FordF-Series1986Overview/ford/f-series/1986/base/

1986 Ford F-Series

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 F-Series.

The 1986 Ford F-Series represents a generation of American full-size pickup trucks built on a durable body-on-frame platform that prioritized capability and work-readiness. This model year followed established F-Series engineering, utilizing a recommended motor oil specification of 5W-30 API grade at a capacity of 5.0 quarts for routine service intervals. With zero recall campaigns issued and only three total owner complaints recorded—with engine and engine cooling noted as the primary concern area—this model year stands as a notably clean entry in the F-Series reliability record, suggesting a production period that largely avoided the systemic issues affecting some other years in the lineup.

Model year199519941993199219911990198919881986

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

Engine air filterFA584R
Serpentine beltJB563L alt JC507A
ThermostatRT1087

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
Differential Gear Oil Capacity6.5 Pints Rear Dana 70
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API

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 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 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 miThrottle Plate (inspect) · Throttle Return Spring (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed) · Vacuum Modulator (inspect)
Every 5,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter Water Separator (inspect) · Shift Linkage (lubricate)
Every 6,000 miIgnition Timing (inspect)
At 7,500 miAir Cleaner Manifold Heat Control Actuator (inspect)
Every 10,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System Air Bypass Valve (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV System (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 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV 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 1986 Ford F-Series dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 2 of 3 reports (67%), 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 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling 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
1
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling2
Unknown Or Other1

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 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
9424111994-11-01Service Brakes, HydraulicBRAKES - CALIPERS - FRONT CALIPER PISTON BOOTS DAMAGED. *TW

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. 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 1986 F-Series take?

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

Does the 1986 F-Series have open recalls?

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