adds even more brawn to the famous line of American-made pickup trucks—this heavy-duty truck has a towing capacity of over 12,000 pounds and a max payload of 4,000 pounds. If you want to keep your F-250 running well, though, you’ll need to learn about its engine oil capacity.

Driving a

Ford

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2016 Ford F-250 engine oil capacity

Before you start rolling up your sleeves, let’s go over exactly how much oil a 2016 Ford F-250 needs.

Placing an emphasis on power, the 2016 F-250 has a 6.2-liter V8 engine that requires seven quarts of oil. The 6.2-liters refers to the engine’s displacement, and should not be confused with its oil capacity.

Displacement refers to the total volume of air and fuel in each cylinder during an engine cycle, and oil capacity is the amount of oil the engine needs to keep its parts running smoothly. Understanding the distinction is important because it will prevent you from under-filling your engine.

What kind of oil does a 2016 Ford F-250 need?

Now that we have a better grasp on the engine and oil capacity, let’s cover the oil type that will work best. Whether you go shopping at the store or online, keep your eyes peeled for Motorcraft® SAE 5W-30 Premium Synthetic Blend Motor Oil. This is the oil recommended by Ford in the owner’s manual, and it’s safe to say they know best.

Let’s dissect this oil type even further. The “W” stands for winter, and the 5 preceding it tells us the oil remains thin and flows well under cold conditions. The 30 following the “W” is the viscosity, or thickness, of the oil when the engine is warmed up and at operating temperature.

For a truck like the F-250, you want an oil that has a low winter grade, that way it flows well during your morning start-ups, as well as one that remains thick enough to lubricate all parts of the engine while it is running.

The genuine article: If you want to go by the book and do as Ford suggests,

Motorcraft® SAE 5W-30 Premium Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

is the way to go.

MORE: How to install a truck cap on your pickup

How often to change oil on a 2016 Ford F-250

Ford advises an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles on a 2016 F-250. Typically, you can get more mileage out of synthetic blend oil, but with such powerful, hard-working engines, oil changes are needed more frequently.

Regularly monitor your oil level and take note of your last oil change to keep your engine running at its best for many miles to come. If you are not a frequent driver or tend to keep your mileage low, you should still change the oil every six months to prevent the oil from turning into sludge.

Additionally, here are some signs to watch for that can tell you an oil change is needed:

The oil has become a dark brown or black color

The oil feels gritty or coarse

The engine is making strange noises

There are burning odors coming from the engine

You notice changes in your car’s performance

MORE: How to test an oil pump

How to change your oil and oil filter

Now that you’re all ready to change your oil, start by gathering the following materials: socket wrench, drain pan, filter wrench, replacement filter, and rag. Lastly, don’t forget your bottle of synthetic motor oil.

The first step is to warm your engine up by letting it idle for a few minutes. Once that is done, turn the engine off, pop the hood, and follow these steps:

Go underneath the engine and place your drain pan under the oil drain plug.

Use your socket wrench to remove the plug, and let the oil drain out into the pan.

Use your filter wrench to unscrew your

oil filter

, and let the oil drain into the pan.

Clean the filter mounting surface with a rag, and screw in the new filter.

Screw the oil drain plug back into place.

Pour the necessary amount of oil into the engine and replace the fill cap.

That’s all there is to it—job well done! Make sure you have poured in the proper amount of oil by using your dipstick to measure and confirm your oil pressure dashboard light is off. It’s also a good idea to let your truck run for a couple of minutes to see if there is any leakage.

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.

One last thing—the cleanup. You should never pour your old and contaminated oil onto the ground or into your garbage. Your safest bet is to pour it into a sealable container and let your local recycling center properly discard it.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

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