2011-2024 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost oil and filter change

Let the engine idle for two to three minutes if it is stone cold. The 3.5L EcoBoost holds a significant volume of oil in the turbo feed and drain lines, and warm oil pulls that residual charge back to the pan much more completely than cold oil. Do not run the engine long enough to make the oil skin-burning hot.

Chock the rear wheels and drive the front onto ramps, or lift with a two-post lift. The 3.5L EcoBoost drain plug and filter are both mounted at the rear of the oil pan on the transmission side and there is no side access. Ramps that give at least ten inches of clearance are the minimum for a comfortable job.

Later trims (2018 forward on some cabs) have a plastic splash tray secured by roughly eight 8mm push-in fasteners. Pull the tray down and set it clear of the drain pan area.

Position the drain pan directly below the 15mm drain plug at the rear of the aluminum oil pan. Break the plug loose with a ratchet, then finish by hand while pressing inward. Once the threads let go, pull the plug straight away so it does not drop into the pan. Let the oil drain for at least five minutes. Wipe the pan boss clean, fit a fresh crush washer, and reinstall the plug. Torque the drain plug to 25 ft lbs (34 Nm). Verify against your service manual. Do not reuse the old crush washer - the aluminum pan does not tolerate over-torqued or wrongly seated plugs, and stripped pan threads on this engine are a common shop failure.

The FL-500S filter sits on the driver-side rear of the oil pan, pointed slightly downward. Slide the drain pan under it before cracking it loose. Fit the 76mm 14-flute cup wrench squarely on the end cap, break the filter loose with the ratchet, and spin it off by hand. Catch the residual oil in the pan. Wipe the mounting surface clean and confirm the old filter gasket did not stick to the block. A double-gasketed filter is an instant oil leak the first time you start the engine.

Smear a thin film of fresh oil around the new filter's rubber gasket. Thread the filter on by hand until the gasket touches the block. Continue by hand for three quarters of a turn. Do not use the cup wrench for final tightening - hand-tight plus three quarters of a turn is Motorcraft's spec and it seals reliably.

Remove the oil fill cap under the plastic engine cover. Pour in 6.0 US quarts (5.7 liters) of 5W-30 full synthetic through a long-neck funnel. Reinstall the cap and start the engine. Watch the dashboard oil pressure indicator - it should extinguish within three seconds. Let the engine idle for one minute, then shut it down. Do not race the engine before oil pressure is confirmed - the turbo bearings will experience dry-start damage in seconds.

Wait five minutes for the oil to settle back to the pan, then check the dipstick. Add small amounts to bring the level to the upper hash mark. The 3.5L EcoBoost dipstick tube exits the top of the block on the passenger side under the intake plenum; it is stiff and takes firm pressure to seat fully.

Refit the splash tray and its push-in fasteners. Lower the truck. Reset the Intelligent Oil Life Monitor from the driver information display: Settings, Vehicle, Oil Life Reset, hold OK for three seconds until the reading returns to 100 percent.