Ford Engine Oil Recommendation Chart (2017–2026): Viscosity, WSS Spec & Capacity

Most modern Ford gas engines take Motorcraft SAE 5W-30 meeting WSS-M2C971-A1: the 2.0L, 2.3L, 2.7L, 3.0L and 3.5L EcoBoost, the 7.3L V8 and, from 2021, the 5.0L V8 in the F-150 and Mustang. The 3.3L V6 and earlier 5.0L V8s use 5W-20 (WSS-M2C970-A1), hybrids and newer 1.5L EcoBoost engines use 0W-20 (WSS-M2C972-A1),

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the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel uses 10W-30 meeting WSS-M2C171-F1 above 0 °F, and the performance engines (GT350, GT500, Raptor R, Mustang GTD) use 5W-50. Capacity runs from about 5 quarts for small EcoBoost engines to 15 quarts for the 2023+ 6.7L diesel. Every figure on this page comes from Ford’s own Ford Motorcraft Oil Quick Reference (Version 23, US, 7/2026).

Ford specifies oil by WSS code, viscosity and capacity together, so a viscosity grade alone (“5W-30”) is not enough to pick the right bottle. This chart gives you all three for every Ford gas and diesel engine from 2017 to 2026, plus the filter number, so you can match your engine in under a minute.

Ford Oil Cheat Sheet (2017–2026)

Quick answer: WSS-M2C961-A1 is an older Ford 5W-30 spec (API SP / ILSAC GF-6). Ford’s July 2026 Motorcraft chart now lists 5W-30 to WSS-M2C971-A1 for 2017–2026 EcoBoost engines, 5W-20 to WSS-M2C970-A1 and 0W-20 to WSS-M2C972-A1. Use the exact code in your owner’s manual. If a bottle lists that code, it meets your manual.

Ford Oil Recommendation Chart: Quick Answers for Popular Models

Capacities are the full refill including the oil filter, in US quarts. Years follow the model-year columns of Ford’s chart.

Ford F-Series, Super Duty and Raptor

Mustang, Bronco, Ranger and Maverick

Explorer, Expedition, Escape, Bronco Sport and Edge

Bronco Sport 1.5L note from Ford’s chart: vehicles built up to August 3, 2022 take 5.3 qt including the filter; vehicles built from August 3, 2022 take 6.6 qt.

Looking for a single engine in more detail? See our guides for the F-150 oil capacity by year, 3.5L EcoBoost, 5.0L Coyote, 6.7L Power Stroke and Maverick.

The Three Things to Match When Choosing Ford Oil

1. WSS specification: the Ford requirement printed in your owner’s manual and on the bottle (for example WSS-M2C971-A1). This is the most important check.
2. Viscosity (SAE grade): the grade your engine and model year call for, such as 5W-20, 5W-30 or 0W-20. The grade is also on the oil fill cap.
3. API service level: Motorcraft’s current gas oils list API SQ with ILSAC GF-7A, the newest service category. Earlier oils carry API SP (GF-6), which added low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) testing.

Ford’s support page says the recommended Motorcraft oil depends on your model year, model and engine, and points owners to three places to confirm it: the owner’s manual (Maintenance > Engine Oil), the FordParts website (by year, make and model or VIN), and the Motorcraft quick reference charts on the FCSD Chemicals and Lubricants site.

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Ford WSS Oil Specifications Explained (961-A1, 971-A1, 946-B1 and More)

WSS stands for Worldwide Service Specification. It is a Ford requirement, separate from the viscosity grade and from the API “donut.” Two oils can both be 5W-30 and still meet different Ford specs, which is why the code matters.

Current Ford gasoline oil specs on Motorcraft products

Diesel oil specs

WSS-M2C961-A1 vs WSS-M2C971-A1

WSS-M2C961-A1 is a 5W-30 specification aligned with API SP and ILSAC GF-6, the generation that added LSPI testing. WSS-M2C971-A1 is the newer 5W-30 specification that Ford’s own Motorcraft 5W-30 now carries, and it is listed alongside API SQ and ILSAC GF-7A. In Ford’s July 2026 chart, 971-A1 is the Motorcraft 5W-30 recommendation for 2017–2026 EcoBoost engines, including engines whose older manuals name 946-B1 or 961-A1.

