#fakenews: DIYers Take Note – the 2019 Ford Ranger’s Oil Change Procedure Contains a Big Extra Step

[Pinecrestjim]

A helpful tip for the DIY crowd. These horizontally mounted filters will lose a lot of oil during removal. I've found that a cheap disposable baby diaper strategically placed beneath the filter works extremely well for containing spills.

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[rangerdanger]

This might be Ford trying to salvage what on the surface could well discourage fleet sales. Remove 3 fasteners and "peel back" the cover. That doesn't sound very easy either, trying to remove a horizontally mounted oil filter full of oil off it's mount and back thru an opening that is trying to close on you. All while working between the wheel and wheelwell. I've experience with all of this, sans the peel back of a cover, with oil changes on my Miata. Hard wheel lock to the left, reach up behind the right wheel and up to the oil filter. I'd bet that Ford re-engineers something here mid-year to make it much easier to perform.

From chris532 on the Blue Oval Forums

Took a look at a Ranger today. You can do it without removing the tire. Turn the wheel all the way to the right, remove two push pins on the rubber shield, fold it up and you have full access to the filter. Push pins are the type with a philips head were you can screw the center out to remove. Has a nice drain tray to route the filter oil just behind the sway bar. Looks like it will be cleaner and easier to do than my Ecoboost F-150

 

[RedlandRanger]

This might be Ford trying to salvage what on the surface could well discourage fleet sales. Remove 3 fasteners and "peel back" the cover. That doesn't sound very easy either, trying to remove a horizontally mounted oil filter full of oil off it's mount and back thru an opening that is trying to close on you. All while working between the wheel and wheelwell. I've experience with all of this, sans the peel back of a cover, with oil changes on my Miata. Hard wheel lock to the left, reach up behind the right wheel and up to the oil filter. I'd bet that Ford re-engineers something here mid-year to make it much easier to perform.

Other than the peeling the cover back, this is similar to how it is on my Accord as well. I actually like it - I find it is easy to get to - it does make a bit of a mess, but it isn't too bad. It will be interesting to see what the reality is after all these conflicting reports.

 

[Toytec]

I bought one of those flexible funnels years ago that can be shaped from flat to round. Makes a great catch on the skid plates while just letting it hang by a couple loose bolts. Would work well for the Ranger oil filter.

 

[pannwfn]

Remains to be seen. We will as a group figure it out. Hell life to short to sweat the small shit.

What I said (will do my happy dance now) you shouldn't believe a god dam thing on the internet and only believe in what you see with your own two eyes!!!

 

[WXman]

Having no access panels to remove to get to the oil pan drain bolt, needing no jack to do the job, and having a top-load oil filter that can be swapped out in 30 seconds has really spoiled me. I don't understand why Ford hasn't copied the ease of maintenance that other brands have. I want to love this new Ranger so much, but there are so many little annoyances that are adding up to become one big deal. Sigh...

 

[RedlandRanger]

Having no access panels to remove to get to the oil pan drain bolt, needing no jack to do the job, and having a top-load oil filter that can be swapped out in 30 seconds has really spoiled me. I don't understand why Ford hasn't copied the ease of maintenance that other brands have. I want to love this new Ranger so much, but there are so many little annoyances that are adding up to become one big deal. Sigh...

It seems like you can't get away from having to remove some underbody panel on any new car anymore. (Aerodynamics, I guess) So all this adds is the 3 fasteners in the wheel well.

 

[Geoff]

My 2016 fusion has 10 bolts to remove to access the oil filter and pan drain. It's a fact of the times anymore.

 

[WXman]

It seems like you can't get away from having to remove some underbody panel on any new car anymore. (Aerodynamics, I guess) So all this adds is the 3 fasteners in the wheel well.

I think there are actually fasteners to remove to access the drain bolt too aren't there? And then having to reach around the tire.. ugh.. Reminds me of my wife's 2011 Nissan Maxima. It could be so much easier.

Of course, a lot of guys won't care because they'll have their oil changes done for them. But shade tree mechanics are the ones that get annoyed by this stuff.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I think there are actually fasteners to remove to access the drain bolt too aren't there? And then having to reach around the tire.. ugh.. Reminds me of my wife's 2011 Nissan Maxima. It could be so much easier.

Of course, a lot of guys won't care because they'll have their oil changes done for them. But shade tree mechanics are the ones that get annoyed by this stuff.

From what I read there are 4 bolts you have to remove to get to the drain plug. But that was my point - any modern car it seems like you have to remove a lower panel to drain the oil - they all seem to have some sort of panels for aerodynamics.

I think getting to the oil filter will be easier than you think. My 2005 Honda Accord has a similar setup and I actually like it. It is really easy access - although I don't have to remove anything to remove the filter. You just turn the wheel and you can see it. It is really easy to work on. I actually prefer this location to under the vehicle. The best I ever had was a couple of Saturns from the early 2000's. Those were cartridge filters on the top of the engine - easiest filter changes ever. Unscrew a cap and it was there.

After seeing all the shady work done at oil change places, I just don't trust them. I buy good quality oil (usually Castrol Synthetic) and good filters (usually WIX). Unless I take it to a dealer, who will use Ford parts, I won't trust any other place to change my oil. I don't know how you can get an oil and filter change with quality parts for $20. Even $30 when you factor in labor seems to cheap to me. They have to be skimping somewhere. I know they get the oil cheaper than I can, but it still seems too cheap to me.

 

[Tinsoldieroh]

While it probably isn't true, look at it this way, The 2.3L is a lousy engine, it will self destruct. So take it to the dealer for it's oil change and you have instant documentation for engine maintenance during it's 5/50000 drive train warranty. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Toytec]

I thought this would be a good place to post this. Me and another tech were discussing the 2.7 oil pan on a F150 he was working on. Ford makes these out of a polymer plastic and are having leak issues. Our thoughts were because they don't use a gasket, just a sealant.
Also, they're 2 different materials which expand and contract in different ways. As far as the new Ranger's 2.3 I can't say what's on that.
Just don't be too surprised if you look under there and see plastic. Hope they got it right.
And someone mentioned a drain bolt? Well the yellow part in the picture is it.

 

[Strokerduster]

Same style drain plug that 6.7 PS diesel uses, My 2.7 has 67k now and no issues yet.

 

[pannwfn]

Cool no wrench needed.

 

[Floyd]

This might be Ford trying to salvage what on the surface could well discourage fleet sales. Remove 3 fasteners and "peel back" the cover. That doesn't sound very easy either, trying to remove a horizontally mounted oil filter full of oil off it's mount and back thru an opening that is trying to close on you. All while working between the wheel and wheelwell. I've experience with all of this, sans the peel back of a cover, with oil changes on my Miata. Hard wheel lock to the left, reach up behind the right wheel and up to the oil filter. I'd bet that Ford re-engineers something here mid-year to make it much easier to perform.

As a retired fleet mechanic I can tell you this issue is a big nothing burger. I will stuff a rag under the filter before removal though, don't want to make a mess!

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