The Ford F-250 is a serious work truck for people who need something above and beyond the capacities of the ever-popular F-150. The type and amount of oil you’ll need to feed this beast depends on the engine—either 7.0 or 8.0 quarts of 5W-30 for the gasoline engines or 13.0 quarts of 10W-30 for the turbodiesel.

The F-250 is more than just one louder than the

Ford F-150

—the Ford F-250 is bigger, stronger, and quite frankly, more truck than the average driver needs. But if you’ve got some next-level towing or hauling to do, the Ford F-250 has got your back.

Routine maintenance tasks like oil changes are essential to keep your hard-working friend happy—and keep

car repairs

to a minimum. If you want to know how much oil you’ll need to do it at home, keep reading!

MORE:

How to save on your Ford F-250 insurance costs

Ford F-250 engine oil capacity

So just how much oil do you need for the F-250? Quite a bit, and the amount varies depending on what’s under the hood.

There were three engines available in 2022—two gasoline and one diesel. Here’s how the oil capacities break down for each one:

6.2-liter gasoline V8: 7 quarts

7.3-liter gasoline V8: 8 quarts

6.7-liter turbodiesel V8: 13 quarts

These are some large and powerful engines we’re talking about, so their capacities are going to be larger as well! It’s worth noting that the liter spec refers to the engine's displacement, or how much volume that eight-pack of cylinders takes up. Displacement isn’t the same thing as oil capacity, so remember that those numbers aren’t interchangeable.

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What kind of oil does a Ford F-250 need?

We’ve established that this truck needs quite a bit of oil—now we need to know what type of oil it takes! Once again, it depends on the engine.

The gasoline engines require premium grade SAE 5W-30 oil, while the turbodiesel requires premium grade SAE 10W-30 diesel oil.

Ford

recommends Motorcraft brand, but if you can’t find that one, any premium brand will do.

Two important things to take note of here: not only do the gasoline and diesel engines require a different grade of oil (that’s the 5W-30 or 10W-30 part), diesel engine oil and gasoline engine oil are not interchangeable. Make sure you read the bottle carefully and get the correct one for your engine!

The grade of the oil refers to its viscosity, or how thick it is. The “W” stands for winter, the “5” or “10” means these oils will have a low viscosity when it’s cold outside, and the “30” means that things will stay flowing properly when it’s extremely hot out—these ranges allow for optimal performance in a variety of conditions. “SAE” stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers, which is the group that codes engine oils.

For all of the F-250’s engines, the owner’s manual states that if you’re in conditions with extremely cold ambient temperatures, you can use 0W-30 oil. And by “extremely cold,” they mean negative 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

For most people, this won’t be needed. But if you live somewhere that hits those low temperatures, you might want to think about 0W-30 in the winter. And also we’re sorry, and please button up your coat.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change the oil on a Ford F-250

One last piece of information—how often do you need to

change your oil

Your Ford F-250 comes with an oil change indicator that will let you know when you’re due for an oil change. This is particularly helpful as the recommended intervals for an oil change range from every 2,500 miles to every 10,000 miles, depending on your driving conditions. Here’s how it breaks down:

Every 2,500–5,000 miles: Extreme hot or cold temperatures, maximum towing or load capacity

Every 5,000–7,500 miles: Extended hot or cold temperatures, moderate towing or load capacity, mountainous or off-road conditions, extended idling

Every 7,500–10,000 miles: Normal commuting with highway driving and flat to moderately hilly roads. No or moderate towing, no extended idling

No matter what your driving conditions are, keep an eye out for the following signs that you need an oil change:

Motor oil that’s black or dark brown in color

Motor oil that feels gritty

New engine noises

New odors, particularly ones that are smoky, oily, or smell like burning

Decrease in your truck’s performance

MORE: Ford F-250 towing capacity

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How to change your truck’s oil and oil filter

Ready to change your oil? Let’s do this thing!

Start by gathering your materials. You’ll need a funnel, a drain pan, a socket wrench, and a wrench designed for the oil filter. You’ll also need a new oil filter along with the appropriate type and amount of oil for your engine.

Start your truck and let it run for a few minutes until the engine is warmed to normal operating temperature. Once things are nice and toasty, turn the engine off, pop the hood, and away we go!

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath your truck and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, and allow the old oil to drain into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter (don’t forget the old gasket as well) and allow the oil to keep draining

Install the fresh filter according to the instructions on the package

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer, and tighten it appropriately

Refill the engine with your fresh oil and replace the fill cap

Fire your F-250 up and let it run for a few minutes. This allows the fresh oil to circulate and fill up the new filter. Check the oil level with your dipstick and top it off as needed. Let your truck run for a few minutes and watch closely underneath for any leaks.

Finally, dispose of that dirty oil properly! You should never dump dirty oil out on the ground, down the drain, or toss it in the trash. Place it in an appropriate sealed container and take it to a local recycling center–done and done!

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