Ford F-150 Torque Specs Chart: Lug Nuts, Oil & Spark Plugs by Year
The Ford F-150’s most-searched torque spec is lug nuts, at 150 lb-ft on every truck built since 2000. But that’s just one of at least six specs an owner runs into during routine DIY work. Get the wrong number on an aluminum oil pan or a set of spark plugs, and you’re looking at stripped threads instead of a finished job.
This chart pulls together every major torque spec F-150 owners search for, organized by generation and engine, with the source noted for each. Where sources genuinely disagree, that’s flagged too, so you can double-check the number against your own truck’s manual before you pick up a wrench.
Start with the spec most owners need first: wheel torque, since it’s the one every F-150 owner eventually looks up.
Ford F-150 Torque Specs at a Glance
Current-generation figures. Scroll down for the full year-by-year table.
| Component | Year / Engine | lb-ft | Nm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lug nuts | Built before Nov 27, 1999, 12mm | 100 | 133 |
| Lug nuts | 1997-2004 Heritage 7-lug, M12x1.75 | 100 | 135 |
| Lug nuts | Nov 1999-2014, M14x2.0 | 150 | 200 |
| Lug nuts | 2015-2026, M14x1.5 | 150 | 204 |
| Oil drain plug | 3.5L EcoBoost, 2009-2026 | 20 | 27 |
| Oil drain plug | 5.0L, 2009-2014 | 19 | 26 |
| Oil drain plug | 6.2L, 2009-2014 | 17 | 23 |
| Spark plugs | 4.6L, 2004-2008 | 13 | 18 |
| Spark plugs | 5.4L 3V, 2004-2008 | 25 | 34 |
| Spark plugs | 5.0L, 2011-2014 | 10 | 14 |
| Spark plugs | 3.5L EcoBoost, 2011-2026 | 11 | 15 |
| Spark plugs | 2.7L / 3.3L / 5.0L, 2015-2026 | 11 | 15 |
Ford F-150 Lug Nut Torque by Year: 1997-2026
For other Ford trucks and SUVs, see our Ford lug nut torque chart for every model.
Every F-150 built since November 1999 (excluding early 7-lug and 7700 payload package trucks) uses a version of the 14mm wheel stud. Before that changeover, the truck ran smaller 12mm studs with a lower torque spec. The torque value has stayed at 150 lb-ft since the switch to 14mm studs. What changed is the thread pitch, which shifted in 2015, and using the wrong lug nut on the wrong pitch will strip the stud.
| Model Years | Stud Size | Thread Pitch | Torque | Socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-1999 (built before Nov 27, 1999) | 12mm | Check your manual | 100 lb-ft (133 Nm) | 19mm |
| Nov 1999-2004 Heritage (5-lug) | 14mm | 2.0 | 150 lb-ft (200 Nm) | 21mm |
| 1997-2004 Heritage (7-lug / 7700 package) | 12mm | 1.75 | 100 lb-ft (135 Nm) | 19mm |
| 2004-2014 | 14mm | 2.0 | 150 lb-ft (200 Nm) | 21mm |
| 2015-2026 | 14mm | 1.5 | 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) | 21mm |
A Ford technical service bulletin covering the changeover is explicit about this: trucks built on or after November 27, 1999 (excluding 7-lug and 7700 payload trucks) moved from 12mm to 14mm studs, with the 14mm spec set at 150 lb-ft and the 12mm spec remaining at 100 lb-ft. The thread pitch changed from M14x2.0 to M14x1.5 at the 2015 model year, according to Ford’s owner’s manuals, when the F-150 switched to an aluminum body. Our Ford Bolt Pattern Chart covers this pitch change in more depth if you’re also sourcing new wheels or lug nuts.
Tighten in a star pattern, not a circle, and retighten after the first 100 miles (about 160 km) whenever a wheel has been removed or replaced, as Ford’s owner’s manuals instruct.
Once the wheels are torqued correctly, the next most common DIY job is an oil change, and that spec varies more than most owners expect.
F-150 Oil Drain Plug Torque: 5.0L, 3.5L EcoBoost, and 5.4L V8
Working on a 3.5L EcoBoost beyond the drain plug? Our 3.5 EcoBoost torque specs guide covers the engine’s other fasteners.
