FordE-4501998Overview/ford/e-450/1998/base/
450 platform

1998 Ford E-450

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 E-450.

The 1998 Ford E‑450 is built on the E‑450 chassis and specifies a 6.0‑quart oil capacity with 5W‑20 API viscosity. Owner‑reported data show just seven complaints for the model year, with equipment issues leading the list and no recalls issued. In the broader complaint history spanning 1992 through 2027, the 1998 total sits well below the 1999 peak of 80 complaints and only modestly above the 1996 low of one, positioning this year as a relatively trouble‑free point in the model’s reliability record.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520041998

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 Primary Battery · 750 Primary 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 Primary Battery · 750 Primary Battery CCAOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, 75W-140 · SYNTHETIC · GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential. 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

Differential Gear Oil75W-140 · SYNTHETIC · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity8.3 Pints
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity14.0 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs6-9 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts212 DI Diesel ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts55-64 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts89 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 1.5 ft-lbs; Upper: 15-
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17-20 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts35-46 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)109.0-149.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket240.0-290.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle153.0-207.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket57.0-76.0 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)825 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)775 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.052-0.056 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityFront A/C only, 2.75; front and rear A/C, 4.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type68
Oil CapacityFront A/C only, 9.00; front and rear A/C, 13.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65 Primary Battery
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 Primary Battery cca
Standard BCI Group Number65 Primary Battery

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)30-45
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms
Engine Oil Pressure20-45 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure18 psi @ 650 rpm, 100 psi @ 4,000 rpm psi
Engine Oil Pressure40-70 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3300 rpm

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 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
132 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10532 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
152-53 ft. lbs., Step 2: 8052–53 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep First Sequence

165 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
285 ft. lbs.; Second Sequence85 ft. lbs
3105 ft. lbs.105 ft. lbs
4105
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
176 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9676 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 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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.

At 5,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (lubricate) · Suspension System (lubricate) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect)
Every 10,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (lubricate) · Suspension System (lubricate) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miBattery (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Leaf Spring U-Bolt (torque) · Parking Brake System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miPCV Valve (replace)

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 1998 Ford E-450 recorded 6 complaints, 2 recalls, 2 investigations, and 19 Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs). This represents a decrease in complaints compared to 18 in 1997, although it continues a rising trend in TSBs that began in 1996. The 1998 model year falls immediately before a significant surge in reliability issues, with complaints spiking to 80 in 1999 and 43 in 2000. Specific complaints for 1998 were limited to one instance each for Equipment, Fuel System (Gasoline), Tires, and Power Train, though the data does not specify the root causes. While recalls remained stable at two per year from 1996 through 2001, the 1998 model avoids the high complaint volumes seen in the years following it. Given its position relative to the subsequent spike in reported issues, 1998 is a good year to buy.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
128
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Equipment1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Tires1
Power Train1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
Seats1

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 128 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB-11-11-212011-11-17Engine And Engine CoolingFORD: THE BLOWER MOTOR ON SOME VEHICLES ARE OPERATING EITHER INCORRECTLY OR NOT OPERATING…
072122007-10-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG…
0416012005-11-14Engine And Engine CoolingWDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR…
0205032005-03-21Fuel System, GasolineGUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT…
054172005-03-07Engine And Engine CoolingINTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE - NON-COMMANDED EGR (EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE) FLOW. *TT

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

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific E-450. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1998 E-450 take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 E-450 have open recalls?

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