1998 Ford L8501 Service and Repair Manual
This factory service and repair manual for the 1998 Ford L8501 is written for the short-conventional tractor truck and straight truck in Base trim with three turbocharged inline-six diesel options: 8.3L (504 cu in), 5.9L (359 cu in) and 7.2L (441 cu in). Each engine gets its own procedures, specifications and torque values in the manual, since displacement and figures differ between the three, while the wiring diagrams and diagnostics apply to the two short-conventional chassis. Identifying the installed six is the starting point; the manual then supplies the matching engine data and the chassis references.
Engines covered
- 8.3L inline-six (504 cu in) — turbocharged, diesel
- 5.9L inline-six (359 cu in) — turbocharged, diesel
- 7.2L inline-six (441 cu in) — turbocharged, diesel
Body styles covered
- Tractor truck, short conventional
- Straight truck, short conventional
Trims covered
- Base
Known issues on the 1998 L8501. One recall is on the federal record for the 1998 L8501, concerning aftermarket one-piece aluminum dual wheels, supplied for trailers, that developed fatigue cracks and could fail in service. Owners have filed one complaint with NHTSA, on the service brakes. Wheel and brake work on this truck falls under the manual's procedures, specifications and torque values for the chassis, and its diagnostics cover the brake system on both the tractor and straight-truck versions.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET ALUMINUM DUAL WHEELS, 22.5X8.25, ONE-PIECE, TUBELESS, SUPPLIED BY ACCURIDE/AKW. CERTAIN DESIGN REVISIONS COMBINED WITH PRO
BRAKES FEEL "SPONGY" OR "SOFT" WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION.
