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350 platform

1997 Ford F-350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 F-350.

The 1997 Ford F-350 stands as a heavy-duty workhorse built on the robust 350 platform, engineered to handle demanding tasks with its durable chassis and a powertrain designed for longevity, including a recommended 6.0-quart oil capacity with 5W-20 API-rated viscosity. With just 25 owner complaints recorded—among the lowest in its 1991–2013 lineage—this model year distinguishes itself as one of the more dependable iterations, particularly when contrasted with the 450 complaints logged for the 1999 F-350. Its three recalls, while notable, align with the era’s safety and engineering standards, and the minimal tire-related issues reported further underscore its relative reliability. For researchers, the 1997 F-350 represents a sweet spot in the series, offering a balance of proven durability and fewer documented problems than many of its successors.

Model year2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 1997

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 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 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

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	248.8 in
Overall width	78.7 in
Overall height	73.2 in
Wheelbase	168.1 in
Curb weight	5430 lb
Track (front / rear)	65.7 / 63.4 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the F-350 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.4–10.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 2005 Super Duty Harley-Davidson 6.0L Crew Cab (6.9 ft. Bed)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1999	Super Duty XLT SuperCab DRW 6.8L Diesel V10	10.10 sec	17.70 sec	—	RWD
2005	Super Duty Harley-Davidson 6.0L Crew Cab (6.9 ft. Bed) 6.0L Turbo Diesel V8	9.40 sec	16.90 sec	325 hp	4x4

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, 80W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	5.5 Pints rear, Ford 8.8 and 9.0
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	40-45 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	45-50 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	212 DI Diesel ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	75-85 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	89 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	75-85 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	23-25 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18-24 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket	150.0-177.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle	75.0-115.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket	75.0-115.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts	140 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	7.0-17.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	7.0-17.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order	1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	10.0-15. ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	10.0-15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.38 lbs
Oil Capacity	9.00-11.00 oz
Oil Group	PAG
Standard BCI Group Number	65 DIESEL
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	750 DIESEL cca
Standard BCI Group Number	59
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35-45
RPM	30-45 @ Idle rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	40-65 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	1500 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	40-70 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	3300 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	40-88 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	2000 rpm

Brakes

Other	DUAL REAR WHEELS / SINGLE REAR WHEELS
Torque Caliper to Bracket	12-20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	141-190 ft-lbs
Other	SINGLE REAR WHEELS / DUAL REAR WHEELS
Torque Caliper to Bracket	12-20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	141-190 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Other	DUAL REAR WHEELS / SINGLE REAR WHEELS

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

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

52–53 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	35-40 ft. lbs.	35–40 ft. lbs
2	56-60

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep (W) Windsor engine

1	85 ft. lbs.	85 ft. lbs
2	95 ft. lbs.	95 ft. lbs
3	105-112

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep First Sequence

1	65 ft. lbs.	65 ft. lbs
2	85 ft. lbs.; Second Sequence	85 ft. lbs
3	105 ft. lbs.	105 ft. lbs
4	105

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	80 ft. lbs.	80 ft. lbs
2	110 ft. lbs.	110 ft. lbs
3	130-140

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

8-12 ft. lbs., step 2: 12-22 ft. lbs., step 3: 22-35

8–12 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; 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 mi	Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Shift Linkage (lubricate)
Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect)
Every 10,000 mi	Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Shift Linkage (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (lubricate)
Every 12,000 mi	Battery (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Leaf Spring U-Bolt (torque)
Every 20,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Locking Hub (inspect) · Throttle Body Lever Stud (lubricate) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
At 50,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission 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 1997 Ford F-350 sits near the end of the OBS generation's production run, and its federal record reflects a mature but stressed platform: 163 complaints, 4 recalls, 2 investigations, and 152 TSBs place it just below the 1995 peak (182 complaints, 183 TSBs) and roughly level with 1996 (151 complaints, 171 TSBs). Across the 1991-1997 arc, complaints climbed steadily from 31 to 182 while recalls trended downward from 7-9 in the early years to 3-4 by mid-decade, suggesting Ford was issuing fewer formal campaigns even as the installed base grew and wear-related issues surfaced. Tires dominate the 1997 complaint mix at 14 of 163, with engine cooling, speed control, and electrical issues far behind at 2 each, and only 1 crash and 1 fire complaint indicates no widespread safety-defect pattern in the data. The most telling comparison is what comes next: the 1998 transition year shows a suspiciously low 12 complaints (typical of a fresh/redesigned model), while the 1999 Super Duty debut spikes to 450 complaints and 13 recalls—the highest in the entire dataset—indicating serious early-generation teething problems. Within the OBS era itself, 1997 is not the cleanest year (1991-1992 had far fewer complaints proportionally) but it benefits from refined production and pre-redesign parts availability. Concrete takeaway: the 1997 F-350 is a defensible used buy, but it is materially preferable to a 1999-2000 first-year Super Duty, and a pre-purchase inspection of the tires plus a VIN check for open recalls are warranted given the elevated TSB count.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96’97’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’13

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 25 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires14

Engine & Engine Cooling2

Vehicle Speed Control2

Electrical System2

Suspension,Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Engine & Engine Cooling,Tires1

Suspension,Power Train1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V187000Tires:BeadReported 29/10/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND CHASSIS. THE TIRES ON THESE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED DURING MOUNTING ONTO THE WHEELS. ONLY TRUCKS PRODUCED AT THE CUAUTITLAN, MEXICO PLANT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 1996, AND… Remedy: DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES AND THIS RECALL AFFECTING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ONLY, FORD WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT CLAIMS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

97V209000Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)Reported 13/11/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME CHASSIS. HOT EXHAUST GASSES CAN LEAK FROM THE EXHAUST GAS RETURN (EGR) TUBE ON THE ENGINE. A HOLE CAN DEVELOP IN THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE TUBE. HEAT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EGR TUBE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 96 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
04266	2005-01-01	Power Train	A DRIVELINE CLUNK OR BUMP WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. *TT
03211	2003-10-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	LOSS OF POWER AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ALSO ILLUMINATE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE…
03213	2003-10-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	A NO-START OR REDUCED POWER CONDITION MAY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. *TT
032120	2003-10-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	7.3L DIT GLOW PLUG START-UP ON-TIME DURING COLD TEMPERATURE - SERVICE TIP. *TT
032121	2003-10-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	A HIGH NUMBER OF HIGH PRESSURE REXROTH PUMPS AND INJECTION PRESSURE REGULATORS (IPR) ARE…

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-350. 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 350-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 1997 F-350 take?

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

Does the 1997 F-350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.