Ford F-Series 7.3-Liter Gas Engine Oil Capacity
You can change your Ford F-Series 7.3-Liter Gas Super Duty Pickup Truck’s engine oil at home—as long as you know your engine oil capacity.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Ford changed the game when the brand equipped its best-selling F-Series pickup truck with a 7.3-liter V8 gasoline engine, offering best-in-class horsepower and torque. When it comes time to change your oil at home, you’ll first need to know your engine’s oil capacity.
A big, powerful, one-of-a-kind truck might seem expensive to maintain—but you can cut costs by skipping the trip to the mechanic’s and instead performing oil changes in your very own driveway. You just need a few simple tools and some basic know-how.
Jerry
, the trustworthy insurance comparison app
known to save drivers money on car insurance
, has created this handy guide containing everything you need to know to change your Ford truck’s oil. We'll discuss your truck's engine oil capacity, specify the type of oil it needs, detail step-by-step directions for performing an oil change, and how to save big on your
Ford car insurance costs.
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Ford 7.3 Gas engine oil capacity
So how much oil does a giant 7.3-liter V8 engine need? Well, a lot—15 quarts to be exact. That’s equal to about 14.2 liters.
Don’t let the fact that a 7.3-liter engine requires 14.2 liters of oil confuse you. The 7.3-liter distinction refers to your
engine’s displacement
, or the volume the engine’s cylinders take up. Oil capacity indicates the amount of oil needed for an oil change. The two numbers are never interchangeable. What kind of oil does a Ford 7.3 Gas need?
Don’t run off and invest in 15 whole quarts of the incorrect oil. Make sure you’re buying what the manufacturer recommends. According to the Ford owner’s manual, you’ll need an SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Blend oil.
But what do all of these letters and numbers actually mean? Well, SAE simply stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers, the organization that developed the grading system which indicates the viscosity of the oil.
5W-30, then, refers to the oil’s viscosity. The number before the “W” (which stands for “winter”) indicates how the oil performs at freezing temperatures (0°F). The number after the W indicates how the oil performs at boiling hot temperatures (212°F).
Ford generally recommends 5W-30 oil because of how it performs in cold and hot weather conditions. However, if you plan to regularly drive your vehicle in an extremely cold climate—where the weather typically reaches -20°F or below—it is advisable to switch to 0W-30 oil for its increased ability to perform in such temperatures.
Finally, you need to know what a “synthetic blend” is. The answer is quite simple: It’s merely a mix of conventional oil (which is the most affordable type of oil and developed naturally in the earth’s crust) and full-synthetic oil (which undergoes a chemically engineered process to remove impurities).
Synthetic blends carry some of the benefits of full-synthetic oils while remaining slightly more affordable.
How often to change oil on a Ford 7.3 Gas Pickup
The final step—before actually
changing your oil and filer
, of course—is knowing when it’s time to perform the job.Synthetic blends last slightly longer than conventional oils, so you’ll only need to change your oil every 5,000 miles. Depending on how much you drive, this is an average of two to three times per year.
If you would like to spring for the more expensive full-synthetic oil, you can! It’ll cost a little extra, but you’ll also be able to go more miles between oil changes—approximately 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
Either way, don’t rely on tracking your mileage alone. It’s also important to check your engine oil levels monthly and keep an eye out for signs that it may need changing. Dark and dirty oil, oil that feels grainy, strange engine smells and noises, and a noticeable change in your vehicle’s performance are all tell-tale signs that you’re overdue for an oil change.
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How to change your oil and oil filter
Before rolling up your sleeves and changing your oil, make sure to gather all of your supplies. In addition to 15 quarts of your preferred oil and a new oil filter,you’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, a filter wrench, and any tarps/coveralls you deem necessary to avoid a mess.
Get things started by turning on your engine and letting it run for about five minutes—just until it reaches normal operating temperature. (If it’s particularly frigid outside, this might take a bit longer.) Once things are all warmed up, turn your engine off.
Next, open your truck’s hood and remove the oil fill cap. This releases the pressure inside the tank so that the dirty oil can drain efficiently. You’ll then need to crawl beneath your vehicle (and have your drain pan ready) so that you can remove the oil drain bolt and washer to let the old oil drain from the vehicle.
Allow the draining to slow down a bit before removing the old oil filter. Wait a few more minutes for any additional drainage before installing the new filter. Once everything is in place, replace the drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to the specifications articulated in your owner’s manual.
Finally, return beneath the hood of your car and carefully pour in 15 quarts of new, clean oil before replacing the oil cap.
Before you wrap up, complete the following three steps to check your work:
- Use the dipstick to confirm that you’ve added the proper amount of oil.
- Turn your vehicle on and let the engine run for a few minutes while you watch for leaks.
Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance
Performing your oil changes at home is a great way to save some extra cash—but, as a car owner, you know that basic maintenance isn’t necessarily one of your biggest vehicle-related expenses.
Car insurance
, however, most definitely is! That’s why you should shop with Jerry! Jerry
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