--- title: "2015-2020 Ford F-150 Transmission Fluid & Coolant" description: "Which transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 takes, with capacities and the specifications each one has to meet. Transmission: 6R80 (2015-17 all engines; 3.3L through 2020): MERCON LV, ~13.1 qt total. 10R80 (2017+ 3.5L EB; 2018+ 2.7L/5.0L/diesel): MERCON ULV ONLY, ~13 qt total. LV and ULV are NOT interchangeable.. Coolant: Motorcraft Orange (VC-3DIL-B, WSS-M97B44-D2) on 2015-2018; Ford switched to Motorcraft Yellow (VC-13DL-G, WSS-M97B57-A2) around 2019. Check the reservoir cap. Yellow can top off Orange; don't add Gold.." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/fluids" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # 2015-2020 Ford F-150 Fluid Types and Capacities Which transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 takes, with capacities and the specifications each one has to meet. Transmission: 6R80 (2015-17 all engines; 3.3L through 2020): MERCON LV, ~13.1 qt total. 10R80 (2017+ 3.5L EB; 2018+ 2.7L/5.0L/diesel): MERCON ULV ONLY, ~13 qt total. LV and ULV are NOT interchangeable.. Coolant: Motorcraft Orange (VC-3DIL-B, WSS-M97B44-D2) on 2015-2018; Ford switched to Motorcraft Yellow (VC-13DL-G, WSS-M97B57-A2) around 2019. Check the reservoir cap. Yellow can top off Orange; don't add Gold.. ## 2015-2020 Ford F-150 fluid guide (High confidence) | System | Fluid type & capacity | | --- | --- | | Coolant | Motorcraft Orange (VC-3DIL-B, WSS-M97B44-D2) on 2015-2018; Ford switched to Motorcraft Yellow (VC-13DL-G, WSS-M97B57-A2) around 2019. Check the reservoir cap. Yellow can top off Orange; don't add Gold. | | Transmission | 6R80 (2015-17 all engines; 3.3L through 2020): MERCON LV, ~13.1 qt total. 10R80 (2017+ 3.5L EB; 2018+ 2.7L/5.0L/diesel): MERCON ULV ONLY, ~13 qt total. LV and ULV are NOT interchangeable. | | Brake fluid | Motorcraft DOT 3 (early years) / DOT 4 LV on later builds, match the reservoir cap marking | | Power steering | None (electric power steering) | | Differential | Rear: SAE 75W-85 synthetic (standard axles) or 75W-140 (Max Tow/HDPP 9.75-in HD axle. Check axle tag); front (4x4): SAE 80W-90 | | Transfer case | Motorcraft Transfer Case Fluid (XL-12) | Note: Plain washer fluid; no special spec ## Which Ford F-150 model years does this cover? These fluids specifications apply to every Ford F-150 built from 2015 through 2020, the 13th generation (2015-2020, aluminum body), full-size pickup (aluminum body, steel frame). Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2015 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015) - [2016 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2016) - [2017 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2017) - [2018 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2018) - [2019 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2019) - [2020 F-150](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2020) ## What changed during the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2015 | All-new aluminum body (~700 lb lighter); 2.7L EcoBoost debuts; 5.0L drops to 7.7 qt oil capacity (through 2017) | | 2017 | Raptor returns (450-hp 3.5L HO); second-gen PFDI 3.5L EcoBoost + 10R80 10-speed introduced (MERCON ULV fluid) | | 2018 | Facelift: 3.3L replaces 3.5L NA base engine, 5.0L rises to 395 hp and 8.8 qt capacity, 10-speed spreads to 2.7L/5.0L, Auto Start-Stop standard on EcoBoost | | 2018-2020 | 3.0L Power Stroke diesel offered (from mid-2018) | | 2020 | Final year of the generation; carryover mechanicals | ## 2015-2020 Ford F-150 fluids: common questions ### What transmission fluid does a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 take? 6R80 (2015-17 all engines; 3.3L through 2020): MERCON LV, ~13.1 qt total. 10R80 (2017+ 3.5L EB; 2018+ 2.7L/5.0L/diesel): MERCON ULV ONLY, ~13 qt total. LV and ULV are NOT interchangeable.. Transmission fluid specifications are not interchangeable. Friction modifiers differ between them, and the wrong fluid causes shudder long before it causes failure. ### What coolant does a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 use? Motorcraft Orange (VC-3DIL-B, WSS-M97B44-D2) on 2015-2018; Ford switched to Motorcraft Yellow (VC-13DL-G, WSS-M97B57-A2) around 2019. Check the reservoir cap. Yellow can top off Orange; don't add Gold.. ### What brake fluid does a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 take? Motorcraft DOT 3 (early years) / DOT 4 LV on later builds, match the reservoir cap marking. ### What differential fluid does a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 take? Rear: SAE 75W-85 synthetic (standard axles) or 75W-140 (Max Tow/HDPP 9.75-in HD axle. Check axle tag); front (4x4): SAE 80W-90. ## Sources - [Blauparts / Ford owner-manual data, 13th-gen oil capacities by engine](https://www.blauparts.com/ford-f-150-oil-change-kit-2018-20-5-0l-v8-5w20.html) - [NOLN Tech Spec, 2018 Ford F-150 service specifications](https://www.noln.net/topics/news/article/11496835/tech-spec-2018-ford-f-150-2018-03-01) - [NHTSA recall 20V-332, brake master cylinder, 2014-2017 F-150 3.5L EB](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCLRPT-20V332-1472.PDF) - [NHTSA recall 17V-652 / Ford 17S33, door latch](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCMN-17V652-3541.pdf) - [NHTSA recall 18V-568, seat belt pretensioners](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCLRPT-18V568-3762.PDF) - [Motorcraft FL-2081 diesel oil filter fitment (2018-2021 3.0L Power Stroke)](https://puredieselpower.com/ford/2018-2021-f-150-powerstroke/2018-2021-ford-3.0l-powerstroke-upgraded-replacement-parts/18-21-ford-f-150-3.0l-powerstroke-ford-motocraft-oil-filter-fl-2081) - [fueleconomy.gov, 2018 Ford F-150 EPA ratings](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2018_Ford_F150.shtml) - [Hardrock Offroad, F-150 OEM wheel/tire fitment guide by generation](https://hardrockoffroad.com/fitment-guides/ford-f150/) - [BatteryMart / Interstate, 2015-2020 F-150 H6/H7 battery fitment](https://www.batterymart.com/c-ford-f-150-car-battery.html) ## Other Ford F-150 generations - [2021-2025 Ford F-150 fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2021-2025/fluids) - [2012-2014 Ford F-150 fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2012-2014/fluids) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/fluids). ## More for the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/brakes) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/common-problems) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/ford/f-150/2015-2020/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.