The Ford Boss 6.2 V8 first made its debut in the 2010 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson and SVT Raptor. It wasn’t in F-150 models for long, but the 6.2L V8 remained through 2022 for the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty. With 385hp and 430 lb-ft of torque the 6.2 Boss engine offers respectable power. That might sound lackluster compared to the 6.7 Power Stroke. However, the 6.2L V8 is about $10,000 less expensive and offers a solid balance of power and reliability. In this guide, we discuss a few of the most common Ford 6.2 engine problems and reliability.
Additionally, if you are looking for more information about the 6.2 Boss as a whole or are interested in squeezing some more power out of the 6.2 gasser, check out our Complete Ford 6.2 Engine Guide and our Best Ford 6.2 Engine Upgrades Guide.
Common Ford 6.2 Engine Problems
A few of the most common problems with the Ford 6.2L V8 F150, F250, and F350 include:
- Valve spring failure
- Oil leaks
- Rough idle
- High oil consumption
We will discuss each of the above issues in-depth throughout the rest of the article. However, a few quick notes before. We’re calling these the most common issues for good reason. It doesn’t mean they’re truly common problems on the Ford 6.2 gas engine. Rather, when failures occur these are a few of the most common areas.
That said, the 6.2 Boss V8 is a pretty reliable engine. There are cases of these engines making it to 300-400k+ miles with minimal problems. We’ll circle back to Ford 6.2 engine reliability at the end of the article.
1) Boss 6.2 V8 Valve Spring Failures
Valve springs lie within the cylinder head around the valve stems. They’re responsible for controlling the intake and exhaust valves by applying spring pressure. This helps prevent the valves from floating or bouncing. Each valve requires a valve spring meaning the Ford 6.2L V8 has 16 valve springs. Unfortunately, valve spring failures are one of the most common issues on the Ford 6.2 gas engine.
Once a valve spring problem develops you might notice all sorts of other issues. The 6.2 V8 will start running rough, throwing misfire codes, etc. It’s also important to address the issues in a timely manner. It’s possible for valve spring failures to cause further engine damage if not repaired.
This is one of the more common issues with the Ford 6.2L F150, F250, and F350 engine. Again, that doesn’t really mean it’s truly common. A lot of stuff can get blown out of proportion on the internet. Anyways, valve spring problems can and do occur on the Ford 6.2 V8. Look for potential issues to pop up north of 100,000 miles.
Ford 6.2 Valve Spring Symptoms
The following symptoms may indicate a broken valve spring on the Ford 6.2 V8:
- Rough idle
- Misfires
- Power loss
- Knocking sounds
Symptoms of a broken valve spring are usually very noticeable. You’ll likely get a rough idle, poor operation, and misfires. 6.2 engine misfires can also occur on multiple cylinders even if only one cylinder has valve spring failure. Power loss is sometimes tough to notice since it’s often only one cylinder affected. You might also notice the 6.2L V8 sounds like its knocking or rattling.
6.2L V8 Valve Spring Replacement
The valve cover(s) must be removed to access the valve springs on the Ford F150, F250, and F350 engines. Proper tools are also required to remove and replace any faulty valve springs. It’s not a super challenging DIY, but the less experienced should leave this job to a mechanic.
Valve springs themselves are dirt cheap for the 6.2 V8. Each spring will run about $4-6 or $60-80 for a full set. Labor is where the costs can begin to add up, which can bring Ford 6.2 valve spring replacement up to about $300-700. You might consider replacing all valve springs on a high mileage engine, which can land replacement costs on the higher end.
2) Ford 6.2 Oil Leak Problems
Plenty of engines run into oil leaks as they accrue age and mileage. Age and heat cycles can cause rubber gaskets to degrade and begin cracking over time. There are some known issues with the valve cover gasket causing excess oil consumption. Some 2015-2016 Ford 6.2 V8 engines experience leaks from the baffle on the right side valve cover. Ford issued a TSB to address this problem.
We’re really looking outside of that small sample size. Oil leaks can and do occur especially on older, higher mileage Ford 6.2L Boss engines. The valve cover gasket is one of the more common causes of oil leaks. However, oil pan gaskets and main seals can also cause trouble.
We don’t really think it’s fair to call this a truly common problem on the Ford 6.2. It’s simply the nature of gaskets to degrade and leak over an engines life. Outside of the small flaw with 2015-2016 models there really aren’t any design flaws that should cause premature oil leaks. That said, some 6.2 V8 engines will experience oil leaks north of 100,000 miles (age is also an important factor).
Boss 6.2 Oil Leak Symptoms
A few symptoms of oil leaks on the Ford 6.2 engine include:
- Visible oil leak
- Oil loss
- Burning oil smells or smoke
There’s not much to discuss here. Oil leaks don’t usually cause any noticeable symptoms apart from a visible leak. If it’s bad enough you may notice your 6.2 V8 is losing oil at a faster than normal rate. That can also cause burning oil smells or smoke from the engine bay.
Ford 6.2L Oil Leak Fix
Of course, exact fixes for 6.2 Boss oil leaks depend greatly on what’s leaking. Valve cover gasket and oil pan gasket leaks are two of the more common areas on the Ford 6.2 F150, F250, and F350. Fortunately, the gaskets are inexpensive. However, labor costs can add up depending on what is leaking. Expect to spend about $200-500 on labor costs for gaskets. Moderately experienced DIY’ers shouldn’t have any problems knocking out the repairs.
3) 6.2L V8 Rough Idle
Rough idle is a very generic topic to cover. It’s also usually not a problem on its own. Rather, rough idle is a symptom of another underlying issue. Our main focus here in on the Ford 6.2 spark plugs. The engine uses a whopping 16 spark plugs in total. Yes, that’s correct – two spark plugs per cylinder. It leaves a lot of room for potential misfires.
