Ford›F-Series B-Series›1987›Overview/ford/f-series-b-series/1987/base/

1987 Ford F-Series B-Series

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 F-Series B-Series.

The 1987 Ford F-Series and B-Series represent the brand's long-running full-size pickup and medium-duty truck platforms, vehicles built on a reputation for rugged capability and straightforward engineering that had been refined over decades. This model year maintains the series' traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration with recommended engine oil capacity of 5.0 quarts using 5W-30 API-grade lubricant—a specification that reflects the straightforward maintenance requirements owners came to expect from these workhorses. Within the broader reliability picture of the F-Series lineage, the 1987 model stands out for its exceptional field performance, recording just two total owner complaints with the electrical system as the primary area of concern, while notably experiencing zero recall events. For researchers examining vehicle dependability, this absence of widespread issues and recall activity positions the 1987 model as a notably trouble-free example within its generation, suggesting a mature platform that had worked out many of the bugs present in earlier iterations.

Model year200019991998199719961995199419931987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Serpentine beltJK61006B discontinued
ThermostatRT1087

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

8.3–10.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.30 sec — 1997 F-150 Lariat SuperCab
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
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
1997F-150 XLT SuperCab 4.6L V89.90 sec17.70 sec220 hpRWD
1997F-150 XLT SuperCab 4.6L V810.40 sec17.90 sec220 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

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; spark plugs every 15,000 mi.

At 5,000 miThrottle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Vacuum Modulator (inspect)
Every 5,000 miClutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect)
At 7,500 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect)
Every 7,500 miClutch Pedal Bushing (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Clevis Pin (lubricate) · Clutch Pedal Return Spring (lubricate) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Throttle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miPCV Valve (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.

Owner complaints about the 1987 Ford F-Series B-Series dominate in one area — the electrical system, 2 of 2 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 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical 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.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
6
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Electrical System2

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 6 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…
991961999-09-20EquipmentINFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE…
982461998-12-07Electrical SystemFORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE…
98521998-04-13TiresINFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC
98481998-03-02EquipmentANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC

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-Series B-Series. 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.

Vehicles taking 5.0 qtSerpentine belt JK61006BThermostat RT1087

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1987 F-Series B-Series take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1987 F-Series B-Series have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.