My First Ranger Oil Change

[Ranger1701]

I did my first oil change in my new Ranger (at 3600 mi) and it went very smoothly. The only real issue was, as others have pointed out, the factory installed oil filter. I had to use one of those universal oil change things (with the three prongs) and it was on super tight. Other than that it was a fairly standard oil change.

A couple of things:

1. I only used 6 qts of oil and it seemed pretty full, like to the top of the dipstick. Is this normal? I know the manual says 6.2.
2. I just drove up on ramps. How often should I rotate the tires?

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[P. A. Schilke]

I did my first oil change in my new Ranger (at 3600 mi) and it went very smoothly. The only real issue was, as others have pointed out, the factory installed oil filter. I had to use one of those universal oil change things (with the three prongs) and it was on super tight. Other than that it was a fairly standard oil change.

A couple of things:

1. I only used 6 qts of oil and it seemed pretty full, like to the top of the dipstick. Is this normal? I know the manual says 6.2.
2. I just drove up on ramps. How often should I rotate the tires?

Hi Ranger1701

Might be the oil was checked while on ramps? The angle of the ranger might have given you a false indicator of full.

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

 

[I Truck Naked]

I've always recommended rotating tires every other service, but now with how service intervals have changed as oil technology improved, I tend to stick with every 7500 miles for rotating, and every other rotate gets a balance.

At least that's how I do it in my shop (Jaguar / Land Rover dealer)

 

[geophb]

Did you let it drain long enough? These new motors take a while for everything to drain back to the pan.

 

[Ranger1701]

I checked the oil on level ground and let it drain until it stopped dripping. I'll check again the oil level next time I take it out.

Thanks for the recommended rotation interval, Josh.

 

[quangdog]

I only used 6 qts of oil and it seemed pretty full, like to the top of the dipstick. Is this normal? I know the manual says 6.2.

When I did my first oil change, I drained the engine first then (leaving the oil pan drain plug out) slid my drain pan over under the little spout in the frame where the oil from the filter exits. Then I removed the filter and when I did, a bunch more oil came out of the engine oil pan and all over my floor. I don't know if it was .2 quarts, but it was a bunch.

Did you remove your oil filter with your drain plug removed?

I just did my second oil change last week, and this is my procedure (I have a fumoto drain valve, so no drain plug to deal with):

1) Open engine drain valve and let it drain completely into a catch container.
2) Close engine drain valve.
3) Move catch container under oil filter drain spout.
4) Replace oil filter
5) Move catch container back under engine, and open drain valve again. More oil comes out, drain completely.
6) Close drain valve, fill engine with new oil.

At my last change, it took around 6.2-3 quarts. I didn't measure all that precisely. Oil level is exactly at the top of the full mark on the dipstick on level ground.

Good luck!

 

[Frenchy]

I do my oil changes every 5,000 miles and i do my rotates at the same miles. I'm not far from doing #6 and i havent had the truck for a year quite yet. With having a 2 post lift avalible I pull the tires off then change the oil and filter. After that the tires get rotated and i call it good from there.

 

[wanted33]

I used to do all of my on oil changes also. But, as I have matured, re:gotten older, I find that I would much rather stop by the dealer, give it to the service writer, grab a cup of Joe, and walk around the lot looking at the new cars. And, 30-45 minutes later it's done, and I'm still clean.

BTW, for those that don't know Ford has what they call "The Works" oil change. It's oil, filter, tire rotation, and fluid check for $39.95. Of course by the time they are through with the tax, and shop fees it's around $50. But, that's cheap enough for all that in my mind. Just go to the dealers web site, click on service specials, print off the coupon, and hand it to the service writer. If you're interested.

Update: With inflation now (12/2021) this package in now $44.95. Still worth it to me.

 

[Michel Jeanneau]

What makes me nervous about oil changes at the stealerships is the "who" gets to do the oil changes; normally a job given to the newbies (in my younger days they were called the LMNOP's), whom are still figuring the right end of a screwdriver...I've had instances where a trip to the dealer for balancing/rotating tires ended up as a oil change (overfilled and lost 1/2 the skid plate bolts and undertorqued the rest) and no tire rotation, the result being a ruined set of General Grabber AT2's...so, I'll stick to my own oil changes and tire rotations until I can't turn a wrench anymore

 

[HenryMac]

I did my first oil change in my new Ranger (at 3600 mi) and it went very smoothly. The only real issue was, as others have pointed out, the factory installed oil filter. I had to use one of those universal oil change things (with the three prongs) and it was on super tight. Other than that it was a fairly standard oil change.

A couple of things:

1. I only used 6 qts of oil and it seemed pretty full, like to the top of the dipstick. Is this normal? I know the manual says 6.2.
2. I just drove up on ramps. How often should I rotate the tires?

I rotate the tires and change the oil every 4,000 miles.

In my experience with 4x4 trucks, going 7,500 miles between tire rotations is too long.

When we 1st bought our 2002 Tacoma TRD I was rotating the tires every 8,000 miles and found that the tread wear was such that cupping occurred and the tires got noisy. I changed to rotating them every 4,000 miles and had over 57,000 miles on the set of Dynapro ATM's on it when we traded the truck in on our Ranger.

 

[Martin14]

I think you did the right oil change, I change oil every 5000 miles, tires every 8000.For cold weather I use Royal Purple 51530 here https://davesoilchange.com/best-motor-oil-for-winter/ you can find Types of Motor Oil for Cold Weather. I live in Alaska and this oil is very helpful, it also prevents leaks and protects the engine from damage, which is important over long distances.

 

[Josebd]

I put in 6 qts the last oil change and it had it just a hair below the hash mark towards the topI marked it in red,the top hole is the maximum level,so it’s in the safe zone

 

[Wytchdctr]

I put in 6 qts the last oil change and it had it just a hair below the hash mark towards the topI marked it in red,the top hole is the maximum level,so it’s in the safe zone

I like to run my cars at max line on an oil change. Maybe it is because the car I traded in for the ranger tended to drink oil so starting at full gave me more time before I had to throw more in.

 

[Josebd]

Mine is not using oil,it’s burning the excess fuel in the oil,by running high rpms

 

[Metal Geezer]

My truck tells me when it needs an oil change. Who am I to argue with the peeps who engineered it?
I too experienced additional oil draining from the pan after filter removal, but 5.9 litres filled it without over filling.
Tires get rotated during the seasonal change over.

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