Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1983 E-350 Econoline.
The 1983 Ford E-350 Econoline is anchored by a concrete service specification that calls for 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. In the reliability record, this model year stands out for its scarcity of documented problems, having generated zero recalls and only one owner complaint, which falls in the fuel/propulsion system category. That minimal grievance footprint places the 1983 E-350 among the more stable entries in the Econoline line, meaning researchers will find little evidence of factory defects or widespread mechanical failures for this vintage.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 5.5 Pints |
| Engine Oil | 5W-30 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | 5W-30 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | 5W-30 · API |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0 qt |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | Front A/C only, 3.25; 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, 10.00. oz |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1983 Ford E-350 Econoline dominate in one area — the fuel/propulsion system, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the fuel/propulsion system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.