We tow a not huge trailer (aroung 10K, so well under GVWR) probably 75% of the time the truck is used. It's just over 2 years old and has 50,000 miles on it. I treat the truck as "severe" service because we tow and 'cause as far as I'm concerned just EXISTING in Minnesota is "severe"...
So oil and such get done every 5000 miles with Rotella T6 (synthetic) and fuel filters replaced on schedule at 22,500 and all that. Tires rotated every 6 - 7000 miles.

Spare serpentine belt under the back seat...

BUT, recently I had the truck over at a local shop for a tire rotation and got a call that it was due for a transmission fluid change AND A POWER STEERING FLUID CHANGE... HUH?

So I went out to the information I have to see when stuff SHOULD happen. The Diesel supplement I have seems to think the two diffs need service at 100,000 miles, the transmission at 150,000 miles and NOTHING about "changing the power steering fluid".

SO, given what we usually use the truck for, and without any of the really outlandish intervals I'm sure some people use, what ARE reasonable mileages for things like differential service and transmission service? The oil change interval is cut 1/3 for severe, so am I good if I do the same thing for the differentials and figure every 75,000 and the transmission ever 100,000? Or am I being overly cautious?

Are there OTHER things I SHOULD be changing - I check the air restriction gauge every time I change oil, but I haven't changed the air inlet foam or heated/cooled seat filter...

IIRC from last time I changed the oil, I found 2 grease fittings on the outer front axles, but no others on ball joints or anything... Last truck (Silverado) had 11 so I keep looking on the Ford...

Anything else I need to periodically do that I haven't thought of?

 

offering you early tranny and other services is called up selling.

if you are using the severe duty schedule and the recommended oil weights,(if needed coolant additives, bittering agents, etc).....you are doing the right thing.


I didn't see if you have a diesel...if diesel...there are sesonal fuel additives that are needed for lube and anti gel

 

IIRC our resident transmission engineer recommended a transmission fluid change at 60k.

Serpentine needs checking at 90k and replaced by 150k if not changed in prior service.
Check Coolant additive every 15k
Fuel Filters are 15k for severe duty.
Replace front wheel bearing grease at 30k
Transfer case fluid at 60k if towing

None of the service intervals mentions a brake fluid flush. Since brake fluid is hygroscopic I would think it would be a good idea to replace it every couple years or when it turns dark in color.

 

Yes, we generally use the severe duty schedule. In THEORY (from what I was told by one of the folks in the service department) ALL the fuels in Minnesota are "Winterized" and unless you have "summer" fuel in the truck or it gets down to some insane temperature, there's no longer a problem with gelling.

I have to confess, this whole "check coolant additive" thing has me scratching my head... When the truck did it at about 13,000 miles the dealer said ignore it and reset the message. When it happened again around 30K or so they said the same thing. Since the engine block heater failed at 48,000, they said they changed the coolant in the primary cooling system when they replaced the heater, so I presume the primary cooling system is good for a while...

I went out looking in the forums for information on the test kits and found some dead links, a couple that went to $75-$100 kits, and found some that were between $7.50 and $10... I found a lot of discussions, all essentially arguing that it was important to test, that it WASN'T important to test, that the truck would self-destruct if you DIDN'T test, that it was cheaper to just change all the coolant than to test, and arguments that this kit versus that kit was the right one, the wrong one, and on and on........

So, which of the single (or few) treatment kits is the right one (presuming there's a different one for the 2016 than for older ones? And is as idiot-proof as possible (there were long discussions citing all the inaccuracies in the instructions)? I figure even if they changed the primary coolant, it would be nice to test the secondary, but I'd just as soon get the right kit - if there IS a "wrong kit"... Are the Fleetguard kits on Amazon the right one(s)?

 

 

 

Besides the 2 front axle u joints, what is the third one?

 

Transmission fluid change I would say you're almost due for (60k) but not quite yet, they're trying to upsell. The power steering fluid I would take a look at and judge for yourself. I just flushed all mine and replaced with new because it was getting dark and smelled burnt. I have never heard of a power steering fluid change interval, but you don't hear about a brake fluid change interval usually either. Just because no one says anything about it doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. That being said, do the service yourself, dont pay them the $80 they're probably asking to do a 10 minute job

 

Colorado350, the information has always been filled in, in the information fields in the UserCP... Is there somewhere else it should be filled in so it shows up the way you'd like?

Am I reading the maintenance schedule wrong - it says "Replace the wheel bearing grease and grease seals if using non-sealed bearings. (Two-wheel drive vehicles)", which I took to mean I shouldn't mess with it as its 4-wheel drive...

 

I do trans fluid every 30-40K. Why wouldn't you want to change these fluids earlier than the OEM recommended suggestions or every 2 years? Its cheap insurance! Brake fluid should be changed every 2-3 years depending on miles.Same goes for power steering fluid, diff juice xfer case juice etc.... Again why not. IMO the OEM schedule is "enhanced" to sell parts.
Your mechanic is being pro-active. I look at that as a good mechanic.

 

Interesting perspective that the manufacturer is recommending insufficient maintenance so they can sell more parts as opposed to recommending overly frequent maintenance so they can sell more maintenance... In either case, I'd still hope to get an answer to the last two questions asked:
Check coolant additive... I went out looking in the forums for information on the test kits and found some dead links, a couple that went to $75-$100 kits, and found some that were between $7.50 and $10... I found a lot of discussions, arguing that it was important to test, that it WASN'T important to test, that the truck would self-destruct if you DIDN'T test, that it was cheaper to just change all the coolant than to test, and arguments that this kit versus that kit was the right one, the wrong one, and on and on........

So, which of the single (or few) treatment kits is the right one (presuming there's a different one for the 2016 than for older ones? And is as idiot-proof as possible to use? IS there a "wrong kit"... Are the Fleetguard kits on Amazon the right one(s)?

The maintenance schedule says "Replace the wheel bearing grease and grease seals if using non-sealed bearings. (Two-wheel drive vehicles)", which I took to mean I shouldn't mess with it as its 4-wheel drive. Does the 4WD version of the F-350 have front wheel bearings that get packed or not?

 

My two cents, with the cost of these trucks, I drain the trans pan every 30k, and the filter at every 60k. Brake fluid changed out bout 4-5 years, I've only changed power steering fluid once in my Ford Escape, and that was at 53k. I'll probably do it on the F250 at some point.

I follow this guy on you-tube (think his name is Brian) He is a certified Ford mechanic. Worked at a dealership, before opening his own shop a little while ago. He has a good take on Fords extended mileage protocols. Here's linky.

 

molybdate and nitrates are added to diesel coolant to coat the metal so when the fluid cavitates it will attack the chemical coating instead of pitting the metal. so you can add the additives or flush and replace the antifreeze with a diesel rated antifreeze. check out the 7.3l forums, that engine would eat thru cylinder liners without treatment. also check out diesel engine cavitation on the net

 

Interesting, though disappointing, video...

Thanks for the replies... Still the same questions...

Does the 4WD F-350 get the bearings repacked like the 2WD version or not?

What single, or few coolant additive test kits are people using for the 2016 F-350? Are the Fleetguard ones Amazon sells the right ones?

 

Does your F350 still have the Ford Gold antifreeze in it? If it does, you'd be money ahead to flush it out, go with a good ELC type, then you won't have to worry about constant checking for additives.