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450 platform

2001 Ford E-450

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 E-450.

The 2001 Ford E-450 is a stripped chassis commercial vehicle built on the 450 platform, engineered for vocational applications ranging from box trucks to motor homes, with maintenance requiring 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API-rated engine oil. This model year recorded 18 total owner complaints with tires cited as the primary concern area, alongside 2 factory recalls during its production run. Compared to the E-450's complaint history spanning 1992 through 2027—a period that peaked at 80 complaints in 1999 and reached a low of just 1 in 1996—the 2001 model falls well below the historical average, suggesting a relatively trouble-free production run for this workhorse chassis.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2001

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 - AUXILIARY BATTERY · 750 - 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 · 750 - AUXILIARY 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 Oil	75W-140 · SYNTHETIC · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	8.3 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	75W-140 · SYNTHETIC · GL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	6.6 Pints
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	6-9 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	212 DI Diesel ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	55-64 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	59 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	89 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	45 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	110.0-150.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	240.0-289.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	57.0-76.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	150 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	Front A/C only, 2.75; front and rear A/C, 4.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	68
Oil Capacity	Front A/C only, 9.00; front and rear A/C, 13.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	65 - AUXILIARY BATTERY
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	750 - AUXILIARY BATTERY cca
Optional BCI Group Number	65 - PRIMARY BATTERY

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	30-45
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	80-120 CNG
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 na ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 na ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	20-45 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	1500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	18 psi @ 650 rpm, 100 psi @ 4,000 rpm psi
Engine Oil Pressure	40-70 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	16-30 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	141-191 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.185 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.185 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	1.102 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

33 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 degrees, Step 3: 120

33 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

32 ft. lbs., Step 2: 105

32 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

52-53 ft. lbs., Step 2: 80

52–53 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

66 ft. lbs., step 2: Loosen one turn., step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 90

66 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep First Sequence

1	65 ft. lbs.	65 ft. lbs
2	85 ft. lbs.; Second Sequence	85 ft. lbs
3	95

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3 ft. lbs., step 2: 18

3 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

76 ft. lbs., Step 2: 96

76 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; spark plugs every 100,000 mi.

Every 5,000 mi	Air Filter Restriction Gauge (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (add fluid conditioner) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 mi	PCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Filter (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 2001 E-450 sits in a clear improvement arc following the generation's complaint peak of 80 in 1999 and 43 in 2000, dropping to 18 complaints with two recalls, three investigations, and 13 TSBs — figures that align closely with the subsequent 2002 (13 complaints) and 2003 (18 complaints) model years. Tire-related complaints lead the 2001 categories at eight, followed by engine cooling and suspension at three each, though the data does not specify root causes for any category. Recall volume holds steady at two through 1999–2001 before ticking up to three in 2002 and five in 2003, while TSBs decline steadily from 21 in 1999 to 13 in 2001. No crash or fire complaints were recorded for 2001. The 2001 model year represents a comparatively stable point in the early generation, with notably lower complaint volume than its immediate predecessors and no spike in safety actions. For a buyer prioritizing federal-record metrics, 2001 is a good year to buy relative to the 1999–2000 peak.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26 ’27

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 18 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Tires8

Engine & Engine Cooling3

Suspension3

Suspension,Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Air Bags1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06V286000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 01/08/2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE…

09V399000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 13/10/2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY… Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
0511	2005-11-14	Structure	CRACKS IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING TOWER FLANGE. *TT SPRING TOWER WELD REPAIR AND…
18382	2005-01-01	Power Train	FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VENT ON THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTED PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *TT
05248	2005-01-01	Suspension	VIBRATION/HARSHNESS ABOVE 45 MPH (72 KM/H) AFTER TIRE BALANCE. *TT
18250	2004-10-01	Power Train	INTERMITTENT CLUNK ON 3-2 DOWNSHIFT DURING COASTDOWN/TIP-IN. OASIS. TO INCLUDE 2005…
17799	2004-05-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	ENGINE ROUGHNESS AND DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS. *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

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

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

Group 65 battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt 450-platform vehicles

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 E-450 take?

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

Does the 2001 E-450 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

2001 Ford E-450

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Lubricants & capacities

Engine torques

Chassis torques

Ignition

Battery & A/C

Service checks

Brakes

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Common OBD-II trouble codes

VIN tools

Vehicles with shared specs

Reference guides

Related vehicles

Other years

Frequently asked