Spark plugs are standard maintenance, so we don’t consider this a true problem. To diverge for a moment, we said similar things about the oil leaks above since most issues occur at high mileage. Point being – the Ford 6.2 engine offers good reliability and we don’t have many true problems to discuss.
Anyways, back on topic here. The 6.2L V8 spark plugs are an area that can cause rough idle and other drivability issues. There are lots of other problems that can cause rough idle like the valve springs we discussed above. However, with 16 spark plugs there’s a good chance one of them is to blame. Most Ford trucks powered by the 6.2 V8 are subjected to tough lives of performance, towing, etc. That takes a toll on spark plugs, so don’t overlook this basic maintenance.
Ford 6.2 Spark Plug Symptoms
Look for the following symptoms that usually indicate a potential spark plug problem on the 6.2L Boss:
- Rough idle
- Stuttering / hesitation
- Misfires
- Power loss
Rough idle and misfires are two common symptoms of spark plug problems on the 6.2 V8 engine. You might also notice a service engine light alongside misfire codes. Power loss isn’t a major symptom, especially when only one cylinder is having spark plug faults. If multiple cylinders are misfiring you may have another issue at hand since multiple spark plugs rarely fail at the same time.
6.2L Boss Spark Plug Replacement
Spark plugs are some of the easiest maintenance/repairs possible. Even novice DIY’ers can knock out this job in the driveway in a couple hours at most. We recommend replacing all spark plugs when one goes bad. This isn’t always the case if you experience an early spark plug failure. However, if they haven’t been replaced in a long time then the other spark plugs are likely on their way out too.
Spark plugs usually come in around $7-15 each. It adds a little extra cost considering the Ford 6.2 engine uses 16 spark plugs. Nonetheless, this is a job most can knock out for $100-150. Add in another $50-150 if you plan to go to a repair shop.
4) Ford 6.2 Boss Oil Consumption
Alright. We’ll be pretty quick on this topic since high oil consumption doesn’t appear to cause any other problems. As the Ford 6.2L V8 ages they’ve been known to start consuming oil at a fairly fast rate. Some may need to top up on a quart or two in between oil changes. It’s natural for engines to consume a bit more oil as they age.
The 6.2 Boss PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system is one area that can cause excess oil consumption. Oil leaks, especially the valve cover gasket, can also cause faster oil loss (not truly consumption). Again, there aren’t any major issues that normally arise from oil consumption.
If it’s extremely severe it’s worth looking further into. With high age and mileage it’s possible some cylinders are losing compression and burning more oil. This can sometimes be a sign the engine is nearing the end of its life. Again, not a common problem unless you’re north of 200,000 or 250,000 miles and the engine is beginning to get tired.
Reducing 6.2 V8 Oil Consumption
Here are a few things you can do to help mitigate high oil consumption on the Ford 6.2 Boss engine:
- Shorter OCI
- Avoid excess idling
- Service PCV system
Sometimes a shorter oil change interval (OCI) can help reduce oil consumption. As oil ages it becomes thinner, which can increase the likelihood of oil blow-by and consumption. Excess idling ties into that as it can shorter the life of oil; mileage isn’t everything when it comes to useful oil life for the 6.2L engine. Servicing the PCV system or addressing any oil leaks may also help.
6.2 Boss V8 Reliability
Is the Ford 6.2 V8 reliable? In our opinion, the Ford 6.2L V8 is a reliable engine. It’s built to power higher-end F150 models like the SVT Raptor and Super Duty trucks, such as the F-250 and F-350. Most Ford 6.2 engines live a rough life, but “built Ford tough” applies to this engine. We found ourselves writing about things that we don’t technically consider common problems. Spark plugs are standard maintenance. Oil leaks are natural as engines age.
As such, we believe the Ford 6.2L V8 is an excellent engine all-around. It doesn’t offer quite the same performance as the 6.7 Power Stroke diesel. However, the 6.2 V8 comes without the $10,000+ increase in price and is still a solid, reliable engine.
Some 6.2 Boss reliability simply comes down to the luck of the draw. Not all engines are built equal and we can’t control that. However, we can control the maintenance aspect. Change the 6.2 V8’s oil on time, use high quality oils, and address problems when the pop up. Stay on top of maintenance and the Ford 6.2 V8 will likely reward you with a very long, reliable life. There are plenty of examples of the 6.2L Boss engine holding up to 250,000-300,000+ miles with few or no major issues.
Ford 6.2 Common Problems Summary
In 2011, Ford began offering the 6.2L V8 in a few high-end performance models of the Ford F-150. It now lives on as the base engine in the Ford Super Duty F-250 and F-350 trucks. 385hp and 430 lb-ft make this engine plenty capable for most owners. Those looking to tow insanely heavy loads often may prefer the more capable 6.7L Power Stroke. However, it’s overkill for most and comes with a hefty price tag – making the Ford 6.2 an excellent option.
We don’t believe half of what we discussed in this article is even fair to call a problem. They’re also not truly common problems that affect a ton of engines. Regardless, no engine is perfect and the 6.2 Boss is prone to occasional failures and issues. Valve springs, oil leaks, and spark plugs are some of the most common issues when something does arise. Some engines also experience high oil consumption as they age.
However, maintain the 6.2L V8 well and it will likely reward you with a long, reliable life. These engines were built to handle a tough, hard working life and they do a pretty darned good job at it.
What’s your experience with the Ford 6.2 V8? Drop a comment and let us know!
Looking for more power? Check out our 6.7 Power Stroke common problems article