The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular trucks of all time, and knowing its oil capacity and type will help you keep your 2002 F-150 5.4 in peak form for years to come.

There’s just something about the Ford F-150, an icon in the truck industry and a perpetual chart-topper in sales. While it may be ready for whatever you want to throw at it, depreciation is inevitable. Keeping up with a routine

maintenance schedule

and learning how to change your own oil are ways to keep it in tip-top shape—while keeping expenses down.

Whether you’ve misplaced the manual or are just looking for a little more information,

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has you covered! In this article, we’re looking at not just the oil capacity of the 2002 Ford F-150 5.4, but also the oil type, how to change it, and also how to get the lowest

Ford F-150 car insurance costs

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2002 Ford F-150 5.4 engine oil capacity

Let’s talk quantities: how much engine oil does a 2002 Ford F-150 5.4 need?

The 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine has an oil capacity of 6 quarts or 5.7 liters. The Ford F-150 has a variety of engine options, and it’s critical to know exactly what you have under the hood when it comes to care and maintenance.

Pro Tip The 5.4-liter figure refers to the
engine’s displacement
or the volume that its cylinders take up. This is not the same thing as the engine’s oil capacity. Remember that the numbers are not interchangeable.

What kind of oil does a 2002 Ford F-150 5.4 need?

Now that we know how much oil your F-150 needs, let’s talk about the kind of oil it needs. There are a lot of different kinds of oils out there, and you want to make sure you adhere to the manufacturer’s specifications to avoid possible engine issues (and a voided warranty).

According to the F-150’s owner's manual, Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 engine oil. Only use an oil that has the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) seal of approval and is labeled for use in gasoline engines. Additionally, Ford recommends that you use

Motorcraft

, or an equivalent oil meeting the same specifications.

The numbers in the oil grade refer to the oil’s viscosity, or how thick it is. The “W” stands for winter. The number 5 right before “W” tells us that this oil’s got a low viscosity during cold weather, while the number 20 means that it’s also relatively thin at higher temperatures as well.

Ford recommends this particular oil because it performs well under a broad range of conditions and will ensure you get the best fuel economy and engine protection.

If you can’t find Motorcraft, the manual states that any quality synthetic blend of the same weight and specifications will do.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

How often to change oil on a 2002 Ford F-150 5.4

Okay—now let’s

change some oil

According to the manual, you need to change the oil in your F-150 every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, as long as you are using the correct oil. If you don’t put a lot of miles on your truck, every 6 months is a good marker at which to do an oil change.

But every engine is different and things don’t always work in the real world the same way that they do in the manual. To ensure you’re changing the oil at the right time,

check your oil

level on a regular basis (about once a month). Look out for the following signs that your oil needs to be changed:

Motor oil that needs changing is dark brown or black (clean oil is light brown or amber, like a cup of tea, and dirty oil is like a cup of soda)

Motor oil feels coarse or gritty

Unfamiliar noises coming from the engine

New smells, especially anything that smells like oil, smoke, or burning

Changes in your vehicle’s performance

MORE: Ford F-150 towing capacity

How to change your oil and oil filter

Let’s talk tools! You’ll need a socket wrench, a drain pan, and a filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter. Make sure you have a replacement oil filter and six quarts of premium 5W-20 engine oil.

Pro Tip Most bottles of oil have a five-quart capacity, so make sure you get two!

Begin by running the engine for a while until it reaches normal operating temperature. In normal weather, this should only take a few minutes. Once things are warmed up, shut the engine off, open the hood, and follow these steps:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer, draining the old oil into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

Use your dipstick to check and make sure that you’ve added enough oil to the engine, but be very careful not to overfill it. Once you’re done and you've tightened everything back up, run the vehicle for a few minutes and monitor carefully for any leaks. If all is well, your dashboard’s

oil pressure light

should turn off.

Last but certainly not least is clean-up! Don’t dump the dirty oil out on the ground or put it in your garbage bin. Place it in a sealed container and bring it to a local recycling center. Some curbside garbage haulers will also take used engine oil if it’s in a proper container and placed on the curb, but this varies by location.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

Your oil isn’t the only thing that you want to check regularly—keeping an eye on

Ford car insurance cost

comparisons will help make sure that you’re always getting the best deal possible without compromising the coverage you need.

Best of all,

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“I was looking for a liability insurance plan for my truck until I can afford more coverage.
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