2023 Model - first oil change

[Friday yet?]

I looked for a current oil change thread but did not find one. If I missed it and should have posted there versus a new thread, my apologies.

First oil change today. Truck has 6500 miles on it. Was shooting for 7500 miles but have a 1000 mile road trip coming up so did it ahead of time.

Went with Castrol Edge full syn 5W-30 with a Wix XP filter.

Overall not too much of a pain in the ass. Filter was not over tightened. Though I was using a filter wrench so it may well have been a tough job if I had been just bare handing it. But it certainly came off easily.

No spills dropping the oil. No spills from the filter tray/funnel thing combo. But... drum roll.... Definitely a spill from trying to bring the loosened filter out between the various objects in the way. While being careful I dumped about half of the filter contents. Words were flying. And it was not the "golly gee gosh darn" variety. This is when the job became a total pain in the ass. Trying to clean that spill out of all the nooks and crannies. Thought I had it all, turned around and saw a fresh drop on the driveway. Back under the truck for clean up round 2.

Think I am done now. But the truck is now sitting in the garage with a piece of cardboard under it just in case.

Hopefully lesson learned for next time I change it.

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[RedDakooter05]

My first filter swap, my ring snagged something and I dropped it, oil went everywhere. Up until that point not a single drop of oil anywhere. Was a little peeved.


Kudos for ford for not deleting that little drain tray for the filter for the 23MY.

 

[Dahveed]

I usually tip the filter over into that tray/guide intentionally so I don’t spill it trying to get it out.

 

[9zero1790]

good choice on the filter.
i always spill the filter. my eye ball of filter drip spot and pan drain spot is off. i need a wider oil catch pan. im just making my driveway water proof...

 

[Friday yet?]

I usually tip the filter over into that tray/guide intentionally so I don’t spill it trying to get it out.

Good idea!

 

[JohnnyO]

It gets better with practice.
1. I replaced the plastic screw plugs on the splash guard with powerful magnets from Amazon. Came in a 6 pack, I used 3, in a year I've only lost 1. Much easier and faster. Claw-type filter wrench with two 6" extensions. Or use K&N filters with the nut on the end.
2. There is a little funnel and drain path under the filter. With practice you get the hang of the right place to put the drain pan. About halfway behind the left front tire. If you look up above the tire you'll see the drain pathway.
3. Some people replace the drain plug with a Fumoto valve but I've gotten pretty fast at whipping off the skidplate so I haven't bothered with a Fumoto yet. 15mm socket works on the drain plug and the skidplate bolts both and you only need to loosen the front two bolts and remove only the rear two, which isn't a big deal.

My system on a new vehicle has always been to change the oil and filter at 2500 miles, again at 5000, and every 5000 miles after with synthetic. If you plan on keeping your truck long-term I wouldn't go longer than 5000 miles on the oil and use synthetic. The oil lines that feed the turbocharger have little screens at the end and if you push the oil change intervals they can clog up by 100,000 and kill the bearings on the turbo. I plan on replacing those lines when it hits 100k.

 

[Friday yet?]

Forgot to add 2 items:

1) Oil life meter was at 50%. I do run mostly highway. Still surprised it was that high after 6500 miles.
2) The 23's don't have clips on that rubber flap hiding the filter. It has 3 screws. Nice screws actually. Will definitely be good for the rest of the life of the truck.

 

[Frenchy]

As I like to say the Engineers did such a good job with the Ranger that they had to fuck up somewhere or they would loose their jobs!! The two spots the fucked up were the Oil Filter and the lack of under seat storage under the rear seats.

 

[JohnnyO]

As I like to say the Engineers did such a good job with the Ranger that they had to fuck up somewhere or they would loose their jobs!! The two spots the fucked up were the Oil Filter and the lack of under seat storage under the rear seats.

I could be wrong, but my take is that the Gen 5 wasn't designed with the U.S. market in mind, rather they're powered by diesels everywhere else so the filter is probably in a different spot. The 2.3 was what they had for the U.S. since small diesels have a hard time passing U.S. emissions and we were an afterthought so the filter is where it is. Filter was in a similar spot in the '99 3.0 Ranger I had many years ago but it was a whole lot easier to reach.

 

[Frenchy]

I could be wrong, but my take is that the Gen 5 wasn't designed with the U.S. market in mind, rather they're powered by diesels everywhere else so the filter is probably in a different spot. The 2.3 was what they had for the U.S. since small diesels have a hard time passing U.S. emissions and we were an afterthought so the filter is where it is. Filter was in a similar spot in the '99 3.0 Ranger I had many years ago but it was a whole lot easier to reach.

I shall correct you there. The 5TH Gen was designed for the US with some differences from Overseas. The Ranger was being tested for 8 years out here before being released. Also if a Small Diesel.has a hard time passing Emissions then why are they being used in places that have the same(if not stricter) Emissions? Australia, Europe and the UK(and other places I would assume) have just as strick if not stricter Emissions for both Gas and Diesel. We would of done just fine with the exception many but a Diesel as a status symbol instead of a work horse.

 

[JohnnyO]

I shall correct you there. The 5TH Gen was designed for the US with some differences from Overseas. The Ranger was being tested for 8 years out here before being released. Also if a Small Diesel.has a hard time passing Emissions then why are they being used in places that have the same(if not stricter) Emissions? Australia, Europe and the UK(and other places I would assume) have just as strick if not stricter Emissions for both Gas and Diesel. We would of done just fine with the exception many but a Diesel as a status symbol instead of a work horse.

My understanding is that U.S. NOx standards are tighter. It's why VW had to cheat on their emissions testing in the U.S. but not elsewhere. In Europe the emphasis is on fuel economy, in the U.S. the emphasis is on emissions. Priorities.

Regardless, if the Gen 5 was designed with the U.S. in mind then who was the idiot who made it such a pain in the ass to get to the oil filter?

 

[9zero1790]

my 4g ranger has the 3.0 vulcan and the filter is not at all easy to get at. typically takes both hands and multiple rounds of shenanigans. i keep telling myself every oil change that im going to buy the filter relocation kit.

 

[TuggerNutz]

There's an old trick using a empty 2 liter or 1 litter coke bottle. Cut the end off and big enough slot for your hand and leave the cap on the bottle. Loosen the filter enough but not all the way. Take the coke bottle and put over the filter with the opening up. Now undo the filter through the opening and let the bottle catch the oil.

Course I haven't seen done on the Ranger. It was another Ecoboost vehicle. Space is pretty limited on our trucks. Worth a try though.

 

[Msfitoy]

Best practice is to change before 5K...

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/thre...-your-1st-oil-change.2282/page-31#post-589513

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ranger5g+oil+change&atb=v315-1&ia=web

 

[9zero1790]

There's an old trick using a empty 2 liter or 1 litter coke bottle. Cut the end off and big enough slot for your hand and leave the cap on the bottle. Loosen the filter enough but not all the way. Take the coke bottle and put over the filter with the opening up. Now undo the filter through the opening and let the bottle catch the oil.

Course I haven't seen done on the Ranger. It was another Ecoboost vehicle. Space is pretty limited on our trucks. Worth a try though.

that is a good idea

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