2025 F-150 Tremor 5.0L V8 - Recommended Service Intervals?

[J3TL4G]

I did some research on recommended service intervals for my new 2025 F-150 Tremor 5.0L V8 - mostly because, quite frankly, the Ford recommended intervals seem way too long.

This truck will be a street queen. Virtually no towing (other than towing my golf cart in the bed, which is hardly considered towing). Pretty good mix of highway and city miles. 4WD will probably never be used unless I go up north to go skiing. I am in Arizona though, so the summers are tough on fluids.

Here is what I came up with:

Every 5000 Miles:
• Oil & Oil Filter Change (Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 & Motorcraft FL-500-S)
• Engine Air Filter (As Needed)
• Fuel Additive (Amsoil P.I.)

Every 10,000-15,000 Miles:
• Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 Miles:
• Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 Miles:
• Front & Rear Differential Fluid
• Transfer Case Fluid
• Engine Coolant
• Spark Plugs

Every 2 Years:
• Brake Fluid

Is there anything I should adjust or add? Obviously will follow Ford's recommended schedule in addition to. I was debating whether or not Transfer Case Fluid should be changed every 30K like the Transmission Fluid?

Thanks!

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[jkosh22]

I did some research on recommended service intervals for my new 2025 F-150 Tremor 5.0L V8 - mostly because, quite frankly, the Ford recommended intervals seem way too long.

This truck will be a street queen. Virtually no towing (other than towing my golf cart in the bed, which is hardly considered towing). Pretty good mix of highway and city miles. 4WD will probably never be used unless I go up north to go skiing. I am in Arizona though, so the summers are tough on fluids.

Here is what I came up with:

Every 5000 Miles:
• Oil & Oil Filter Change (Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5W-30 & Motorcraft FL-500-S)
• Engine Air Filter (As Needed)
• Fuel Additive (Amsoil P.I.)

Every 10,000-15,000 Miles:
• Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 Miles:
• Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 Miles:
• Front & Rear Differential Fluid
• Transfer Case Fluid
• Engine Coolant
• Spark Plugs

Every 2 Years:
• Brake Fluid

Is there anything I should adjust or add? Obviously will follow Ford's recommended schedule in addition to. I was debating whether or not Transfer Case Fluid should be changed every 30K like the Transmission Fluid?

Thanks!

As someone who works on vehicles day in and day out, I like your maintenance schedule. I’ve pulled plugs out of 5.0s at the 100,000 miles interval and they look great. Of course it’s good practice to do early but not required. You didn’t miss anything and I think you have a good plan to keep her running well!

To your transfer case question, it only holds about two quarts and is a simple drain and fill so it’s cheap and easy. Doing it early is always better.

If you’re going to do the work yourself, remove front and rear diff covers to do the service. That way you can get a full inspection and all of the fluid out. Can get messy but it’s worth it!

 

[JohnTrigger]

^^^^ well said, IMHO.

 

[J3TL4G]

As someone who works on vehicles day in and day out, I like your maintenance schedule. I’ve pulled plugs out of 5.0s at the 100,000 miles interval and they look great. Of course it’s good practice to do early but not required. You didn’t miss anything and I think you have a good plan to keep her running well!

To your transfer case question, it only holds about two quarts and is a simple drain and fill so it’s cheap and easy. Doing it early is always better.

If you’re going to do the work yourself, remove front and rear diff covers to do the service. That way you can get a full inspection and all of the fluid out. Can get messy but it’s worth it!

Awesome, thanks! Maybe I will add the Transfer Case to every 30K. I would think Front & Rear Diff is probably more suited for every 60K since 4WD won't be getting used much.

 

[jkosh22]

Awesome, thanks! Maybe I will add the Transfer Case to every 30K. I would think Front & Rear Diff is probably more suited for every 60K since 4WD won't be getting used much.

Well all the differentials spin when in drive. But atf has the properties to become contaminated faster and to lose its lubricity over time.

make sure to not overfill the transfer case. Fluid should be about 10mm from the fill hole. Not the end of the world if it’s overfull but good practice to do it right!

 

[J3TL4G]

Well all the differentials spin when in drive. But atf has the properties to become contaminated faster and to lose its lubricity over time.

make sure to not overfill the transfer case. Fluid should be about 10mm from the fill hole. Not the end of the world if it’s overfull but good practice to do it right!

Ahh okay, thanks. So you think every 60K is okay for the front & rear diff?

I do my own oil changes, filters, etc, but to be honest, I'll have a shop do all the other fluid changes (most likely).

 

[jkosh22]

Ahh okay, thanks. So you think every 60K is okay for the front & rear diff?

