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2021-2026 Ford F-150 differential fluid & capacity

The F-150 has more than one differential, and they don't all take the same fluid. Each axle's exact gear oil spec and capacity is below, plus where to buy it.

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Front differential

Gear oil spec

75W-85 (Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant, WSS-M2C942-A)

Front axle, 4WD trucks only (the '8.8' conventional front axle). No friction modifier. Raptor's Torsen limited-slip front is the one exception, needing Motorcraft XL-3 friction modifier (same 75W-85 base fluid, per the chart's separate F-150 Raptor (LS) row).

Spec from the OEM (oem parts).

Capacity

1.8 qt

Confirm against your manual

Find 75W-85 (Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant, WSS-M2C942-A) on Amazon
Where this came from
  • Motorcraft FCSD Axle Lubricants Quick Reference Chart (Version 12, US, 10/2025) — F-150 (C) front-axle row — source

Rear differential

Gear oil spec

75W-85 (Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant, WSS-M2C942-A)

Rear axle, 9.75-size — the electronic-locking (E) diff standard on the 14th-gen F-150 (the chart's 4.0 pt / 8.8-size alternative is the smaller conventional rear used on lighter-duty configurations, not recorded here to keep one unambiguous capacity per witness). No friction modifier needed for the electronic-locking diff (it's a magnetic-coil mechanical lock, not a clutch-pack limited-slip).

Spec from the OEM (oem parts, aggregator) · checked Jul 2026.

Capacity

2.3 qt

Verified · 2 sources

Find 75W-85 (Motorcraft Premium Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant, WSS-M2C942-A) on Amazon
Where this came from
  • Motorcraft FCSD Axle Lubricants Quick Reference Chart (Version 12, US, 10/2025) — F-150 (C, E) rear-axle row — source
  • F150gen14.com forum — rear differential fluid advice thread (14th-gen electronic-locking rear axle) — source

Transfer case

Gear oil spec

Mercon LV ATF (Motorcraft, WSS-M2C938-A)

Transfer case (4WD models only). Takes Mercon LV automatic transmission fluid, not gear oil — same fluid family as the 13th-gen transfer case, per Motorcraft chart note [6] ('XT-10-QLVC, MERCON LV, for all transfer cases').

Spec from the OEM (oem parts).

Capacity

1.6 qt

Confirm against your manual

Find Mercon LV ATF (Motorcraft, WSS-M2C938-A) on Amazon
Where this came from
  • Motorcraft FCSD Axle Lubricants Quick Reference Chart (Version 12, US, 10/2025) — transfer-case fluid note [6], corroborated by owner-forum capacity report — source

Spec anchored to the OEM owner's manual; the capacity, when it carries the verified badge, is cross-checked against an independent source. Never changed by what an affiliate link pays us. Your owner's manual is always the final word — and if your axle has a locker or an option package, double-check the capacity for your exact build.