2010-2018 Ford F-150 Brake Fluid Type and Flush Interval

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

A 2010-2013 Ford F-150 was specified from the factory for DOT 3 brake fluid (Motorcraft PM-1-C), while the 2014 model year and the 2015-2018 trucks call for DOT 4 Low Viscosity fluid meeting Ford spec WSS-M6C65-A2 (Motorcraft PM-20). Ford does not print a mileage-based flush interval in the F-150 owner's manual, but its own fluid datasheet recommends changing that DOT 4 LV fluid every three years. The good news for owners of older trucks: the DOT 4 LV fluid also meets the DOT 3 spec Ford lists for the earlier years, so one bottle covers the whole 2010-2018 range.

Which Brake Fluid Your F-150 Takes, by Year

Ford changed the recommended fluid partway through the 12th-generation F-150. The printed owner's guides show the switch clearly:

The 2013 guide is the one we verified for the DOT 3 row; if you own a 2010-2012 truck, confirm against your own owner's manual or the brake fluid reservoir cap before you buy. For capacity, every manual gives the same answer: fill between the MIN and MAX marks on the reservoir. Ford does not list a fixed volume for the brake system, and a full flush will use more fluid than the reservoir holds because you are pushing fluid through all four wheel circuits and the ABS unit.

Ford's warning in the 2014 and 2018 manuals is direct: use of any fluid other than the recommended fluid may cause degraded brake performance, and the fluid must be kept clean and dry because contamination with dirt, water or petroleum products can damage the brake system.

What "DOT 4 LV" Means and Why It Matters on This Truck

Every brake fluid sold in the US has to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 116. That standard sets minimum boiling points and a maximum cold viscosity for each grade. Ford's DOT 4 LV goes further on the cold-flow side:

The "LV" is the point. Low viscosity fluid flows faster when it is cold, which lets the ABS and stability control hydraulics move fluid quickly on a frozen morning. Ford describes PM-20 as a fluid recommended for ABS brake systems with stability control. Ford's datasheet also states PM-20 meets both WSS-M6C65-A2 (DOT 4 LV) and WSS-M6C65-A1 (DOT 3), which is why it is a safe choice for the older DOT 3 trucks as well.

Two fluids you should not put in any of these trucks: DOT 5 silicone fluid, which is a different chemistry from the glycol fluids above and is identified by its purple color under FMVSS 116, and fluid made for vehicles that specify WSS-M6C65-A3 (DOT 5.1 or "Super DOT 4"), which Ford's datasheet treats as a separate spec. Stick with the spec printed in your manual.

How Often to Flush F-150 Brake Fluid

The F-150 scheduled maintenance section does not include a time or mileage interval for replacing brake fluid. It tells you to inspect the brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, linings, hoses and parking brake at each service, and to check fluid levels. That leaves a lot of owners assuming the fluid lasts forever. It does not.

Ford's own Motorcraft datasheet for PM-20 gives the answer the manual leaves out: the recommended change-out interval is every three years. Glycol brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, and the wet boiling point numbers in the table above show what that moisture costs you. A fluid rated at 500 F dry is only rated at 338 F once it has taken on water. On a truck that tows or hauls, a lower boiling point is how you get a soft, sinking pedal at the bottom of a long grade.

Flush sooner than three years if:

• The fluid in the reservoir has turned dark brown or looks cloudy (new DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluid is colorless to amber, per FMVSS 116).
• You tow regularly or drive in mountains, where brake temperatures climb.
• You are replacing a caliper, hose or master cylinder, which opens the system anyway.
• The pedal feels spongy after a hard stop and firms back up when things cool down.

Symptoms of Old or Low Brake Fluid

The F-150's information display shows a BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW message when the level drops, and Ford's manual says the brake system should be inspected immediately when that appears. Keep in mind the level naturally drops as pads wear, because the caliper pistons move outward and hold more fluid. A slow drop over tens of thousands of miles lines up with pad wear; a sudden drop means a leak at a line, hose, caliper or the master cylinder.

