Will this cost Ford customers? 2021 Ford F-150 5.0L V-8 oil pump change

Erica Mueller March 12, 2021

The 2021 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 has a wet-belt-driven oil pump. What does this mean and is it something to worry about?

The 2021 Ford F-150 5.0-liter V-8 has several changes including cylinder deactivation and, now we learn, a wet-belt-driven oil pump. A viewer emailed Publisher Tim Esterdahl about this change, so he decided to do some research and share his findings on the F-150 V-8 oil pump change.

Which trucks use a wet-belt-driven oil pump?

Until now, Ford’s trucks have used a chain-driven oil pump, so this is a new thing for the 2021 Ford F-150, and seems to be specific to the 5.0-liter V-8 model. This is the same idea behind the GM 3.0L Duramax Diesel engine found in the Silverado and Sierra. For that truck, the change was very controversial due to the placement of the belt: You actually have to drop the transmission to check the belt. And, GM’s maintenance schedule says the belt needs to be inspected at 150k miles. Yikes!

Why would you use a belt over a chain?

Esterdahl talks about how the new belt-driven system works and why we could see it used more in the future. A few pros for this system include a quieter ride and a more efficient oil pump.

Chains do stretch over time, and while we tend to think of drive belts that need regular checking and replacing, a wet-drive-belt actually lives in the oil pump and is constantly lubricated. Because of this, it may be less likely to stretch than a chain.

How about the Ford F-150 V-8 oil pump change?

Esterdahl found it interesting Ford’s maintenance schedule doesn’t show any scheduled check for the oil pump belt. Does this mean they expect it to last for the life of the truck? Maybe so.

Is this oil pump belt on the F-150 5.0-liter V-8 a disaster waiting to happen?

It will be interesting to see if other truck brands follow suit and if we see this change on heavy-duty trucks too.

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Erica Mueller

Erica Mueller is a Texan, which means she believes that trucks are family vehicles and giant SUVs make good second cars. As part-time auto journalist for almost a decade, Erica enjoys driving all kinds of vehicles and sharing her experiences with others. Erica is the secretary of the board for the Texas Auto Writers Association as well as a contributor at A Girls Guide to Cars.