6.4L Power Stroke Maintenance Guide

6.4 Power Stroke Maintenance Schedule

The maintenance schedule for "normal" driving conditions assumes the vehicle is driven unladen in ideal traffic conditions with minimal engine idling and constant road speeds. A vehicle will fall under the "severe" or "heavy duty" service category if it meets any of the following criteria:

• Vehicle is idled frequently and/or excessively (generally defined as 10 minutes or more idling within a 1 hour window)
• Vehicle makes frequent short trips in which the engine often shutdown before reaching full operating temperature
• Vehicle is driven off-road or in conditions that require the 4 wheel drive to be engaged
• Vehicle experiences light towing/hauling in excess of 1,000 miles between oil change intervals
• Vehicle tows and/or hauls medium to heavy loads
• Engine is run on biodiesel or biodiesel blends (any concentration)

As a general rule-of-thumb, most owners of a heavy duty pickup truck or van will fall under the severe/heavy duty service category, requiring an alternative maintenance schedule calling for more frequent service procedures. If in doubt about which service category your vehicle falls under, always adhere to the more stringent severe/heavy duty service intervals.

Many service intervals are provided in distance driven OR a period of time; service should be performed when either of these two conditions are met, whichever comes first.

Normal Service Intervals

[1] - Drain and replace oil/fluid as soon as possible if component is submerged in water; water intrusion highly probable.

Severe/Heavy Duty Service Intervals

[2] - Drain and replace oil/fluid as soon as possible if component is submerged in water; water intrusion highly probable.

6.4 Power Stroke Oils, Lubricants, & Fluids

Engine Oil Viscosity Chart

SAE 15W-40 or 5W-40 engine oils are preferred in ambient temperatures greater than 50° F and are required for heavy towing applications. Heavy towing is not recommended when using SAE 10W-30, 0W-30, or 0W-40 engine oils. Due to the 6.4L Power Stroke's EGR system and diesel particulate filter (DPF), a low ash diesel engine oil meeting API category CJ-4/SM specifications is required. Engine oils that do not meet these minimum requirements are not compatible with this engine platform and will cause the DPF to load with non-combustible material, impeding the regeneration process.

To provide proper engine protection and ease engine starting, the engine block heater must be used in ambient temperatures below -10° F regardless of oil viscosity.

Oil & Fluid Specifications

[3] - Selected viscosity grade must fall within listed ambient temperature range or engine damage could occur
[4] - Selected motor oil must meet or exceed API CJ-4/SM specifications
[5] - 50/50 solution of engine coolant and water provides protection from freezing down to -34° F. A a solution of up to 60% engine coolant can be used if vehicle is operated in temperatures lower than -34° F. Do not exceed a 60/40 solution. Do not add water to prediluted engine coolants.
[6] - Friction modifier/additive may be required in applications with limited slip differential; use Motorcraft XL-3

Oil & Fluid Capacities

[7] - Engine oil refill capacity with lube oil filter change
[8] - Total transmission fluid capacity listed; actual service refill capacity significantly less, add fluid through dipstick tube until appropriate dipstick level indicator range has been reached
[9] - Fill component until oil has reached the lower level of the fill plug hole; fill plug height is the appropriate lubricant level indicator. When checking fluid level, oil should be no less than 1/4 inch below the fill plug opening. Always fill and check fluid level with vehicle parked on level ground.
[10] - If friction modifier/additive is required for limited slip differential, add before filling with gear oil. Dana 80, S110, S130, and S135 rear differentials used in dual rear wheel applications only.

6.4 Power Stroke Service Parts List