The Ford F550 houses one of two engine options: the 6.4L eight-cylinder diesel engine or the 6.8L 10-cylinder gasoline engine. The two engines are located in different Ford trucks and Ford motor applications, such as motor homes, but maintain the same characteristics regardless of the type of truck. The 6.4L diesel engine uses an internal filter accessible from the top of the engine (it's in the same position on the smaller 6.0L, though that engine was not offered on the 550). The 6.8L gasoline engine uses a screw-on external filter located on the bottom of the engine.
Raise and prop the hood up.
Position a stepladder in front of the vehicle and climb up.
Remove the oil filter housing cap. The cap is top-center of the engine, adjacent to a similar, black cap. The oil filter housing cap is black with a 36 mm plastic bolt on top. Use a socket wrench to loosen the cap and remove it by hand. The filter is removed with it. Pull the filter off the cap and dispose of it.
Remove the O-ring gasket seated above the threads on the filter cap. Replace the gasket with the new one that came with the oil filter. Apply some fresh oil to the gasket.
Attach the oil filter to the cap. Ford calls for a WIX 51372 oil filter or other manufacturer's equivalent. The oil filter slides over the center tube and clicks in place. Replace the oil filter housing cap onto the housing and hand-tighten it. Use the socket wrench to securely tighten the cap. Lower the hood.
Place an oil bucket beneath the filter, located on the lower, driver's-side edge of the engine block, above the axle.
Use a filter wrench to loosen the oil filter and remove it by hand. Make sure the original gasket comes off with the filter. Remove the gasket by hand, if it does not.
Apply fresh oil to the new gasket on the oil filter with your finger. Place the filter onto the threads, and spin it on until it is hand-tight. Ford calls for using a WIX 57312 oil filter or other manufacturer's equivalent.
Twist the filter one-quarter turn further by hand.
Start the vehicle and allow it to run for two minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick and add more as necessary. The internal filter holds a certain amount of fluid, so you will need to add some.