I do my own oil changes, filters, etc, but to be honest, I'll have a shop do all the other fluid changes (most likely).

Yes 60k is about half what ford recommends. Make sure they pull covers off and reseal and inspect. Most will suck fluid out. Which is difficult cause fluid is thick and takes forever to remove by vacuum. It’ll be more, but a more thorough change.

 

[J3TL4G]

Yes 60k is about half what ford recommends. Make sure they pull covers off and reseal and inspect. Most will suck fluid out. Which is difficult cause fluid is thick and takes forever to remove by vacuum. It’ll be more, but a more thorough change.

Thanks! I also heard Ford recommends just a drain and refill of the transmission? They don't recommend removing the filter?

 

[jkosh22]

You’ll get differing opinions on that. I posted a thread about a week ago doing a 10r89 fluid and filter service at 100,000 and the filter also has a magnet and had excessive metal shavings and fluid was worse and more contaminated than expected.

Some will say leave the filter because it can dislodged materials and than the debris will travel into valve body, clutches, etc. That usually applies to a higher mileage vehicle. But if you start it early, you’ll be totally fine. If you do the ATF every 30k, maybe do the filter every other. If you don’t mind forking over the money.

 

[J3TL4G]

You’ll get differing opinions on that. I posted a thread about a week ago doing a 10r89 fluid and filter service at 100,000 and the filter also has a magnet and had excessive metal shavings and fluid was worse and more contaminated than expected.

Some will say leave the filter because it can dislodged materials and than the debris will travel into valve body, clutches, etc. That usually applies to a higher mileage vehicle. But if you start it early, you’ll be totally fine. If you do the ATF every 30k, maybe do the filter every other. If you don’t mind forking over the money.

Sounds good. Awesome, thanks for the help!

 

[jkosh22]

Sounds good. Awesome, thanks for the help!

No problem.

 

[sporkfed]

make sure to not overfill the transfer case. Fluid should be about 10mm from the fill hole. Not the end of the world if it’s overfull but good practice to do it right!

How in the heck do you check if the fluid is 10 mm from the fill hole?

 

[XLT22]

No need to run a fuel additive. Top tier gas and ethanol will keep the fuel system squeaky clean. Since the switch to lower sulfur gasoline a decade ago I've torn apart countless induction systems and the insides of the high pressure pump and injector tips were clean as new. These were mainly abused fleet vehicles running the cheapest co-op gas to give you an idea.

Any oil with a GM Dexos 1 Gen 3 license is fine. I always run those because on the surface it's "better" than the Ford spec and at very least the Dexos scheme does have 3rd party verification of the formulation as standard. Ford's spec can be claimed by anyone and no one verifies it. Beware of "boutique" oils. Not that they may wreck your engine, but they rarely if ever participate in compliance audits so you never know what you're getting. I've personally ran nothing but Super Tech 5w30 in my last 2 F150s with zero issues. Saves a boatload DIY when name brands are more than $10/5qt more expensive.

Don't change your air filter when you change the oil. Just tap it out. Change it at 25k if it's really dusty.

Change the transmission filter and fluid at 50K if you tow or do a lot of city driving. Highway driving 75K is fine. Transmission fluid turns dark fairly quick and color isn't a reliable indicator anymore. I'd change the transfer case fluid at 25k if you have 4A or do it when you change the transmission fluid if you don't. They don't take the same fluid just FYI. Any Dexron/Mercon LV type will work in the transfer case. Dexron 6 is the GM equivalent to Ford's Mercon LV. Transmission can take either Dexron ULV or Mercon ULV. It's the exact same fluid from ConocoPhilips. Valvoline was making a ULV that may still be available if you can find it cheaper. Again avoid the boutique fluids like amsoil because there's no 3rd party verification of anything they claim so you're SOL if something happens.

Don't bother touching the plugs until 100K and I personally wouldn't touch the cooling system until 150K. Newer coolants are much better than in years past. Likewise don't bother touching the brake fluid. If you really want you can get a tester to test for moisture content, but I've never seen brake fluid go bad in a street driven vehicle that wasn't sitting behind grandma's shed for 20 years first. You ain't gonna be boiling it in an F150.

 

[XLT22]

How in the heck do you check if the fluid is 10 mm from the fill hole?

You don't. A cheap paint mixing cup will allow you to measure the fill amount and dump it in.

 

[jkosh22]

How in the heck do you check if the fluid is 10 mm from the fill hole?
[/QUOTE

Usually I stick my pinky in the fill hole and turn the end of your pinky down at the first joint and if there is fluid on your pinky, it’s good. Most transfer case and differential holes are large enough.

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