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1983-1987 Ford 6.9L IDI Diesel Maintenance Schedule, Fluid Capacity, and Parts List

Ford’s 6.9L IDI, found in their 1983-1987 Heavy Duty trucks and vans, are the epitome of “built tough”. These engines can withstand abuse and their simplicity makes them easy to service and maintain by yourself. My maintaining your 6.9 IDI, you can make sure it has the right fluids, filters, and parts necessary to keep it on the road for a long time. Oh yeah, you’ll also save a fortune compared to taking it in to a shop. To help the owners of Ford 6.9L IDI diesel trucks, we put together this comprehensive maintenance guide. In it, we go over 6.9L IDI Diesel maintenance schedule, fluid capacities, and we even give you the part numbers you’ll need and where to find them. If you’re after the best IDI maintenance guide around, look no further. Let’s dive in to it.

6.9L IDI Diesel Maintenance Schedule

How Often Should I Service my 6.9L IDI?

How often you need to service your 6.9 IDI diesel depends on how you use it. If you use your vehicle for towing lighter loads, tow infrequently, or travel mostly highway miles and use it as a commuter, you should follow the normal operating conditions service schedule. On the reverse end, if you tow frequently, tow heavy loads, or are constantly idling and driving in city traffic, we recommend using the severe operating conditions service schedule.

Normal Operating Conditions

Severe Operating Conditions

Ford 6.9L IDI Diesel Fluid Capacity

Now that you know how often you need to service your 6.9L IDI, you need to find out how much fluid and oil your truck calls for. The chart below tells you how much fluid or oil the different components of your vehicle calls for. Just pay special attention, because slight differences may exist in fluid capacity between model years. You always want to check dipsticks or fluid reservoirs and make sure you have the perfect amount of fluid present. It’s also not a bad idea to have an owner’s manual or diesel supplement handy to double check.

Ford 6.9L IDI Diesel Maintenance Parts, Fluid & Oil

Drivetrain/Steering/Suspension

Recently, i’ve begun to restore a 1984 Ford F-250 with the 6.9L IDI engine that I picked up for $1500. Let me tell you, you’re in for some serious headaches when it comes to finding parts for your IDI if you’re trying to restore it to it’s former glory days. The one company that has played a huge role in helping me is TorqueKing4x4. I searched everywhere for wheel hubs and dust shields. Thankfully, they still carry a ton of these products and even manufacture some in-house. Their customer service is top-notch and they are the pros when it comes to these old trucks. Tell them I sent you!

Learn More about Ford’s 1983-1987 IDI Diesel

Check out some of our other Ford 6.9L IDI Diesel Resources by clicking on one of the links below.

• Ford 6.9L IDI Diesel Specs