What this means in practice: an oil that carries the exact code listed in your own manual meets that manual. Current Motorcraft 5W-30 carries 971-A1. We found no public Ford statement that formally says 971-A1 replaces 961-A1, so if the warranty matters, confirm with a Ford dealer. The same pattern applies to 5W-20 (945-B1, 948-B and 960-A1 earlier, 970-A1 now) and 0W-20 (947-B1 and 962-A1 earlier, 972-A1 now).

Earlier codes you may still see on bottles and in manuals (grades per oilspecifications.org, a third-party reference): 5W-20 – 945-B1, 948-B, 960-A1; 5W-30 – 946-A / 946-B1, 961-A1; 0W-20 – 947-B1, 952-A1, 956-A1, 962-A1. WSS-M2C963-A1 appears in some manuals as a cold-climate option, but we could not verify its grade from Ford’s public documents.

Ford WSS Code Lookup: Old vs Current Codes

How to Check if an Oil Meets WSS-M2C961-A1 (or Any Ford Spec)

1. Find the exact code in your owner’s manual (Capacities and Specifications) or on the oil-fill cap note. Match the grade too, for example 5W-30.
2. Read the back label of the bottle. An oil that meets a Ford spec prints the code, for example “Meets Ford WSS-M2C961-A1”. A matching viscosity alone is not enough.
3. Check the API donut and ILSAC starburst for the service level your manual lists (for example API SP). An API rating does not replace the WSS code.
4. If the label doesn’t print your code, choose a bottle that does, or use the Motorcraft oil Ford lists for your engine in the chart below.

Brands such as Mobil 1, Pennzoil, Valvoline and Castrol make 5W-30 and 5W-20 oils, but which Ford codes each one carries changes by product and over time. We found no public Ford list of approved brands, so the bottle label is the proof. Keep the receipt and a photo of the label with your service records.

Full Ford Oil Chart by Engine and Year

The tables below reproduce the gasoline and diesel sections of Ford Motorcraft Oil Quick Reference (Version 23, US, 7/2026), grouped by oil grade. Model years follow Ford’s shaded columns. Capacity includes the filter. Where a vehicle name carries a year such as “(25-)”, that is Ford’s production note for that model.

0W-20 · Motorcraft SAE 0W-20 (WSS-M2C972-A1)

5W-20 · Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 (WSS-M2C970-A1)

5W-30 · Motorcraft SAE 5W-30 (WSS-M2C971-A1)

5W-50 · Motorcraft SAE 5W-50 (WSS-M2C931-E1)

Mustang track-use note from Ford: for track use, change to SAE 5W-30 on the 5.0L and SAE 5W-50 on the 2.3L. Ford’s chart lists the 5.0L Mustang under a “without track pack option” row, so check your manual for trim-specific guidance on Dark Horse and track-pack cars.

Model-by-Model Notes From Ford’s Chart

F-150: the 5.0L V8 changed oil in 2021

The 5.0L F-150 is the one popular truck engine that changed grade within the 2017–2026 range. Ford lists 5W-20 (WSS-M2C970-A1) for 2017 (7.7 qt) and 2018–2020 (8.8 qt), then 5W-30 (WSS-M2C971-A1) at 7.8 qt from 2021 onward. The 3.3L V6 stays on 5W-20 through 2023, while every EcoBoost and the PowerBoost hybrid use 5W-30. For the details by year, see our F-150 oil capacity guide and F-150 oil type chart.

Mustang: 5.0L capacity is the biggest on the list

The 5.0L Mustang holds 10.0 qt (2018–2023) and 9.5 qt (2024–2026), more than any F-150 gas engine. The 2.3L EcoBoost takes 6.0 qt through 2023 and 5.7 qt with the FL 2127 filter from 2024. The performance variants (2.3L High Performance, GT350, GT500, GTD) use 5W-50.

Bronco, Bronco Sport, Ranger and Maverick

The 2.3L, 2.7L and 3.0L EcoBoost engines in the Bronco and Ranger all take 5W-30, but capacity differs by engine and year (5.6 to 7.0 qt). The 1.5L Bronco Sport is the exception that changes most: 5W-20 up to 2024 (with the August 2022 capacity change above) and 0W-20 from 2025. The Maverick hybrid uses 0W-20; the Maverick 2.0L EcoBoost uses 5W-30. See the Maverick oil capacity chart for more.

