10 Ways to RUIN Your Ford Truck with Improper Maintenance
Almost every truck is capable of lasting hundreds of thousands of miles, but far too many owners make these 10 common maintenance mistakes and suffer the consequences.
Intro
A truck is a major investment. For most folks, it is the second biggest after a home purchase. So, the last thing you want to do is send your truck to an early grave because of deferred or poor maintenance habits. Not getting the oil changed in your truck is an obvious example of a maintenance habit that can ruin your truck. But there are several other lesser-known, and more nuanced, examples that can be just as detrimental to your truck. And those items are what we are focused on today. The following are 10 ways that you can ruin your truck with improper maintenance.
1. Using Wrong Fluids/Specs
As we mentioned in the introduction, changing the oil in your truck is very important. But using the proper oil is just as important. Make sure that you use the proper viscosity in your truck. Don’t just grab a jug of oil at the local Walmart and put it in your truck without making sure it is the right kind. Choosing the wrong oil weight could subject your engine to increased wear.
And it is not just engine oil you need to be mindful of. There is the brake fluid, transmission fluid, and so on that all should match the specific guidelines that Ford recommends for your truck. Using the wrong fluid can be as bad as never changing it at all.
2. Not Following the Severe Service Schedule
You know all the maintenance intervals they advertise for modern cars and trucks? Yeah, those are the standard service intervals for vehicles that casually commute on the highway with little to no load.
But the more important service schedule, espeically for an F Series truck, is the severe service schedule.
The severe service schedule is for trucks that routinely --
- Drive short trips under 10 miles
- Driven in extreme heat or cold
- Driven in dusty/desert locations
- Idles in traffic frequently
- Tows or hauls heavy loads
You know, truck stuff. But this also applies to just about every vehicle that drives in the city, the southwestern United States, the northern United States, or is owned by your Nana who only goes to church and the local store.
Under any of those conditions, look in your manual for the severe service schedule, which is often (but not always) requires maintenance twice as often as what is recommended for normal service conditions. Not doing so puts your truck at risk of damage from improper maintenance.
3. Neglecting Transmission/Transfer Case/Differential Maintenance
Does your Ford truck have “lifetime” transmission fluid? Guess what, it doesn’t. It's a marketing term because the fluid generally lasts a long time, up to 100,000 miles.
Many trucks go far beyond that service interval when they should be routinely changing their fluids. Skip it and you expose your transmission to increased heat, wear, and tear. And like other items in this list, the proper fluids are required. For example, Mercon LV is now the appropriate service fill for Ford truck transfer cases. Stay up to date on all fluid requirements to keep your truck protected.
4. Neglecting Proper Tire Care
The only part of your truck that touches the ground is the tire. They are critical not just to the performance of the truck but your safety as well. The tire pressure stamped on the sidewall of the tire is not the recommended pressure. Check your manual and adjust accordingly to take into account the load you are running.
We recently dedicated an entire article just to tire maintenance; you can reference that by clicking HERE.
Don’t forget about your tires.
5. Incorrect Battery Type
Yes, your battery also needs proper maintenance. And there are several different types, such as flooded lead-acid, AGM (absorbed glass mat) and lithium-ion. Using the wrong type can result in charging problems, premature battery/alternator wear and odd electrical behavior. Fords also have what is called a Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS monitors the battery health and regulates alternator output to the battery. This system must be reset any time you replace the battery to ensure it works properly. Don’t skip this step.
6. Ignoring Air/Cabin Filters
You need plenty of fresh air to stay healthy, and so does your truck. Modern Ford trucks have cabin air filters to keep the air you breathe as clean as possible. Replacing these on a regular schedule is important for your health. But the engine air filters are important for your truck’s health. A dirty and clogged air filter reduces your engine’s performance and efficiency. It can also lead to a clogged mass airflow sensor, which will make your truck run rough. Over time, dust and debris can enter the engine and cause wear, reducing engine life.
7. Neglecting Diesel Fuel System Maintenance
Modern Ford diesel trucks are amazingly capable, but they also require more maintenance than diesel engines of the past. It is imperative that you stay on top of fuel filter changes and use fuel additives, because water, contaminants, and low-quality diesel can grenade your Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump, an extremely costly fix.
Also, don’t let your DEF tank run dry. It won’t immediately harm your engine, but it will put your truck into limp mode, and that is obviously not ideal. And if you frequently drive in below freezing temps, you will want to add some anti-gel to prevent the fuel from becoming gelled.
Lastly, don't forget to perform a full regen on your diesel particulate filter to keep that system clean and to check your EGR system periodically for the buildup of power-draining crud.
8. Ignoring 4x4 System
Just like us, your Ford 4x4 system is healthier when it gets a bit of exercise. Even if you don’t need to engage the 4x4 system for the current driving conditions, you should use it at least once a month to keep the system lubricated. This is something that many people forget but it is easy to do and doesn’t cost anything. Think of your 4x4 system as a use it or lose it feature. If you don’t engage the system for a while, the parts can dry out and fail, and it won’t be operational for you when you really need it.
9. Ignoring Cooling System Health
The cooling system is another critical component on your truck. You want to keep the coolant fresh with regularly scheduled (usually every two years) coolant flushing. The coolant system not only keeps your engine cool, but protects from rust and corrosion. This is not a service that you want to skip.
10. Ignoring TSBs and Recalls
Keep up to date with any recalls or technical service bulletins (TSB) issued for your truck. The severity of these can range from minor inconvenience to life-threatening safety issues. These recalls and TSBs are issued for a reason. You don’t want to ignore them. A recall is usually a safety concern, while a TSB is to address known performance or drivability issues. For example, back in March a recall was issued for the 2024 F-150 because of a misaligned engine oil plug. This can result in a rapid loss of oil and a possible engine fire. To say nothing of the engine wear caused by the sudden lack of oil. Get things like this fixed as soon as possible.
Images: Ford