust who works for Phil Long Lincoln/Ford here in Colorado Springs. He gave me a general run down of things to be aware of. He definitely said to stay on top of the fuel management system with a fuel injection service ever 15k, change to full synthetic(done) and add a catch can(done). I have already done a UPR catch can. I am more than willing and ready to go above and beyond on the maintenance of this truck to insure it’s staying at peak performance for as long as possible and hopefully avoid any unnecessary repairs or issues. Any advice or suggestions for someone willing to go way down the rabbit hole on any and everything to keep it extremely well maintained? Oil is getting changed every 5k with full synthetic royal purple. I’m just more less curious about when it’s times to do fluid flushes, filter changes, etc.. I have the maintenance schedule from Ford but curious if anyone recommends a different oil for such things as transmission, differentials, transfer case,etc. Possibly any better filters or really anything that is going to maximize the vehicles life, quality and performance.

I apologize for the rambling, I come from over a million miles on Toyota trucks and very well versed in things to do, maintain and look out for. Not so much on Ford just yet but willing to ask questions, do some homework and labor to do the same TLC that I did on my Toyotas but now in my Ranger.

thanks!

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[Grumpaw]

The shnakaful needs to be rotated 180 degrees every 3 months or 12 weeks, whichever comes first.
Blinker fluid both in taillights and mirrors (if so equipped) checked quarterly and changed every 3 1/2 quarters.
Check interior of muffler for rust, moisture, and black stuff.
Wipe down and treat the tire interior's with 303 Protectant.
If you have a damper, make sure it's going in and out in and out, not, out and in out and in
And follow the schedule you posted.

I change oil/filter every 5000 miles, air/cabin filter every 3rd oil change. Rear end at 12,000 miles. Haven't changed trans fluid yet...waiting on incomming dipstick and deep trans pan...will probably do at 20,000 miles or when dipstick comes in.
Trans...Mercon ULV only. Rear I used Ford/Motorcraft gear oil as recommended in manual.

 

[deleriumtremor]

I follow what is in the book (I don't do any heavy towing).

The departure for me is I change the oil every 5K or 6 months whichever comes first (versus just following the software's advice). I change the intake and cabin filter every 12 months (pretty dusty where I drive it at least half the time).

I use full synthetic 5W30 and WIX oil filters (mostly NAPA brand but WIX manufacture) and WIX air filters.

 

[diesel924]

Use Top Tier gas and skip that bogus 'fuel injection service'.

 

[dtech]

The shnakaful needs to be rotated 180 degrees every 3 months or 12 weeks, whichever comes first.
Blinker fluid both in taillights and mirrors (if so equipped) checked quarterly and changed every 3 1/2 quarters.
Check interior of muffler for rust, moisture, and black stuff.
Wipe down and treat the tire interior's with 303 Protectant.
If you have a damper, make sure it's going in and out in and out, not, out and in out and in
And follow the schedule you posted.

On Monday in a parking lot I came across a Ford Pinto, original paint, I think it could be properly called poop brown, it was a longer Pinto than I ever recollect seeing, maybe a wagon version ? Anyways I approached the driver and asked how he kept it going and he verbatim repeated your advice quoted above, if it worked on a Pinto it should easily get a Ranger passed that desired 1 mill mark.

 

[ctechbob]

Transmission drain and fill no later than 30k, same at 60k with a filter change. ULV marked fluids only.

Change the diff at least once somewhere before 30k to get the break-in metals out. No sense going too deep on that one. If the diff doesn't fail soon after install, they'll generally last for a good long time.

Buy the items to lube the slip joint if you're so inclined. Tube of the special motorcraft lube and some crimp clamps.

 

[Langwilliams]

I agree 5K oil changes, 30K changing the trans fluid in the pan an the filter every 60K, I changed the dif fluids at 20K an the rear was nasty an the front was like new since I only used 4wd for maybe 10-15 miles in that time. I never changed the xfer case fluid before trading it in at 45K. I was going to do it if I kept it. I run top tier fuels almost exclusively, I ran the non TT a handful of times, maybe once a quarter.

 

[Frenchy]

Just as a thought have you taken the time to open your owner's manual or is it still filled with cobwebs? I asked because that has a lot of maintenance information that should have been figured out by the engineers who spent way more money than what you and I and them make combined. I would go to that first for general maintenance information. That said Ford doesn't state that there's a whole lot that should have to be done over the course of time

 

[Langwilliams]

Just as a thought have you taken the time to open your owner's manual or is it still filled with cobwebs? I asked because that has a lot of maintenance information that should have been figured out by the engineers who spent way more money than what you and I and them make combined. I would go to that first for general maintenance information. That said Ford doesn't state that there's a whole lot that should have to be done over the course of time

I am not waiting 100,000-150,000 miles to change the trans fluid like the owners manual says. I think that's what the manual says about the difs an xfer case too. IMO too long. 100,000 on the coolant seems too long as well. I would say 60K on the trans, difs an xfer case an coolant sounds reasonable.