This is the spec with the most conflicting numbers floating around forums, and getting it wrong on an aluminum oil pan means a cracked pan or stripped threads instead of a routine oil change.
| Engine / Years | Drain Plug Torque | Source Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L EcoBoost, 2021+ | 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) | Ford workshop manual procedure (2022 F-150) | Aluminum pan |
| 3.5L EcoBoost, 2009-2020 | 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values (TightTorque) | Same figure across generations |
| 3.7L V6, 2011-2014 | 20 lb-ft (27 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values | |
| 5.0L V8, 2011-2014 | 19 lb-ft (26 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values | |
| 6.2L V8, 2010-2014 | 17 lb-ft (23 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values | |
| 5.4L modular V8 | Not independently verified | N/A | Check your year’s service manual |
Ford’s workshop procedure for the 2022 3.5L EcoBoost lists 20 lb-ft (27 Nm), and compiled workshop manual values show the same 20 lb-ft for 2009-2020 3.5L trucks. Some dealer and owner reports quote much higher numbers, which are likely too tight for an aluminum pan.
Check the specific figure in your VIN’s factory service manual through motorcraftservice.com rather than relying on a single forum number, since a stripped aluminum drain plug boss is one of the more expensive mistakes on this engine. For the correct oil volume alongside the drain plug spec, see our Ford F-150 5.0L oil capacity guide.
Spark plugs carry a similarly wide range of shop numbers online. Here’s the figure that’s best supported across sources.
F-150 Spark Plug Torque Specs: 3.5L EcoBoost vs 5.0L vs 5.4L
Over-torquing spark plugs is one of the more common thread-stripping mistakes on this truck, especially on the aluminum cylinder heads used since the 3.5L EcoBoost and 5.0L Coyote arrived.
| Engine / Years | Spark Plug Torque | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4.6L V8, 2004-2008 | 13 lb-ft (18 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values |
| 5.4L 3V V8, 2004-2010 | 25 lb-ft (34 Nm) for 2004-2008 | Compiled workshop manual values; confirm 2009-2010 in your manual |
| 3.5L EcoBoost / 3.7L, 2011-2014 | 11 lb-ft (15 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values |
| 5.0L, 2011-2014 | 10 lb-ft (14 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values |
| 6.2L, 2010-2014 | 13 lb-ft (18 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values |
| 2.7L / 3.3L / 3.5L EcoBoost / 5.0L, 2015-2026 | 11 lb-ft (15 Nm) | Compiled workshop manual values |
Plug part numbers changed over the years. Some owners report a different plug design on 2022-and-later trucks, so confirm the spec for the plug actually installed in your engine, using your VIN in the service manual, before you torque it.
Beyond the engine bay, two drivetrain components round out the specs F-150 owners search for most: the rear differential cover and the 5.4L 3V cam phaser hardware.
F-150 Differential Cover and Cam Phaser Torque Specs
Rear differential cover: Commonly quoted at about 33 lb-ft (45 Nm) for the 8.8, 9.75, and 10.25-inch rear axles. We could not confirm this against a Ford primary source, so check your axle’s service manual. Clean the mating surfaces, use RTV sealant or a new gasket, and tighten in a crisscross pattern.
5.4L 3V cam phaser hardware: Commonly quoted figures are about 30 lb-ft for the cam phaser bolts and 89 in-lb for the cam caps, but we have not verified them against a Ford source. If you’re working through a full cam phaser job on this engine, our 5.4 3V Cam Phaser Torque Specs guide breaks down every bolt in the job, not just the two figures above. Confirm each figure against your service manual.
The 3.5L EcoBoost uses a different cam phaser design entirely. If that’s the engine you’re working on, see our 3.5 EcoBoost Cam Phaser Replacement Guide for the complete procedure rather than assuming the 5.4L numbers above apply.
Here’s every spec from this guide in one table.
Ford F-150 Torque Spec Chart: All Components at a Glance
| Component | Year / Engine | Torque (lb-ft) | Torque (Nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lug nuts | Built before Nov 27, 1999, 12mm | 100 | 133 |
| Lug nuts | 1997-2004 Heritage 7-lug, M12x1.75 | 100 | 135 |
| Lug nuts | Nov 1999-2014, M14x2.0 | 150 | 200 |
| Lug nuts | 2015-2026, M14x1.5 | 150 | 204 |
| Oil drain plug | 3.5L EcoBoost, 2009-2026 | 20 | 27 |
| Oil drain plug | 5.0L, 2009-2014 | 19 | 26 |
| Oil drain plug | 6.2L, 2009-2014 | 17 | 23 |
| Spark plugs | 4.6L, 2004-2008 | 13 | 18 |
| Spark plugs | 5.4L 3V, 2004-2008 | 25 | 34 |
| Spark plugs | 5.0L, 2011-2014 | 10 | 14 |
| Spark plugs | 3.5L EcoBoost, 2011-2026 | 11 | 15 |
| Spark plugs | 2.7L / 3.3L / 5.0L, 2015-2026 | 11 | 15 |
| Rear differential cover | 8.8 / 9.75 / 10.25 axle | ~33 (unverified) | ~45 |
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