Factory Oil Drain Plug

[Blue Streak]

There is no copper washer...

Ye Ole 2019 Ranger drain plug

Now that's what I'm talking about. Finally get to se one without taking mine out. Thanks John

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[Zanardi]

I too saw somewhere - maybe on this forum where the plug should be replaced each time. Put me in the keep reusing it for the life of the truck club. If you screw it in and it doesn't leak I'm not sure what more you can ask for. It's not going to just fail one day and fall off the truck. If down the line you get a bit of seepage you can likely just make a note to replace it with your next oil change. My Escape I sold to get the Ranger had the same plug/washer for 7 years and over 185 K miles. Never a single drip.

 

[Rick - Saber]

My advice to those who do not have one yet is to get a torque wrench. You don't need the most expensive or fanciest one available. Use on your drain plugs, spark plugs, lug nuts, etc and torque them to spec properly. It is a great peace of mind tool investment to have.

 

[StarLord]

i use a new plug every time. I won't take the risk of the gasket failing. the filter and plug are $21 at my dealership and thats fine with me.

My local dealer told me a recent story of a guy who "double stacked" the little plug washer on accident. didn't notice it was left on the pan and installed the new plug. It leaked and he blew the engine due to lack of oil. So don't do that!

Edit: after reading some of the comments here maybe I will refrain from changing it everytime.... LOL

 

[LightingBlue]

There is no copper washer...

There was a copper washer on ours when we did our oil change.....

 

[Rick - Saber]

There was a copper washer on ours when we did our oil change.....

Interesting. Maybe they changed the plug during the production cycle. Mine was built in June '19 and I have the flexible washer. When was yours built that you got the copper washer?

 

[OKRaptor]

Surely, where ever it states this, someone misread it. I bet it meant to say replace the washer every oil change. In the manual for just about every motorcycle I have ever owned it states to use a new washer every oil change. Funny thing is that most washers on motorcycles are made of steel and not crush washers.

 

[JJG]

My 2000 Ranger with the 4.0 V6, had a similar drain plug, rubber O ring and all. I did every oil change except for the first one, which the dealer paid for. Used the same drain plug from the first day till the last day of my ownership, which totaled 19 years and 141k miles. Never a drop lost or burned, from the drain plug or engine.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Just a tip: every few oil changes it's a good idea to anneal the copper washer if you're re-using it.

If you're annealing the washer, and you aren't having a 200 lb gorilla torque down the drain bolt, there is no reason that the factory unit won't last you 100K before even considering replacing the factory washer. The drain plug is a lifetime item, assuming you don't spend your life screwing up hardware.

Hi...Maybe in Austrailia or the like with the Diesel, but the USA 2.3 does not have a replaceable washer. It is a USB flange bolt with a seated rubber ring. Probably good for the life of the Vehicle, but as I said before, inspect the inset o-ring.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[HenryMac]

My 2000 Ranger with the 4.0 V6, had a similar drain plug, rubber O ring and all. I did every oil change except for the first one, which the dealer paid for. Used the same drain plug from the first day till the last day of my ownership, which totaled 19 years and 141k miles. Never a drop lost or burned, from the drain plug or engine.

Come on now... let's keep it real. Never a drop burned? If it's got rings... it's burning oil.

 

[JJG]

Come on now... let's keep it real. Never a drop burned? If it's got rings... it's burning oil.

I changed the oil 3k miles, religiously. And it was always at the same point on the stick, time after time. So maybe it burned an ounce here and there, but it never showed any significant loss on the stick. After all, this was a Ford, not a Chevy or a Dodge ?

 

[thewhiteranger]

My advice to those who do not have one yet is to get a torque wrench. You don't need the most expensive or fanciest one available. Use on your drain plugs, spark plugs, lug nuts, etc and torque them to spec properly. It is a great peace of mind tool investment to have.

does it list anywhere what the torque setting would be? I know it needs to be tight enough but not to tight but what does that mean? it would be better if they listed a torque setting with all the aluminum being used.

 

[HenryMac]

There was a copper washer on ours when we did our oil change.....

The 1st oil change? If not did you factor in "The Grease Monkey Did It?

 

[HenryMac]

does it list anywhere what the torque setting would be? I know it needs to be tight enough but not to tight but what does that mean? it would be better if they listed a torque setting with all the aluminum being used.

20 lb-ft per Ford 303-01 Engine - (2.3L EcoBoost 201kW/173PS) General Procedures: Engine Oil Draining and Filling

 

[pa-fatboy]

I heard you have to change the drain plug every 500 miles, even if you don't change the oil.

Hahahahahaha!??

I read the same paper. They are selling a rotisserie that your fully built 19-20 ranger can be bolted up to in your garage to turn the truck upside down in order to change the oil drain plug with out changing the engine oil. For $50 more, you can get an add-on to change the oil filter as well. (It is recommended to top off the oil afterwards to replace any oil left in your used filter.)

just need to remember to check your truck for occupants before turning it over. Also, don’t put on new license plates while the truck is upside down.

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