You are right many people over do their maintenance. The cars and the fluids are so much better now adays. On a modern engine that's not turbo charged 7,500 is good imo but Fords says 10K or the monitors prompting. With the ranger being turbo 5K is good for oil changes since turbos run so hot. Guess many of us remember the old days of changing coolant every 12K, trans fluid 15-30K an oil/filter every 3K. Those days are gone luckily. The old cars I had back in the day from the 70's an early 80's the fluids tended to change themselves by leaking an being added to constatantly.

 

[Frenchy]

I am not waiting 100,000-150,000 miles to change the trans fluid like the owners manual says. I think that's what the manual says about the difs an xfer case too. IMO too long. 100,000 on the coolant seems too long as well. I would say 60K on the trans, difs an xfer case an coolant sounds reasonable.

You are right many people over do their maintenance. The cars and the fluids are so much better now adays. On a modern engine that's not turbo charged 7,500 is good imo but Fords says 10K or the monitors prompting. With the ranger being turbo 5K is good for oil changes since turbos run so hot. Guess many of us remember the old days of changing coolant every 12K, trans fluid 15-30K an oil/filter every 3K. Those days are gone luckily. The old cars I had back in the day from the 70's an early 80's the fluids tended to change themselves by leaking an being added to constatantly.

In general you are not wrong, but there is more than just the mileage. There is also time. Both are mentioned in the maintenance section of both the owners manual and the service manual. As for doing certain services sooner than later? Yeah I do the same thing since I recall Nissan being one to highly recommend changing the Brake Fluid, Transmission fluid (both Auto and Manual), Transfer Case fluid and diff fluids at 30K. To some that may seem excessive, but the Engineers spent a lot of time and money to figure it out for a.damn good reason.

 

[MeTheGuy]

I am not waiting 100,000-150,000 miles to change the trans fluid like the owners manual says. I think that's what the manual says about the difs an xfer case too. IMO too long. 100,000 on the coolant seems too long as well. I would say 60K on the trans, difs an xfer case an coolant sounds reasonable.

You are right many people over do their maintenance. The cars and the fluids are so much better now adays. On a modern engine that's not turbo charged 7,500 is good imo but Fords says 10K or the monitors prompting. With the ranger being turbo 5K is good for oil changes since turbos run so hot. Guess many of us remember the old days of changing coolant every 12K, trans fluid 15-30K an oil/filter every 3K. Those days are gone luckily. The old cars I had back in the day from the 70's an early 80's the fluids tended to change themselves by leaking an being added to constatantly.

my 19 about to turn 60k. Dealer drained, filled trans and changed filter, flash, etc. Greatly smoothed out trans shifting after a few hundred miles. Service quietly told me that the trans on these should be serviced every 30k not what the manual says.

 

[Langwilliams]

there is more than just the mileage. There is also time.

yes I forgot the time factor in my reply. When I had my Cobra I'd change the oil annually since it was summer only an only got about 4K of use. I change my Harley fluids every spring. My 5K oil changes work out to about every 5 months, sometimes 6. I would do it every six months regardless of miles I started doing the brake fluid every 3 years on my Harley. The factory has a recommendation on that now but I don't recall it. I thought I read on here Ford issued a revised schedule that included brake fluid. I don't know if this dot 4 stuff is more sensitive to moisture or what.

 

[ctechbob]

Forgot about brake fluid.

Every 2 years unless you live in the desert, and then you could probably go 3 if it is super dry and no winter road salt. - Either the official Motorcraft 'Dot 4 LV' or the Bosch ESI6. I personally use the Bosch, it is priced well and covers the spec Ford is looking for.

 

[kieefer]

Might look up turbo threads and YouTube videos for this engine and decide if the turbo filter/oil strainer should be part of your schedule.

A brake fluid flush around 50k or at brake pad replacement would be a good idea too., especially if you tow.

 

[Motorpsychology]

Just as a thought have you taken the time to open your owner's manual or is it still filled with cobwebs? I asked because that has a lot of maintenance information that should have been figured out by the engineers who spent way more money than what you and I and them make combined. I would go to that first for general maintenance information. That said Ford doesn't state that there's a whole lot that should have to be done over the course of time

10-4. I bet Ford could bury a 'Free Lifetime Service" coupon in the middle of the manuals and have only a handful of claims.

Download a free .pdf Owners Manual for any Ford going back to 2014. Leave the printed one in the glove box. There's also one in the Ford Pass App:
SERVICE> REFERENCE GUIDE> HOW TO VIDEOS & OWNER'S MANUAL

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