2018 Ford F-150 Maintenance Schedule & Costs

Target keyword: 2018 Ford F-150 maintenance schedule This guide covers the most common 2018 Ford F-150 maintenance items by mileage/time with estimated U.S. costs (independent shop vs dealer where it matters). Costs reflect typical owner-reported invoices on F-150 forums and large service marketplaces, plus common shop-rate ranges ($120–$180/hr). Actual pricing varies by engine (2.7L/3.5L EcoBoost, 5.0L V8, 3.0L Power Stroke), 4x4 vs 4x2, and local labor. Assumptions used for estimates: - Full synthetic oil for most 2018 F-150s. - “Inspect” items often become “replace” depending on wear; replacement costs are shown where owners commonly end up replacing. - Severe use (towing, lots of idling, dusty roads, short trips) generally pulls many items earlier.

Do these continuously; many are free if you DIY, or bundled into routine service. Ongoing checks (monthly or at each fuel fill): - Tire pressure + tread depth: $0 DIY / $10–$25 shop check - Exterior lights, wipers/washer fluid: $0–$40 (fluid/top-off) - Engine oil level (especially EcoBoosts): $0 DIY - Coolant level/condition: $0 DIY At each service visit (often paired with oil change): - Multi-point inspection (belts, hoses, leaks, suspension/steering): $0–$50 (often included) - Tire rotation + torque wheel lugs: $20–$40 (often included) - Battery test: $0–$25 Owner data note: Many F-150 owners report tire rotations at every oil change (roughly 5,000–7,500 miles) to keep even wear and reduce cupping on aggressive all-terrains.

Below is a scannable mileage-based schedule. Where Ford’s Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) varies, a realistic interval range is shown. 5,000–7,500 miles / 6 months (repeat) - Engine oil + filter (full synthetic): $70–$120 indie / $95–$160 dealer - Tire rotation: $20–$40 (or bundled) - Inspect brakes, steering/suspension, exhaust: usually included 10,000–15,000 miles / 12 months (repeat) - Engine air filter (inspect; replace if dirty): $25–$60 part / $50–$120 installed - Cabin air filter (if equipped; many trims): $20–$45 part / $50–$110 installed - Brake system inspection (pads/rotors/lines): included or $20–$40 add-on 20,000–30,000 miles - Brake fluid test; flush if dark/high moisture (especially humid climates): $120–$200 - Wheel alignment (if tire wear/pull or after impacts): $100–$160 30,000–40,000 miles - Replace engine air filter (most owners land here if not earlier): $50–$120 installed - Replace cabin air filter (typical): $50–$110 installed - Clean throttle body (optional; common on DI/turbo trucks if idle issues): $120–$220 40,000–60,000 miles - Automatic transmission fluid service (drain/fill or exchange; depends on use): - Light use: closer to 60k - Towing/severe: closer to 40k Typical cost: $250–$450 (drain/fill) or $350–$650 (exchange) - Transfer case fluid (4x4): $120–$220 - Front differential fluid (4x4): $120–$220 - Rear differential fluid (all; sooner if towing): $140–$260 50,000–70,000 miles - Serpentine belt inspect; replace if cracked/glazed: $180–$320 installed - Coolant test/inspect hoses; top-off: usually included 60,000–80,000 miles - Spark plugs (varies by engine and use; EcoBoost owners often do earlier than NA V8): - Replace plugs: $250–$450 (2.7/3.5 EcoBoost often higher labor) / $200–$380 (5.0) - Fuel system cleaning (optional; more common on DI engines if drivability issues): $150–$280 90,000–120,000 miles - Coolant exchange (antifreeze) (time also matters: ~5 years typical): $180–$320 - PCV valve service (if drivability/oil consumption; varies by engine): $80–$200 100,000–150,000 miles - Brake pads/rotors (highly variable by driving/towing): - Front pads + rotors: $350–$650 - Rear pads + rotors: $300–$600 - Shocks/struts (wear varies; many owners report noticeable decline by 90k–130k): - Front pair: $500–$1,000 - Rear pair: $300–$700 Battery & tires (wear-based, not mileage-fixed) - Battery replacement (often 3–5 years): $180–$320 installed - Tires (common life 35k–60k depending on tire type): $900–$1,600 installed for a set of 4 Note for 2018 3.0L Power Stroke (diesel) owners: - Diesel-specific items (DEF, fuel filters, etc.) vary by usage and regional fuel quality. Many owners plan fuel filter service around 20k–30k miles: $120–$260.

Use this as a quick-reference checklist for the 2018 Ford F-150 maintenance schedule. - Oil + filter: every 5,000–7,500 miles (IOLM may extend) — $70–$160 - Tire rotation: every 5,000–7,500 miles — $20–$40 - Engine air filter: inspect every 10k–15k; replace 30k–40k (sooner dusty) — $50–$120 installed - Cabin air filter: 15k–30k typical — $50–$110 installed - Brake fluid flush: 30k–50k or by test — $120–$200 - Coolant exchange: 90k–120k or ~5 years — $180–$320 - Spark plugs: 60k–100k (towing/turbo often sooner) — $250–$450 - Transmission fluid service: 40k–60k (towing earlier) — $250–$650 - Transfer case fluid (4x4): 40k–60k — $120–$220 - Front diff fluid (4x4): 40k–60k — $120–$220 - Rear diff fluid: 40k–60k (towing earlier) — $140–$260 - Alignment (as needed): check at 20k–30k or with tire wear — $100–$160 - Serpentine belt: inspect each service; replace 60k–100k if worn — $180–$320 - Wiper blades: 6–18 months — $25–$70 - Brake pads/rotors: 40k–120k depending on use — $300–$650 per axle - Shocks/struts: 90k–130k typical wear window — $300–$1,000+ depending on end Real-world owner pattern: Many F-150 owners who tow or run larger tires report earlier differential/transfer case services (40k–50k) and more frequent alignments due to front-end wear and curb/impact events.

Typical annual maintenance budget (12k–15k miles/year, light-to-moderate use): - Oil changes (2x/year): $140–$320 - Tire rotations (often included): $0–$80 - Filters (air + cabin averaged annually): $40–$110 - Misc. (wipers, top-offs, inspections): $30–$120 Estimated annual total: $210–$630 Typical 0–100,000 mile maintenance spend (excluding tires, brakes, repairs): - Oil services (≈13–18): $900–$2,400 - Filters (air + cabin over time): $250–$650 - Brake fluid flush (1–2): $120–$400 - Transmission service (1–2 depending on use): $250–$1,200 - 4x4 fluids (transfer case + diffs, 1–2 rounds): $380–$1,400 - Coolant exchange (likely by 100k depending on time): $180–$320 - Spark plugs (likely once): $250–$450 Estimated 0–100k total: $2,330–$6,820 What drives the range: - Dealer pricing vs independent shop - 4x4 vs 4x2 (extra fluid services) - Towing/severe use (earlier ATF and diff fluid) - EcoBoost plug interval and labor differences

Smart tips to keep your 2018 Ford F-150 on schedule: - Use the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor as a ceiling, not a challenge. Many owners stick to 5,000–7,500 miles for oil, especially with towing, short trips, or frequent idling. - If you tow regularly, plan: - Transmission service around 40,000–50,000 miles - Differential and transfer case fluids around 40,000–50,000 miles - Keep receipts and log mileage/date. Good records improve resale value and help with warranty/goodwill claims. - If you feel shudder/harsh shifts (10-speed trucks), don’t ignore it—fresh fluid, a relearn, or a TSB update may be needed depending on symptoms.