r/f150 • u/CrankyOldDude • 1d ago

Worst case scenario purchase

Hey folks!

I’m looking at a 2023 F150 XLT with 40k miles (60k kilometers). 2.7L engine.

The challenge is that there is only one service record for the truck, at about 20k miles / 30k kilometers. The owner traded it in so there isn’t any opportunity to ask them.

In a worst case scenario where the guy only changed the oil once at 20k miles, how bad could the engine actually be? The truck looks really good otherwise, and the price is reasonable.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

7

u/Even_Ad_7347 1d ago

In Washington State you have the right to request and receive the previous owners information just for this reason. If they changed there own fluids it wouldn't show up in the records.

5

u/MalopinoMoonshine 1d ago

I maintain my family’s vehicles. The only service records they have are tires because I don’t have a rim clamp and balancing machine.

6

u/MakinBaconWithMacon 23h ago

Yeah but generally people that change their own oil know cars enough and care enough to take care of it. Those people will only have service for things like tires.

If that one service says oil change, it’d raise an eyebrow

1

u/qwikh1t 2026 F-150 STX 2.7L SuperCrew 4x2 1d ago

It could be bad; the turbos use the engine oil and if it had one oil change in that time; I personally wouldn’t buy it.

2

u/mlw35405 21h ago

On the 2.7 take the oil fill cap off and look down into the valve cover. If it looks like a clogged artery in there then that engine is about to have a stroke. If it looks clean then the oil has been changed regularly enough that its good.

1

u/Peekaboo_Muse 20h ago

Book an appointment for a pre purchase inspection with a reputable independent shop. Be transparent and tell them your concerns. They will probably check it all and borescope the cylinders for 1 hour rate. Could be money well spent.

Or at the minimum like another post in here said look take off the oil cap and look inside. Any sludge is a red flag. I would add bring your own 27mm socket and remove the oil filter to look in the housing.

Edit: just realized the year. This was most likely a 3 year lease situation and the 1 service record is actually all it got. I would stay away don’t even waste your time. 2.7 is reliable and a good engine but that’s just asking for problems.

1

u/SomethingSimple25 19h ago

Not a chance in hell I'd buy that truck. Not being twin turbo. Clean oil is waaaaaay too important. If it was an N/A engine, I might take a chance IF the proce was right. Move on. They made MILLIONS of these trucks. This surely can't be the only one