FordF-4502011Overview/ford/f-450/2011/base/
450 platform

2011 Ford F-450

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 F.

Body TRUCK

The 2011 Ford F-450 is a heavy-duty truck on the 450 platform, requiring 7.0 quarts of 5W-20 engine oil—a specification that reflects its robust design. With 2,137 total owner complaints and six recalls, the powertrain was the most frequently cited trouble area. In the model’s complaint history from 2003 to 2020, which peaked at 24 complaints in 2020 and bottomed at 3 in 2014, the 2011 sits in a period of relatively higher owner feedback, making it a year that researchers should examine closely for powertrain issues.

Model year2025202420232011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7.0 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

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height66.9 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4083 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

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.

6.1–7.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.10 sec — 2011 F-150 FX4 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011F-150 FX4 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.10 sec15.00 sec365 hp4x4
2011F-150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.20 sec14.80 sec365 hpRWD
2011F-150 Harley-Davidson 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.30 sec15.10 sec411 hp4x4
2011F-150 Harley-Davidson 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.40 sec15.00 sec411 hp4x4
2011F-150 SVT Raptor 6.2L SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 6.2L V86.60 sec15.20 sec411 hp4x4
2011F-150 XLT SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 5.0L V86.70 sec15.10 sec360 hp4x4
2011F-150 XLT SuperCrew (5.6 ft. Bed) 5.0L V86.90 sec15.30 sec360 hp4x4
2011F-150 STX 3.7L Regular Cab (6.6 ft. Bed) 3.7L V67.40 sec15.70 sec302 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil. Torque the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. 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 FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.0-10.0
Engine CoolantUSE FORD PREMIUM GOLD COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Engine Oil10W-30 · 15W-40 · 0W-30 · 0W-40
Engine Oil Capacity15.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Ignition Timing10

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.70 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityDiesel engines, 3.40; gasoline engines, 4.10. oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Thermostat Opening TemperatureMain:190-198, Secondary: 68-131 °F
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-195 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)51-62
RPM51-62 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)53-73
RPM53-73 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance150,000-210,000 na Diesel ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket46 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle295 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.472 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
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9033 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 7 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil. · Bolts 1-18

114.7 ft. lbs.14.7 ft. lbs
236.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
336.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
436.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
590 degrees90 degrees
690 degrees90 degrees
790 degrees; Bolts 19-2290 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat new bolts with the specified engine oil.

130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 754 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-2015 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 7,500 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 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 7,500 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miAir Filter Restriction Gauge (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Diesel Emissions Fluid (fill) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 22,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
At 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & 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.

From 2003 through 2010, every year in the record shows zero complaints and exactly one recall, with no investigations or TSBs, establishing a baseline of minimal regulatory activity. The 2011 model breaks that pattern with 9 complaints, 2 recalls, and 7 TSBs—the first year in the dataset to register any complaints or technical service bulletins—sitting immediately before the 2012 jump to 14 complaints and 4 recalls and well below the sustained high-volume period of 2017–2020. Specific to 2011, the top complaint areas are Power Train (501), Steering (345), Engine (223), and Service Brakes (124), with 41 crash complaints and 18 fire complaints recorded, though the data does not specify root causes. Relative to the zero-complaint era that preceded it, 2011 marks a clear inflection point, yet it remains materially quieter than the 2012 peak and the elevated years that follow. Consequently, while 2011 is not the most troubled year of this generation, it is the first to exit the low-activity baseline and carries a material spike in reported powertrain, steering, and crash complaints, making it a weaker choice than 2003–2010 models and warranting caution for buyers.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
117
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2,137
Owner complaints
41 involved a crash · 18 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2,137 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train501
Steering345
Engine223
Service Brakes124
Power Train,Engine75
Visibility/Wiper61
Electrical System60
Unknown Or Other56

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 117 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 24-21882024-07-24WheelsThis article supersedes TSB 22-2219 to update the Parts List and Service Procedure to…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
SSM 523342024-03-06Engine And Engine CoolingSome 2011-2024 Mustang and F-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0L engine may exhibit a tick…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…
TSB 22-22192022-06-21Power TrainSome 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped…

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

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Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 2011 F take?

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

Does the 2011 F have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.