Ford F-150 maintenance schedule
The F-150 maintenance schedule has two parts. Oil changes follow the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor, with a limit of one year or 10,000 miles. Everything else goes by miles or time: on a 2021 F-150, cabin air filter every 20,000 miles, engine air filter every 30,000, spark plugs at 100,000, transmission fluid and filter at 150,000, brake fluid every 3 years, and coolant first at 10 years or 200,000 miles.
On this page (6 sections)
How the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor works
The truck tracks engine use and shows the remaining oil life as a percentage. “Change Engine Oil Soon” appears near 5%, and “Oil Change Required” at 0%. Because trucks that tow or idle wear their oil faster, two F-150s of the same year can need oil months apart. Ford still caps the interval at one year or 10,000 miles. The Ford maintenance schedule page explains the messages and the reset in detail.
The 2011–2014 6.2L V8 is the exception: it has no oil-life monitor, and Ford sets its oil change at every 7,500 miles.
F-150 maintenance by generation
Ford changed the intervals over time, most visibly for coolant. Find your truck’s years below.
14th generation (2021–2026)
Reminder system: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor.10 Oil changes: when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles; Ford says hybrids may go past 10,000 miles.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Brake fluid | every 3 years10 |
| Cabin air filter | every 20,000 miles10 |
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles10 |
| Spark plugs | every 100,000 miles (the 2021 manual lists 60,000 miles for some versions; see your manual)10 |
| Automatic transmission fluid and filter | every 150,000 miles10 |
| Engine coolant | first at 10 years or 200,000 miles, then every 5 years or 100,000 miles10 |
13th generation, 2018 update (2018–2020)
Reminder system: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor.9 Oil changes: when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Brake fluid | every 3 years (2020 manual; the 2018 manual does not list it)9 |
| Cabin air filter | every 20,000 miles9 |
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles9 |
| Spark plugs (gasoline) | every 100,000 miles; every 60,000 miles if you often tow9 |
| Automatic transmission fluid and filter | every 150,000 miles9 |
| Engine coolant | 2020 manual: first at 10 years or 200,000 miles, then every 5 years or 100,000 miles; 2018 manual: first at 6 years or 100,000 miles, then every 3 years or 50,000 miles9 |
13th generation (2015–2017)
Reminder system: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor.6 Oil changes: when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles6 |
| Spark plugs | every 100,000 miles6 |
| Automatic transmission fluid and filter | every 150,000 miles6 |
| Engine coolant | first at 6 years or 100,000 miles, then every 3 years or 50,000 miles6 |
12th generation, 2011 update (2011–2014)
Reminder system: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (3.5L, 3.7L, 5.0L; the 6.2L has none).4 Oil changes: when the display asks, at least once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first; 6.2L: every 7,500 miles.
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles4 |
| Spark plugs | every 100,000 miles4 |
| Engine coolant | first at 100,000 miles4 |
| Automatic transmission fluid and filter | every 150,000 miles4 |
12th generation (2009–2010)
Reminder system: Check your owner’s manual. Oil changes: every 7,500 miles or 6 months on the normal schedule; every 5,000 miles or 6 months for severe use (Ford’s 2009 guide).13
| Service | When |
|---|---|
| Engine air filter | every 30,000 miles (2009 guide)13 |
| Cabin air filter (if equipped) | every 15,000 miles (2009 guide)13 |
| Engine coolant | first at 6 years or 105,000 miles, then every 3 years or 45,000 miles (2009 guide)13 |
11th generation (2008)
Reminder system: Check your owner’s manual. Oil changes: Check your owner’s manual.
Normal or severe use?
Ford’s manuals list extra work for “special operating conditions,” and many F-150s qualify: towing a trailer, plowing, long idling, or dusty and off-road driving. The 2020 manual, for example, moves the oil change to every 5,000 miles or 6 months on dusty or off-road use and the spark plugs to 60,000 miles for trucks that tow often. Read normal vs severe maintenance to decide which list fits you, then check that section of your manual.
Jobs that are easy to miss on a truck
- Axle and transfer case fluid. Four-wheel-drive trucks have a front axle and a transfer case as well as the rear axle; see differential fluid. Intervals are in your manual’s scheduled maintenance section.
- Brake fluid. Every 3 years on 2020 and later trucks, whatever the mileage. See brake fluid flush.
- Tire rotation. Ford suggests rotating at every oil change; uneven wear is common on a heavy truck.
- Automatic transmission fluid. On 2011 and later trucks Ford lists fluid and filter at 150,000 miles under normal use; severe use can bring it sooner. See transmission fluid change.
FAQ
How often should an F-150 be serviced?
When the oil-life monitor asks, or once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Filters, plugs, and fluids go by the mileage and time intervals in your manual.
When do F-150 spark plugs need changing?
Every 100,000 miles under normal use. Ford’s 2020 manual says 60,000 miles for gasoline trucks that tow often.
Does towing change the F-150 maintenance schedule?
Yes. Towing counts as a special operating condition, which shortens some intervals. Check that section of your manual.
Do I have to service my F-150 at a Ford dealer?
No. Any shop can do the work. Keep receipts that show the date, mileage, and parts or fluids used. See maintenance and warranty.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by Ford Motor Company. Ford, F-150, and EcoBoost are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles.
Sources
- 2008 Ford F-150 Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2010 Ford F-150 Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2011 Ford F-150 Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2013 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2014 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2015 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2017 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2018 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2020 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2021 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications and Scheduled Maintenance (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2024 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2025 Ford F-150 Owner’s Manual, Capacities and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- Ford 2009 Scheduled Maintenance Guide (F-150, Escape, Explorer and other 2009 Ford models) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2009 Ford F-150 Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2012 Ford F-150 Owner’s Guide, Maintenance and Specifications (checked November 12, 2026)