Power Stroke Diesel Service in Washougal, WA

Ford counts towing or hauling a heavy load, any dusty driving, idling longer than recommended, temperatures far above or below average and trips shorter than 5 to 10 miles as severe driving conditions. Any one of them puts your truck on the severe service items.

A Washougal Super Duty can hit several in one week: a boat pulled out at Parker's Landing, a camper headed east on SR 14 into the Gorge, a dusty job site in Camas, then short runs across town that never let the engine fully warm up. If that sounds like your truck, plan on both fuel filters every 15,000 miles and watch for the engine air filter messages. Ford also lists a monthly look at the diesel's air filter restriction gauge.

The 6.7L's engine exhaust brake is built for downhill runs with a heavy load or a trailer. It adds engine braking at higher engine speeds, which Ford says means cooler brakes, less brake fade and longer brake life. It works in a forward gear with the engine above 1,300 rpm and your foot off the accelerator. Press the button once for manual mode, or twice for automatic mode, which holds the speed you had when you last let off the pedal.

Tow/Haul holds lower gears longer and adds engine braking on a descent. Ford warns against using either Tow/Haul or the exhaust brake on a slippery road surface, which matters on SR 14 on an icy winter morning. Details are in the owner's manual section on using the diesel engine exhaust brake.

The diesel particulate filter traps soot, and the truck clears it three ways: passively in normal driving, actively by raising the exhaust temperature, or manually while parked. Ford says a lot of stationary running, drives under 25 mph, trips under 15 minutes and an engine that never fully warms up can keep the filter from getting clean.

If your truck mostly does short hops, Ford recommends an occasional drive of at least 20 minutes on a main road or freeway without switching the ignition off, holding the engine between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm. A run out SR 14 toward I-205 and back is an easy way to get it.

Exhaust filter overloaded means drive above 30 mph, when it's safe, until the message goes away. Exhaust filter over limit Service now means the truck needs a dealer visit, and Ford warns that ignoring it can damage the filter in ways the warranty may not cover.

Manual cleaning starts only once the filter load reads 100 percent. Park outdoors on stable, level ground with the parking brake set, 10 to 15 feet from anything that can burn or melt, with at least 1/8 tank of fuel; it runs for about 30 minutes, and the exhaust stays very hot afterward, so keep the truck off dry grass and leaves. Ash that regeneration can't burn builds up slowly, and Ford says the filter may need replacing at around 250,000 miles.

Use only diesel exhaust fluid certified by the American Petroleum Institute. A complete truck's DEF tank holds 7.5 gallons, and Ford puts typical use at roughly 2 to 6 gallons for every 100 gallons of diesel, with payload and towing among the things that raise it. Ford says not to store DEF jugs in the truck at all, because a leak can damage the interior and leave an ammonia smell; keep them out of direct sun, between 23 and 68 degrees F.

Let the fluid run low or get contaminated and the truck caps its speed at 50 mph. Run it empty and the engine drops to idle only once you stop; at least a gallon gets you out of idle-only, and a full tank lifts the speed cap. If DEF ever goes into the fuel tank, leave the engine off: Ford says the tank must be completely drained and cleaned before it gets clean diesel.

The diesel fuel conditioner module on the frame separates water from the fuel. Drain it with the engine off when the warning appears, which happens once about 6.8 ounces of water collects; Ford's procedure lets out roughly half a gallon of fuel, and that fuel should not go back in the tank.

Most Washougal winters are mild, but cold east wind out of the Gorge can change that for a week. Ford recommends seasonally adjusted diesel below 19 degrees F and a block heater below -9 degrees F, and notes that DEF can freeze below 12 degrees F, which is why the system has a preheater. Gelled fuel calls for Motorcraft anti-gel and performance improver or an equivalent; Ford says alcohol-based additives can damage the injectors. Biodiesel blends are allowed up to B20, with 5W-40 oil recommended above B5, and red-dyed agricultural or off-road fuel is off the list.

Ford notes that parts installed at a dealership carry a nationwide 24-month, unlimited-mile parts and labor limited warranty. Our service page lists the WestlieCare Oil Change Package, which comes in a diesel version; see it for current pricing and exclusions, along with our service specials.

Leaving the truck for the day? Ask for a ride on our free courtesy shuttle.

• Oil and filter change, then an Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor reset
• Tire rotation, tread depth and a check of the wheels (on dual rear wheel trucks the fronts rotate, and the rears only if they show unusual wear)
• Brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, linings, hoses and the parking brake
• A DEF refill, plus a fuel and water separator drain if needed
• Coolant concentration, freeze protection, level and hoses
• The exhaust system and heat shields
• Steering linkage, ball joints, suspension, tie-rod ends, driveshaft and U-joints, with grease fittings lubricated where equipped
• Cabin and engine air filters

On 2026 Fords, Diesel Engine Coverage lasts 5 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. It covers the engine and its internal parts plus diesel hardware such as the turbocharger, injectors, the high-pressure fuel injection pump, glow plugs and a long list of engine sensors. Fuel lines, the fuel tank and the frame-mounted fuel conditioning module are left out. The rest of the truck has Ford's 3-year or 36,000-mile base new vehicle coverage, and the powertrain gets 5 years or 60,000 miles (Ford 2026 Warranty Guide).

Ford makes the owner responsible for the maintenance in the owner's manual and asks owners to keep the receipts with the truck. Skipped maintenance can void coverage on the parts it affects. Ford also says some warranty repairs need special training, so not every dealer is authorized for every repair; call us and a service advisor will tell you how yours will be handled.

Shopping for the next truck? See new Super Duty pickups, and read Dustin's F-250 vs F-350 and SRW vs DRW guides.