Ford›F-250›2004›Overview/ford/f-250/2004/base/

250 platform

2004 Ford F-250

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

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Ford F-250 utilizes the 250 platform and a 4-speed automatic transmission, requiring 6.5 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil to maintain its 11/15/13 mpg EPA rating. Within a model history spanning 1990-2011, this year is relatively reliable with zero recalls and only 14 total owner complaints, primarily concentrated in the electrical system. This puts the 2004 model far below the 1999 peak of 594 complaints, though it sits above the 1990 low of 4.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2004

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 torque150-165 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy11/15/13 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

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	172.8 in
Overall width	70.1 in
Overall height	69.3 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	3181 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	11 / 15 / 13 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Natural Gas

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.9–9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 2004 F-150 FX4 SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2004	F-150 FX4 SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	8.90 sec	16.30 sec	300 hp	4x4
2004	F-150 Lariat SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	9.30 sec	17.00 sec	300 hp	4x4
2004	F-150 Lariat SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	9.90 sec	17.40 sec	300 hp	4x4
2003	F-150 Harley-Davidson SuperCrew (5.4 ft. Bed) 5.4L Supercharger V8	5.96 sec	14.39 sec	340 hp	RWD
2003	F-150 Lariat SuperCab Styleside (6.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	8.20 sec	16.30 sec	260 hp	RWD
2002	F-150 Lariat SuperCab (6.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	9.30 sec	16.70 sec	260 hp	4x4
2007	F-150 FX4 SuperCab (5.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	8.80 sec	16.70 sec	300 hp	4x4
2000	F-150 XLT SuperCab (6.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V8	8.90 sec	16.70 sec	260 hp	4x4

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, 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 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 Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 · 75W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	6.9 Pints Rear, Ford Axles
Engine Coolant	USE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	6-9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	55-64 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	59 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	28 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	10.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Axle (U-bolts)	185.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	185.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	185.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	185.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	150-165 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	20.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	20.0 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
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	Oil must meet ford specification WSHM1C231B
Standard BCI Group Number	65 DIESEL
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	750 DIESEL cca
Standard BCI Group Number	65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	65

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35-45
RPM	28-45 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	80-120
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35-45
RPM	28-45 @ Idle rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	40-125 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	2500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	40-75 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	42 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	166 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	42 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	166 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	27 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	150 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0021 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

33 ft. lbs., Step 2: 50

33 ft. lbs

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

32 ft. lbs., Step 2: 105

32 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

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

50 ft. lbs.,step 2: 90

50 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 8 stages

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

1	finger tight
2	bolts 1 to 10	65 ft. lbs
3	bolts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9	85 ft. lbs
4	bolts 1-10	90 degrees
5	bolts 1-10	90 degrees
6	bolts 1-10	90 degrees
7	bolts 11 to 15	18 ft. lbs
8	23

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

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 69

4 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3 ft. lbs., step 2: 18

3 ft. lbs

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

90 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120 ft. lbs., Step 3: 170

90 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 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Air Filter Restriction Gauge (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace) · Transmission Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Wheel Bearing (repack)
At 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 120,000 mi	PCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transfer Case 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 F-250 recorded 153 complaints, 7 recalls, 2 investigations, and 72 TSBs. This places it in the middle of a noticeable fluctuation: complaints had dropped from a peak of 594 in 1999 down to 116 in 2003, then rebounded in 2004 before falling again to 144 in 2005. The 2004 model year shows a spike in TSBs (72) compared to both 2003 (44) and 2005 (6), suggesting a year-specific surge in technical service bulletins—typically indicating manufacturers addressing emerging field issues. Recall volume remained stable at 7 from 2002–2004, then dropped sharply to just 1 in 2005. The top complaint areas were Electrical System and Service Brakes, though neither dominated overwhelmingly, and there were zero crash or fire complaints reported. The data suggests 2004 sits near the tail end of a period of elevated troubleshooting activity for this generation, possibly reflecting refinements made partway through the model run. A prospective buyer should verify that all seven recalls have been addressed and budget for potential electrical or brake-related diagnostics typical of this year, but the absence of crash or fire complaints is a positive sign relative to some neighboring model years.

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

’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 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System3

Service Brakes2

Engine1

Unknown Or Other,Engine1

Fuel System, Diesel,Engine1

Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train,Engine1

Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes1

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Vehicle Speed Control1

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 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SSM 46085	2016-09-21	Engine And Engine Cooling	The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
ASI-44408	2014-02-01	Equipment Adaptive/Mobility	FORD: THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) WHEN USING VCM II, WOULD HAVE AN ERROR CODE 35…
TSB-12-7-4	2012-07-10	Engine	FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: IF BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR DEAD, VEHICLES/TRUCKS MAY EXPERIENCE…
TSB-10-12-6	2010-06-11	Fuel System, Gasoline	FORD: RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, HARD START, NO START. SOME VEHICLES AND TRUCKS EQUIPPED…
TSB-09-15-6	2009-12-09	Engine And Engine Cooling	FORD: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 6.0L ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE A P006A, P132, P0401 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. 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 6.5 qt 250-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 2004 F take?

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

Does the 2004 F 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 get?

EPA figures are 11 city / 15 highway / 13 combined mpg.

2004 Ford F-250

Quick specs

Fitment & sizes

Full specifications

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

Performance & power Independent road tests

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