Explorer, Expedition, Escape and Edge

Most EcoBoost versions use 5W-30 at 5.0 to 6.0 qt. The 3.3L Explorer hybrid moved from 5W-20 (2020–2024) to 5W-30 (2025–2026), and the Escape 1.5L EcoBoost uses 0W-20 from 2023.

Ford Diesel Oil: 6.7L, 3.0L and 3.2L Power Stroke

Ford diesel oil is chosen by ambient temperature as well as spec. Ford’s chart gives these options for the 6.7L Power Stroke (WSS-M2C171-F1):

Ford adds two cautions for diesels: check the owner’s guide for the right grade for your temperature, duty cycle and biofuel content, and do not use oils that show only CK-4 or CJ-4 in the API donut unless they are also approved to WSS-M2C171-F1. The 3.0L F-150 diesel can use 10W-30 FA-4 above 0 °F, 5W-30 FA-4 or 5W-40 WSS-M2C171-F1 above -20 °F, and 0W-30 or 0W-40 WSS-M2C171-F1 down to -40 °F. More: 6.7L Power Stroke oil capacity chart and Ford diesel oil capacity chart.

Why the API Service Level Matters: LSPI, SP and SQ

Turbocharged direct-injection engines, which is every EcoBoost, can suffer low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI): an unplanned combustion event at low rpm and high load that causes damaging pressure spikes. Oil chemistry is one factor, so the industry added LSPI testing to the oil standards. API SP and ILSAC GF-6, introduced in 2020, were the first to require it. Motorcraft’s current 5W-20, 5W-30 and 0W-20 oils are listed as API SQ with ILSAC GF-7A and “Resource Conserving.”

Ford’s product pages describe these oils as protecting against engine wear, piston deposits and oil-derived LSPI. Because the standards are backward compatible with older engines in general, an SQ oil is a sensible choice for any modern Ford, as long as it also carries the WSS code your manual calls for. An API rating does not replace a WSS requirement.

Full Synthetic or Synthetic Blend? Oil Change Intervals

Ford does not limit its specs to full synthetic. Motorcraft sells both a 5W-30 full synthetic and a 5W-30 synthetic blend that each meet WSS-M2C971-A1, and the same is true for 5W-20 and WSS-M2C970-A1. Both are described by Ford as meeting all warranty requirements. Full synthetic generally resists heat and oxidation better, which is a good reason to choose it for towing, hot climates or turbo engines, but it is not a Ford spec requirement.

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Modern Fords use the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor, which estimates oil life from engine temperature, load, trip length and other factors. Change the oil when the monitor says so, and never go beyond the maximum interval in your owner’s manual or Scheduled Maintenance Guide. Towing, idling, short trips and extreme heat shorten oil life, so expect to change more often under those conditions. See your manual for the exact limits for your model year.

The oil filter matters as much as the oil. The part numbers in the charts above (FL 500 S, FL 910 S, FL 2062 A, FL 2127, FL 820 S, FL 2124 S) are Ford’s Motorcraft filters for each engine. If you choose another brand, confirm it matches the Motorcraft filter’s specification. For the 3.5L EcoBoost, see our oil filter comparison.

Oil and Filter Shopping Table for Popular Ford Engines

Warranty, Mixing Oils and Cold-Weather Starts

Do you have to use Motorcraft to keep your warranty?

No brand is required by law, but the oil must meet the specification in your manual. Look for the exact WSS code and the API donut on the bottle, and keep receipts and service records. See our Ford factory warranty guide for what the warranty covers.

Can you mix oils?

Topping up with a different brand or a synthetic blend in an emergency will not harm a healthy engine, but it dilutes the additive package of the better oil. Drain and refill with the correct spec as soon as you can, and avoid mixing different viscosities in turbocharged engines.

0W vs 5W oils in cold climates

The number before the W is the cold-flow rating: a 0W oil flows faster than a 5W oil at very low start-up temperatures. Both 0W-30 and 5W-30 are grade 30 at operating temperature. Only use a cold-weather alternative that your manual lists for your engine. For diesels, Ford’s chart lists specific 0W options (above) for extreme cold.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ford Engine Oil

Q: What oil does a Ford F-150 take?

It depends on the engine and year. The 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost (2017–2026) and the PowerBoost hybrid take 5W-30 meeting WSS-M2C971-A1 at 6.0 quarts. The 5.0L V8 takes 5W-20 (WSS-M2C970-A1) through 2020 and 5W-30 (WSS-M2C971-A1, 7.8 quarts) from 2021. The 3.3L V6 takes 5W-20 at 6.0 quarts. The 3.0L Power Stroke diesel takes 5W-30 FA-4 (WSS-M2C214-B), 6.5 quarts.

