Hello, first time poster here. Been lurking for a couple of weeks.

I bought a 99 F250LD Supercab 4x4 with a 5.4L about a month ago and has been rock solid so far. It just turned 150K last week. I am due for an oil change at 152 K and I am about 700 miles away from that. I intend to have it tuned up at that time, wheels aligned and balanced and tires rotated. The sticker says the last change was Mobile 1 from the previouse owner. I haven't really looked well at the sticker but I am wanting to use a semi synthetic. Would that be the best choice for this truck (5.4)?

I have been advised by a friend to have my plugs changed as soon as possible because this motor has been known to blow them out. I intend to go with standard motorcraft plugs as I have read on this site that that is fine to do. Any additional info on this subject or anything I should watch out for?

Also, I have an anti theft lamp that flashes but I'm not sure if it works or how to test it. I have done a little reading on the PATTS system and understand that it requires a chipped key to bypass the anti theft system but cannot see any chip on my key (looks to be aftermarket) or identify it on the PATTS chart I found on this site. Is there a way to tell if my anti theft is active and working?

How can I find out what gear ratio I have on this truck?

I had my service engine soon light come on for about a day and a half this past week and then it went away. Could this be due to it turning over 150k or that is is due for an oil change within the next thousand miles?

Also, I own a tree service and really work this truck. I am either towing equipment or hauling logs with my tandem axle trailer everyday. My truck rarely rolls without pulling a load. Should I be servicing it every 3000 instead of every
5K?

As I understand it, my truck is exactly the same as the F150 7700. Is this correct and are these trucks identical?

Not really easy to find a lot of info on my truck but I managed to dig this up on another site. Can anyone confirm if this is correct information for my truck?


F250

The F-150 has basically the F-250 drivetrain from the front fenders back.

- 7 Lug Rims, not sure why?
- They have a larger frame then the F150 (same gauge as the F-250)
- 13.5" rotors (SVT Lightning front and rear calipers)
- 3:73 or 4:10 rear end from factory
- 4R100 Tranny
- Extra leaf springs in back
- Larger Torsion bars
- Heavier towing capacity
- Weigh more
- HD shocks
- power steering cooler
- 4700 lbs rear axle (sterling 10.75)
- HD rad, thicker
- HD alternator
- the tranny is the same as a F250 SD and the F350 SD
- Snow plow prep package standard
- 8,600 lbs towing
- 13,500 lbs or 15,000 lbs GCWR depending on gear ratio.
- 7,700 lbs payload
- The ride is a ton better than the solid axle F-250

In 1999 Ford offered them as the only 3/4 ton truck in their lineup. They are great trucks and can keep up with most any other 3/4 ton gassers.

Thanks in advance for any info/advise.

 

Have a non PATS key made for a spare to get into the truck if your locked out sometime.
Try it to see if the truck starts. If yes, you don't have PATS.
For the rear ratio look at the sticker in the door jamb area and under the AX for the code.
CEL light, either have a scan for pending code or wait until it's on full time to read the code, then service per the code.
Oil change at 5000 is ok.
Use Motorcraft 5w20/30 Blend. Do not use any heavier oil.
The motor needs the 5w for cold starting lube and cam chain guide wear reduction. 20 or 30 is enough weight in these motors for hot running.
Good luck with it.

 

Thank you very much for the info.

 

mines been a turd from day one
blown heads
blown tranny
4x4 issues
electrical issues
ect ect

 

You've probably been a turd since day one.

 

I've got a 1998 F-250 LD w/5.4L, 4x4 thats about to roll over 250,000 on stock equipment. My dad has same truck w/similar mileage.

The 7 lug wheels suck. Both mine and my dad's have wheels where the chrome cover is separating from the steel wheel itself. Functional, just ugly.

Local Ford dealership told me the same thing Bluegrass 7 said: Run the 5w20 Motorcraft Semi-synthetic. Less wear on start-up. My truck runs on the farm, dusty environment so I stick with the 3000 mile oil change interval.

Also, service the transmission regularly if you're constantly towing with it. Local service shop services a lot of OTR haulers and those guys flush and filter every 30,000 to 50,000 miles on the Super Duty Fords. I've been flushing my trans fluid every 40,000 miles (I don't tow daily) and doing flush and filter every 80,000 miles. Currently at 250,000 miles, I'm starting to think a rebuild may be in the future for me. Getting a little bit of slippage if the tranny gets hot.

Finally, plugs and COP's. If you're gonna change them, use motorcraft and change all 8 plugs and COP's at one time. It's a pain job to do, and you are at the mileage where the stock COP's start going bad if they haven't already. Don't use any lube or anti-seize on the plugs and make sure you torque them down to spec. Under-torqued spark plugs are what get shot out of the heads. My lesson on COPs: Don't buy for cheapness. I've bought cheap to replace factory and wound up changing half of them out with 10,000 miles or less on them. Finally ponied up the cash and put motorcraft back in. They lasted the first 150,000 miles, I'm sure they'll last the next 150,000.

That's my 2 cents. I bought the truck used in 2005 w/120,000 miles and will probably overhaul the engine, trans and axles instead of buying a different truck. It rides great, tows very well, and gets better fuel mileage than the Super Duty 250's. If I towed more, I might consider a heavier truck, but for what I do, this truck has been perfect.

 

You will find your rear ends gear ratio on your door sticker. Google the number you get ie: ford axle code 18 is a 3.08 non limited slip. The door sticker also gives other information that's good to know.
The following lists the gear ratios on rear axles.
19 — 3.55 non-limited slip (Econoline, F-150)
18 — 3.08 non-limited slip (F-150)
17 — 3.31 non-limited slip (Econoline)
H9 — 3.55 limited slip (F-150, F-250)
B6 — 3.73 limited slip (F-150, F-250)
24 — 3.73 (Econoline)
32 — 4.10 (Econoline)
35 — 4.09 (Econoline)
34 — 3.73 (Econoline)
39 — 3.55 (Econoline)
52 — 4.10 (Econoline)
56 — 4.10 (Econoline)
81 — 4.63 (Econoline)
27 — 3.31 non-limited slip (F-250)
26 — 3.73 non-limited slip (F-250)
41 — 3.27 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
45 — 3.55 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
46 — 3.73 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
42 — 4.10 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D1 — 3.27 limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D4 — 3.73 limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D2 — 4.10 limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
84 — 3.45 non-limited slip (Range