FordE-3502004Overview/ford/e-350/2004/base/
350 platform

2004 Ford E-350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 E.

The 2004 Ford E-350 rides on the 350-series platform and calls for 6.5 quarts of 5W-20 API oil, carrying the notable distinction of zero recalls across its production run. Within the model’s 1991-2027 complaint history—a range spanning from a high of 64 grievances in 1998 to a low of one in 2023—this particular year generated only two owner complaints distributed across steering, powertrain, visibility, structure, latches/locks/linkages, tires, seats, and equipment systems. That minimal complaint volume positions the 2004 model year near the bottom of the reliability-risk spectrum for the E-350 line, marking it as one of the quieter entries in a dataset covering more than three decades of production.

Model year20172016201520142004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY · 625 - AUXILIARY BATTERY CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY · 625 - AUXILIARY BATTERY CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeLT245-75R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length211.8 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height81.1 in
Wheelbase138.2 in
Curb weight4645 lb
Track (front / rear)70.1 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.5 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs6-9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts55-64 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts28 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)130.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket295.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle85.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket111.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)150 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeOil must meet ford specification WSHM1C231B
Standard BCI Group Number65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY
Standard BCI Cranking Performance625 - AUXILIARY BATTERY cca
Optional BCI Group Number65 - PRIMARY BATTERY
Optional BCI Cranking Performance650 - PRIMARY BATTERY cca
Standard BCI Group Number65 DIESEL

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45
RPM28-45 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)80-120
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45
RPM28-45 @ Idle rpm
Engine Oil Pressure40-125 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure40-75 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket23 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket23 ft-lbs / 27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees, Step 3: 12033 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5033 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
132 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10532 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
166 ft. lbs., step 2: Loosen one turn., step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 9066 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
150 ft. lbs.,step 2: 9050 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 8 stages

Prep Lightly lubricate new cylinder head bolt · threads and flanges with engine oil

1finger tight
2bolts 1 to 1065 ft. lbs
3bolts 1, 3, 5, 7, 985 ft. lbs
4bolts 1-1090 degrees
5bolts 1-1090 degrees
6bolts 1-1090 degrees
7bolts 11 to 1518 ft. lbs
823
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 694 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13 ft. lbs., step 2: 183 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
190 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120 ft. lbs., Step 3: 17090 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAir Filter Restriction Gauge (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 120,000 miPCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004 Ford E-350 sits at an interesting inflection point in this generation's federal record. Looking at the surrounding years, complaints declined from 64 in 1998 to 55 in 2005, while recalls surged from 7 to 14 over the same period and TSBs nearly tripled from 27 to 75 — suggesting Ford was increasingly addressing emerging issues through service bulletins rather than waiting for formal recall action. The 2004 model year itself recorded only 2 federal complaints (one spanning steering, power train, visibility, structure, latches/locks/linkages, tires, seats, and equipment; the other covering service brakes, power train, electrical system, and latches/locks/linkages), with zero crash and zero fire complaints — a notably quiet figure compared to the elevated complaint volumes on either side. However, the dramatic spike in recalls and TSBs in 2005 implies that systemic issues were maturing in vehicles of this vintage, and the 2004 model may benefit from being just prior to that wave rather than at its center. The data does not specify root causes for any of these complaints. **Bottom line: the 2004 E-350's minimal complaint footprint and absence of crash or fire incidents make it a relatively attractive used buy within this generation, but prospective owners should verify that any applicable 2005-era recalls and TSBs have been addressed on the specific unit, as Ford's service response clearly intensified for vehicles of this age.**

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
8
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Steering,Power Train,Visibility,Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages,Tires,Seats,Equipment1
Service Brakes, Air,Power Train,Electrical System,Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 8 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 460852016-09-21Engine And Engine CoolingThe Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
TSB-11-11-212011-11-17Engine And Engine CoolingFORD: THE BLOWER MOTOR ON SOME VEHICLES ARE OPERATING EITHER INCORRECTLY OR NOT OPERATING…
SB-09M022009-08-19EquipmentFORD: CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGE AMBULANCE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT…
SB-09B092009-08-19Power TrainFORD: CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGE AMBULANCE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT; PCM…
SB-09M032009-08-19EquipmentFORD: CERTAIN VEHICLES, E SERIES AND F SUPER DUTY, WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGE AMBULANCE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 E take?

6.5 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 E have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.