FordF-5502000Overview/ford/f-550/2000/base/
550 platform

2000 Ford F-550

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 F-550.

The 2000 Ford F-550 rides on the heavy-duty 550 chassis and specifies a 6.0-quart oil capacity with 5W-20 API viscosity, reflecting its commercial-grade engineering. Owner-reported data shows 63 total complaints concentrated in the engine and cooling systems, alongside three recalls that underscore early durability scrutiny. Broader model-year tracking from 2007 through 2020 reveals complaint volumes ranging from a low of two in 2014 to a peak of sixteen in 2020, positioning the 2000 vintage as a baseline against which later iterations' reliability trends are measured.

Model year201120102009200820072006200520042000

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 · 650 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 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the F-550 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 2000 F-150 XLT SuperCab (6.6 ft. Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2000F-150 XLT SuperCab (6.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V88.90 sec16.70 sec260 hp4x4
1998F-150 XLT SuperCab 5.4L V88.70 sec16.70 sec235 hpRWD
1998F-150 XLT SuperCab 5.4L V89.40 sec17.20 sec235 hp4x4
2002F-150 Lariat SuperCab (6.6 ft. Bed) 5.4L V89.30 sec16.70 sec260 hp4x4
1997F-150 Lariat SuperCab 5.4L V88.30 sec16.40 sec235 hpRWD
1997F-150 XLT Regular Cab 4.6L V88.80 sec16.60 sec220 hpRWD
1997F-150 Lariat Flareside Regular Cab 4.6L V88.90 sec16.70 sec220 hpRWD
1997F-150 Styleside Regular Cab 4.2L V69.30 sec17.20 sec202 hpRWD

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. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 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

Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 · 75W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.9 Pints Rear, Ford Axles
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil15W-40 · 10W-30 · 0W-30
Engine Oil Capacity15.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts212 DI Diesel ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts89 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts45 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9
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
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.63 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type68
Oil Capacity9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)30-45
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms
Engine Oil Pressure18 psi @ 650 rpm, 100 psi @ 4,000 rpm psi
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 / 41 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle166 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Runout Limit0.0015 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.5 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.5 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.417 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

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
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.

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 (leak inspection) · Steering Linkage (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) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Wheel Bearing (repack)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 120,000 miPCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Transfer Case 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 2000 Ford F-550 recorded 14 complaints in Engine & Engine Cooling, 12 for Tires, 8 for Steering, and 5 for Suspension, along with 4 crash complaints. In the subsequent federal record from 2007 to 2020, the generation followed a trend of increasing instability, moving from zero complaints between 2007 and 2010 to a peak of 16 complaints in 2020. The 2000 model's complaint volume in just a few key areas is comparable to the total annual complaints seen in the most problematic later years of the record. Because the data does not specify the root causes for these issues, the exact nature of the failures remains unknown. Given the high volume of system-specific complaints relative to the quieter 2007-2010 period, this is not a good year to buy.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
50
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
63
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 63 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling14
Tires12
Steering8
Suspension5
Engine4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Wheels2
Power Train2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V170000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And LinkagesReported 19/06/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: F-SUPER DUTY STRIPPED MOTOR HOME CHASSIS BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A MISSING OR PARTIALLY INSTALLED BRAKE PEDAL TO MASTER CYLINDER PUSHROD RETAINING CLIP. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION. MISSING OR PARTIALLY INSTALLED CLIPS WILL BE PROPERLY INSTALLED. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT VEHICLES FOR LOWER…

99V265000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 20/09/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SUPER DUTY TRUCKS AND CHASSIS-CABS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L MANUAL TRANSMISSION POWERTRAINS. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CORE WIRE CAN WEAR THE CABLE CONDUIT END FITTING DUE TO A FIFTEEN DEGREE ANGLE IT MAKES… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND THROTTLE BODY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 50 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
CSP-08B052008-10-13Engine And Engine CoolingFORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: PROGRAM OF AFFECTED VEHICLES REGISTERED IN CA (8500 GVWR), MA (6000…
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…
05542005-03-21Engine And Engine CoolingUSE OF STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST STUDS IN SERVICE FOR 5.4L 2V ENGINE. *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 F-550. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 F-550 take?

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

Does the 2000 F-550 have open recalls?

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