6.7L Power Stroke Maintenance Guide

6.7 Power Stroke Maintenance Schedules

Service procedures that are required at a declared vehicle mileage OR time interval should be performed at the point where either the mileage OR the time is reached, whichever should come first. All 6.7L Power Stroke equipped vehicles fall under the "severe" or "heavy duty" service category if any of the following conditions are true:

• Vehicle is frequently driven in heavy stop-and-go traffic conditions, used regularly for short trips that prevent the engine from reaching normal operating temperature, or is idled more than 10 minutes within a 60 minute period of time
• Vehicle is used to tow a trailer or haul heavy cargo
• Vehicle is operated in extremely cold (< 32° F) or extremely hot (> 100° F) ambient conditions
• Vehicle is operated off-road, especially in dusty conditions
• Engine is operated on biodiesel fuel blends

Light, infrequent towing is unlikely to require maintenance intervals under the "severe" service schedule, however if there is any doubt as to which category your vehicle falls under, adhere to the "severe" schedule; most vehicles will fall into this category due to one or more of the listed conditions. It is also important to consider that the 6.7L Power Stroke is a high output engine with a fuel system that is extremely sensitive to contamination. Additionally, it has a highly advanced exhaust aftertreatment system.

Although the 6.7L Power Stroke is certified for biodiesel fuel blends up to B20 (20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel), fuel filter replacements and oil changes should be performed more frequently when operating on biodiesel fuel blends. The 6.7L Power Stroke's electronic oil and fuel system service monitors will not adjust for biodiesel fuel usage. Note that biodiesel has a limited shelf life and should not be stored for long periods (> 3 months). Biodiesel is sometimes marketed as biomass or renewable diesel fuel.

Normal Service Intervals

[1] - Intelligent oil-life monitor will begin to present messages through the instrument cluster display when an oil change is required; do not exceed 10,000 miles between oil changes
[2] - Drain fuel-water separator, replace chassis and engine mounted fuel filters. If a "water in fuel" message is presented through the instrument cluster display, service immediately.
[3] - All 6.7L Power Stroke engines have two separate cooling system circuits
[4] - Service immediately anytime component is submerged; water intrusion highly probable

Severe/Heavy Duty Service Intervals

[5] - Intelligent oil-life monitor will begin to present messages through the instrument cluster display when an oil change is required; do not exceed 5,000 miles between oil changes if adhering to the severe/heavy duty service intervals
[6] - Drain fuel-water separator, replace chassis and engine mounted fuel filters. If a "water in fuel" message is presented through the instrument cluster display, service immediately. More frequent service and monitoring should be considered if operating biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuels. Recommend draining fuel-water separator at oil change intervals.
[7] - All 6.7L Power Stroke engines have two separate cooling system circuits
[8] - Service immediately anytime component is submerged; water intrusion highly probable

6.7 Power Stroke Oils, Lubricants, & Fluids

Engine Oil Viscosity Chart

Ford's engine oil requirements for the 6.7L Power Stroke are relatively strict due to the fact that formulations meeting API CK-4 specifications were not always found to meet Ford engineer's wear protection requirements. Thus, Ford specifies that engine oils must meet API CJ-4 and Ford WSS-M2C171-F1 specifications. Additional information, including the history on engine oil requirements for the 6.7L Power Stroke can be found here: 6.7 Power Stroke motor oil requirements. Failure to use an appropriate engine oil could result in accelerated engine wear, DPF clogging, and excessive fuel dilution.

Oil & Fluid Specifications

[9] - All engine oil must meet, at minimum, API CJ-4 and Ford WSS-M2C171-F1 engineering specifications. API CK-4 engine oils do not always adhere to Ford's engine oil criteria; for additional information on this topic, see: 6.7L Power Stroke engine oil requirements. 5W-40 engine oil required for vehicles placed in the "severe duty" service category.
[10] - 5W-40 or 15W-40 engine oil required for vehicles using biodiesel
[11] - 50/50 coolant-water solution provides freezing protection down to -34° F. A 60% coolant, 40% water solution may be substituted if addition protection is needed due to extremely low ambient temperatures. Do not exceed a 60/40 coolant-water solution, do not add water to prediluted engine coolants, and do not mix coolant types/colors.
[12] - Vehicles equipped with a limited slip differential may require a friction modifier; use Motorcraft XL-3
[13] - Dana 80, S110, S130, M275, and M300 differentials only available in dual rear wheel configurations. Dana 80 differential only available on dual rear wheel F-350 models. Dana S110, S135, S130, M275, M300 differentials only available on F-450, F-550, and F-600 models.
[14] - Recommended fuel additives listed; routinely using fuel additives adds lubricity to fuel and may prolong the life of fuel and emissions components, including the CP4 injection pump
[15] - Diesel exhaust fluid is extremely corrosive; never add DEF to the diesel fuel tank

Oil & Fluid Capacities

[16] - For additional information on cooling system roles by model year, see: 6.7 Power Stroke cooling system overview
[17] - Total transmission capacity; actual service refill requirements will be significantly lower and variable

6.7 Power Stroke Service Parts List

[18] - Fuel filters sold as a kit with chassis mounted and engine mounted filters
[19] - 2011 model year vehicles featured a plastic 1/4 turn drain plug
[20] - Verify correct glow plug for application; engines built before 12/1/2012 require ZD-17 glow plugs, while later 2012 - 2019 engines require ZD-18 glow plugs. ZD-17 glow plugs are 91 mm long, while the ZD-18 glow plugs are 96 mm long. 2020+ model year vehicles require ZD-26 glow plugs.
[21] - Primary cooling system refers to the high temperature system that manages engine cooling
[22] - Secondary cooling system refers to the low temperature system that supports the charge-air-cooler, EGR, and transmission, and fuel coolers. 2011 to 2017 model year vehicles featured a left and right hand thermostat for this system, 2018+ model years control the circuit with a single thermostat.

Belt Routing Diagram