Old fluid itself rarely triggers a warning. You notice it as a longer pedal, fade when towing, or internal corrosion that shows up later as a sticking caliper piston or a problem in the ABS hydraulic unit. That is the real cost of skipping the flush: the fluid is inexpensive, the hydraulic components it protects are not.

Doing the Flush: What to Expect

A brake fluid flush on these trucks is a moderate DIY job with two people, or one person with a pressure or vacuum bleeder. The basic sequence:

1. Remove most of the old fluid from the reservoir and refill with fresh fluid from a sealed bottle.
2. Bleed each wheel until clean fluid comes out, following the bleed sequence in the Ford workshop manual for your truck.
3. Never let the reservoir run dry during the bleed; air drawn into the ABS unit can require a scan tool bleed procedure to purge.
4. Top off between MIN and MAX, tighten bleeder screws to the value in the factory service manual, and road test at low speed first.

Use a fresh, sealed container every time. An opened bottle on the shelf has been absorbing moisture the whole time, which is exactly what Ford's "keep brake fluid clean and dry" warning is about.

What to Replace While the System Is Open

If you are flushing because of a brake job, it is the ideal time to do both. New pads push the caliper pistons back, so bleeding afterward leaves fresh fluid right where the heat is. For 2010-2014 trucks we carry the Brembo OE front disc brake kit for the 2010-2014 F-150 and the matching Brembo OE rear brake kit for 2012-2014. Owners who tow should look at the Hawk SuperDuty front pads for towing and hauling, and 2014-2016 trucks can run the Hawk LTS light truck front pads.

A leaking or cracked rubber hose is another reason to open the system; browse our replacement brake hoses and brake lines. For everything else, start at our full brake parts catalog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put DOT 4 LV in my 2012 F-150 that calls for DOT 3?

Ford's datasheet states its DOT 4 LV fluid (PM-20) meets WSS-M6C65-A1, one of the DOT 3 specs listed in the earlier F-150 owner's guides, so it is an approved choice. The reverse is not true: do not put plain DOT 3 in a 2014-2018 truck that calls for DOT 4 LV.

How much brake fluid does an F-150 hold?

Ford does not publish a system volume in the owner's manual. It only says to keep the reservoir between MIN and MAX. Buy more than the reservoir holds for a flush, since you are pushing fresh fluid through all four brake circuits.

How often should I change the brake fluid on my F-150?

The owner's manual maintenance schedule does not list an interval, but Ford's Motorcraft datasheet recommends changing DOT 4 LV fluid every three years. Tow vehicles and trucks in humid climates benefit most from staying on that schedule.

Can I mix DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid?

Both are glycol-based, but a blend will not meet the full rating of the better fluid. The better practice is a complete flush with the fluid your manual specifies. Never mix either with DOT 5 silicone fluid.

Why does my brake fluid level keep dropping?

A gradual drop is normal as pads wear. A drop you can see week to week means a leak. Check the wheels, hoses and master cylinder, and have the system inspected before driving if the BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW message appears.

Sources

1. Ford - 2013 F-150 Owner's Guide - DOT 3 PM-1-C, WSS-M6C62-A or WSS-M6C65-A1; fill between MIN/MAX; BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW message
2. Ford - 2014 F-150 Owner's Manual - DOT 4 LV PM-20, WSS-M6C65-A2; keep fluid clean and dry
3. Ford - 2018 F-150 Owner's Manual - DOT 4 LV spec; scheduled maintenance inspection items (no fluid change interval listed)
4. Ford Chemicals and Lubricants - DOT 4 LV High Performance Brake Fluid - PM-20 specs met, boiling points, viscosity, three-year change interval
5. 49 CFR 571.116 (FMVSS 116) - Motor vehicle brake fluids - DOT 3 and DOT 4 minimum boiling points, cold viscosity limits, fluid color