2020-2022 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke Engine Oil

Engine oil on the 2020-2022 Ford 6.7L Powerstroke

Ford's recommended oil for the 6.7L Powerstroke is Motorcraft SAE 10W-30 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oil meeting Ford spec WSS-M2C171-F1 above 0 degrees F, with 5W-40 for colder use. That Ford spec belongs to the API CK-4 era, not CJ-4. For severe duty, 5W-40 or 15W-40 is the call. Capacity is 13.0 quarts with the filter on 2011-2022 pickups, so four one-gallon jugs covers a change with three quarts left for top-offs. The 2023-and-later trucks hold 15.0 quarts, so do not go by a newer truck's number.

What fails and why

The oil problem on every 6.7L year is fuel dilution, which owners call making oil. DPF regeneration injects extra fuel to burn soot, and some of it can wash past the rings into the crankcase. Short trips and idling make it worse. The signs are a dipstick level that rises between changes, thin oil and a diesel smell in the oil. Ford's answer is the oil life monitor plus an engine-hour limit: 7,500-10,000 miles in normal service, not past one year or 350 hours, and 5,000 miles or 200 hours in severe duty.

Choosing a grade and a brand

For a daily driver or a tow rig, stay with the grades Ford lists for this engine: 10W-30 normally, 5W-40 in the cold, 5W-40 or 15W-40 for severe duty. Most of the jugs here are labeled CK-4; if matching Ford's own spec matters to you, look for WSS-M2C171-F1 on the label. The ADRENALINE R-Series is sold as racing oil, and its 5W-20 and 20W-50, along with the Green Diamond 0W-20 light-duty oil, are grades Ford does not list for this engine, so they are for owners with a specific reason to run them. Additives go in on top of a correct oil, never in place of one.

What we carry

Hot Shot's Secret fills most of this page. Green Diamond comes in 10W-30, 5W-40 and 15W-40 full synthetic CK-4, plus a 15W-40 semi-synthetic CK-4. Blue Diamond comes as a 5W-40 full synthetic CK-4 and a PAO 10W-30, and Black Diamond Outlaw comes in 10W-30 and 15W-40 full synthetic CK-4. Hot Shot's also offers the ADRENALINE R-Series racing oils from 5W-20 to 20W-50, the Green Diamond 0W-20, a TBN Booster oil stabilizer, the FR3 Friction Reducer and the Original Stiction Eliminator. Lucas Oil brings 15W-40 CK-4 and Synthetic 15W-40 CK-4, a Synthetic Blend 10W-30 CK-4, the Magnum High TBN 15W-40 (labeled CI-4), Heavy Duty and Synthetic Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer, and TB Zinc Plus break-in additive for a freshly built engine. XDP's XD275 X-Factor oil additive rounds it out.

Fitment notes

Oil is not VIN-specific the way hard parts are, but capacity is year-specific: 2011-2022 pickups take 13.0 quarts with the filter, and 2023-and-later take 15.0. Chassis cab trucks run the same 2020-2022 engine with a different turbo and calibration, so check that truck's owner's manual for its fill. If you are not sure which grade fits your duty cycle, call us for free help.

Frequently asked questions

What weight oil does a 2020-2022 6.7L Powerstroke take?

Ford prefers 10W-30 meeting WSS-M2C171-F1 above 0 degrees F, with 5W-40 for colder use. For severe duty, run 5W-40 or 15W-40. Between them, the Hot Shot's Secret and Lucas Oil lines on this page cover all three grades.

How much oil does the 2020-2022 6.7L hold?

13.0 quarts with the filter. Four one-gallon jugs covers a change with three quarts to spare. The 2023-and-later 6.7L holds 15.0 quarts, so a newer truck's figure will not match yours.

Why does the oil level go up on my 6.7L?

A common cause is fuel dilution. DPF regeneration adds extra fuel, and some can get past the rings into the oil, especially on trucks that run short trips or idle a lot. If the level climbs, the oil looks thin or it smells like diesel, change it and follow the oil life monitor instead of stretching the miles.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.