Ford›F-250›2002›Overview/ford/f-250/2002/base/
250 platform

2002 Ford F-250

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 F-250.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Ford F-250 is a 250-platform vehicle equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an EPA-rated 11/15/12 mpg. This model utilizes 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil. Relative to the 1990-2011 model history, the 2002 year is notably stable with zero recalls and 34 total owner complaints—well below the 1999 peak of 594—though Engine & Engine Cooling remains the primary area of concern.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520042002

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
Lug nut torque150-165 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy11/15/12 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 DIESEL · 750 DIESEL 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 DIESEL · 750 DIESEL CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeLT235-85R16EOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length256.3 in
Overall width79.9 in
Overall height80.7 in
Wheelbase172 in
Curb weight6409 lb
Track (front / rear)68.5 / 68.5 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined11 / 15 / 12 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelNatural Gas

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the F-250 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9–9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 1999 Super Duty XLT Regular Cab 2-door
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2003Super Duty King Ranch 6.0L Crew Cab (6.9 ft. Bed) 6.0L Turbo Diesel V89.70 sec17.30 sec325 hp4x4
2004Super Duty Harley-Davidson 6.0L Crew Cab (6.9 ft. Bed) 6.0L Turbo Diesel V88.50 sec16.20 sec325 hp4x4
1999Super Duty XLT Regular Cab 2-door 6.8L V-107.90 sec16.10 sec310 hp4x4
1999Super Duty XLT SuperCab 4-door 6.8L V109.60 sec17.40 sec275 hp4x4

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, SYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 · 75W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 150-165 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

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 · 75W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.9 Pints, Rear, Ford Axles
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 · 75W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity16 PINTS;Dana S110 and S130
Engine CoolantUSE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 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
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts45 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)185.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket185.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle185.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket185.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts150-165 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug20.0 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)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 DIESEL
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 DIESEL cca
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Engine Oil Pressure20-45 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure40-75 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2000 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure40-70 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3300 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket42 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket42 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle150 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Runout Limit0.0021 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
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
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep First Sequence

165 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
285 ft. lbs.; Second Sequence85 ft. lbs
395
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
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13 ft. lbs., step 2: 183 ft. lbs
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; spark plugs every 100,000 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.

Every 5,000 miAir Filter Restriction Gauge (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (repack)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miPCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive 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 2002 Ford F-250 shows a complaint total of 156, which represents a significant decline from the 1999 peak of 594 complaints and continues the downward trajectory from 2000 (360) and 2001 (231). This year also recorded 7 recalls and 2 NHTSA investigations, both matching the lower levels seen in 2003 and 2004. The trend across this generation shows a sharp spike in complaints and recalls centered around 1997-1999, followed by a notable easing through the early 2000s. The 2002 model falls squarely within this improving phase, with complaint numbers dropping roughly 33% from the previous year and TSBs falling to just 33 compared to 89 in 2000. The top complaint areas—Engine & Engine Cooling and Tires—suggest no singular systemic failure, though the data does not specify root causes. Compared to adjacent model years, 2002 sits in a relatively stable period of the generation's history, making it a more defensible purchase than the trouble-prone late-1990s models, though not as quiet as the 2005-2007 years.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
37
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
34
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’11

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 34 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling5
Tires4
Engine3
Power Train2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Unknown Or Other2
Steering2
Steering,Service Brakes1

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 37 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ASI-444082014-02-01Equipment Adaptive/MobilityFORD: THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) WHEN USING VCM II, WOULD HAVE AN ERROR CODE 35…
CSP-48B012008-05-26Engine And Engine CoolingFORD: VEHICLES MISTAKENLY CHARGED $100 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE FOR FUEL INJECTOR…
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…
190152006-01-01Fuel System, OtherFUEL CONDITIONER. LOW POWER, POOR FUEL ECONOMY, FUEL GELLING IN COLD WEATHER, EXCESSIVE…
0416012005-11-14Engine And Engine CoolingWDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR…

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 F-250. 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 batteryVehicles taking 6.0 qt250-platform vehicles

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 F-250 take?

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

Does the 2002 F-250 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the F-250 get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 15 highway / 12 combined mpg.