Q: What is the difference between WSS-M2C961-A1 and WSS-M2C971-A1?

Both are Ford 5W-30 specifications. WSS-M2C961-A1 is aligned with API SP and ILSAC GF-6. WSS-M2C971-A1 is the newer one carried by Motorcraft 5W-30 and is listed with API SQ and ILSAC GF-7A. Ford’s July 2026 chart lists 971-A1 for 2017–2026 EcoBoost engines.

Q: Can I use WSS-M2C971-A1 oil if my manual lists WSS-M2C961-A1?

Ford’s own chart recommends Motorcraft 5W-30 (971-A1) for the same EcoBoost engines that older manuals list under 961-A1 or 946-B1, so it is the oil Ford sells for them today. We found no public Ford statement that formally says 971-A1 replaces 961-A1, so confirm with a Ford dealer if warranty coverage is a concern.

Q: Can I use 5W-30 in an engine that calls for 5W-20?

Use the grade your owner’s manual lists for your exact engine and model year. Ford assigns 5W-20, 5W-30 or 0W-20 by engine, and the chart shows that the grade can change by year (for example the 5.0L F-150 moved from 5W-20 to 5W-30 in 2021). The only substitutions in Ford’s chart are the Mustang track-use change to 5W-30 (5.0L) or 5W-50 (2.3L) and the diesel temperature options.

Q: What oil does the 6.7L Power Stroke take?

Ford lists Motorcraft 10W-30 meeting WSS-M2C171-F1 for temperatures above 0 °F. Use 15W-40 above 20 °F, 5W-40 or 0W-40 above -20 °F, and 0W-30 or 0W-40 above -40 °F. Capacity is 13.0 quarts (F-250 to F-600, 2017–2022) or 15.0 quarts (2023 and later), with filter FL 2124 S.

Q: What oil and how much does a 2026 Mustang GT take?

Ford’s chart lists SAE 5W-30 meeting WSS-M2C971-A1 for the 5.0L Mustang in 2024–2026, with a 9.5-quart refill including the FL 500 S filter. For track use Ford says to use 5W-30 on the 5.0L, and the 2.3L High Performance uses 5W-50. Check your manual for Dark Horse or track-pack specifics.

Q: Is full synthetic required, or is synthetic blend okay?

Ford does not require full synthetic by spec. Motorcraft sells both a 5W-30 full synthetic and a 5W-30 synthetic blend that meet WSS-M2C971-A1, and Ford describes both as meeting all warranty requirements. Full synthetic is a reasonable upgrade for towing, hot climates and turbo engines.

Q: Do I have to use Motorcraft oil to keep my Ford warranty?

No brand is required, but the oil must meet the specification in your owner’s manual. Check the bottle for the exact WSS code and API donut, and keep your receipts and service records.

Q: What oils meet WSS-M2C961-A1?

Any 5W-30 oil whose label prints “WSS-M2C961-A1” meets it. Ford does not publish a public brand list, so check the back label. Ford’s current chart lists Motorcraft 5W-30 to the newer WSS-M2C971-A1 for the same 2017–2026 EcoBoost engines.

Q: What is WSS-M2C946-B1?

It is an earlier Ford 5W-30 specification that appears in older owner’s manuals. Ford’s July 2026 chart lists Motorcraft 5W-30 to WSS-M2C971-A1 for current EcoBoost engines, including ones whose manuals name 946-B1.

Q: What is WSS-M2C171-F1?

It is Ford’s diesel oil spec for the 6.7L Power Stroke and the 3.2L Transit diesel. The grade depends on temperature: 15W-40 above 20 °F, 10W-30 above 0 °F, 5W-40 or 0W-40 above -20 °F, and 0W-30 or 0W-40 above -40 °F. Oils showing CK-4 or CJ-4 must also be approved to this spec.

Related Ford Maintenance Guides

• Ford Transmission Fluid Capacity Chart — fluid type and capacity by transmission
• Ford Transmission Identification Chart — find the right fluid for your transmission
• Ford Axle Code Chart — identify your differential and gear ratio
• Ford Factory Warranty Guide — what your coverage includes

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