Oil Change - DIY

[jsphlynch]

Well, I must say that I have done MANY oil changes on tons of cars over my 40 years of driving....this had to be one of the messiest changes I have done. My Audi A4 has a filter in the similar setup and once the filter is loosened, it drains right onto the frame rail and back toward the Trans cross member...makes an awful mess but it's possible to put a rag on the frame and stop the mess....on the Ranger, the oil does the same, but it is funneled on a little black "funnel" attached to the engine DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME RAIL.....then travels back wards and into the frame and exits in multiple locations as far as two feet from the filter location, totally missing the pan and going all over the floor, splashing like hot bacon grease all over the floor. I was warned about having the truck on level ground and I had it perfectly level in a garage. Haven't given it a good look to see how to avoid all of this as it was cold in the garage.

Aside from that, not sure what everyone's stress is with the fasteners for the rubber shield. If the whole fastener turns when unscrewing the Philips head, just use a flathead and push the whole thing to one side or the other and it will force the threads to catch and allow a simple extraction. Shouldn't take more than 30 seconds on those.

Other than the mess, this is a simple oil change comparatively....but might consider letting someone else do it next time to avoid the mess.

Surprising to hear it made such a mess. On mine, the little channel under the filter directs the oil back to a single spot where I can place the pan to catch every drop. I wonder if some sort of debris is blocking the channel and sending the oil places it's not supposed to go?

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[SVTPaul]

Well, I must say that I have done MANY oil changes on tons of cars over my 40 years of driving....this had to be one of the messiest changes I have done. My Audi A4 has a filter in the similar setup and once the filter is loosened, it drains right onto the frame rail and back toward the Trans cross member...makes an awful mess but it's possible to put a rag on the frame and stop the mess....on the Ranger, the oil does the same, but it is funneled on a little black "funnel" attached to the engine DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME RAIL.....then travels back wards and into the frame and exits in multiple locations as far as two feet from the filter location, totally missing the pan and going all over the floor, splashing like hot bacon grease all over the floor. I was warned about having the truck on level ground and I had it perfectly level in a garage. Haven't given it a good look to see how to avoid all of this as it was cold in the garage.

Aside from that, not sure what everyone's stress is with the fasteners for the rubber shield. If the whole fastener turns when unscrewing the Philips head, just use a flathead and push the whole thing to one side or the other and it will force the threads to catch and allow a simple extraction. Shouldn't take more than 30 seconds on those.

Other than the mess, this is a simple oil change comparatively....but might consider letting someone else do it next time to avoid the mess.

Oh it's a messy operation. I just did my first change a week ago and when I first pulled the plug I thought "this isn't so bad"...then after 10-15 seconds or so the pressure from the weight of oil in the pan lessens and the stream catches braces/frame and literally goes everywhere. On the plus side your truck basically gets corrosion protection applied in quite a few places..lol. I was using my brother's garage and was running late for something at the time, and left him with about a quart of black oil all over his previously clean floor. Not sure I'll get the OK to use it the next time around ? The filter drain assembly did its trick for me though. Not a drop spilled during that part.

 

[Msfitoy]

Well, I must say that I have done MANY oil changes on tons of cars over my 40 years of driving....this had to be one of the messiest changes I have done. My Audi A4 has a filter in the similar setup and once the filter is loosened, it drains right onto the frame rail and back toward the Trans cross member...makes an awful mess but it's possible to put a rag on the frame and stop the mess....on the Ranger, the oil does the same, but it is funneled on a little black "funnel" attached to the engine DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME RAIL.....then travels back wards and into the frame and exits in multiple locations as far as two feet from the filter location, totally missing the pan and going all over the floor, splashing like hot bacon grease all over the floor. I was warned about having the truck on level ground and I had it perfectly level in a garage. Haven't given it a good look to see how to avoid all of this as it was cold in the garage.

Aside from that, not sure what everyone's stress is with the fasteners for the rubber shield. If the whole fastener turns when unscrewing the Philips head, just use a flathead and push the whole thing to one side or the other and it will force the threads to catch and allow a simple extraction. Shouldn't take more than 30 seconds on those.

Other than the mess, this is a simple oil change comparatively....but might consider letting someone else do it next time to avoid the mess.

The oil filter drain is a PIA...every time I swear I will remember which way the drain to be aimed and every time, my second bucket missed and oil everywhere...AGAIN!???

 

[Big Blue]

Well, I must say that I have done MANY oil changes on tons of cars over my 40 years of driving....this had to be one of the messiest changes I have done. My Audi A4 has a filter in the similar setup and once the filter is loosened, it drains right onto the frame rail and back toward the Trans cross member...makes an awful mess but it's possible to put a rag on the frame and stop the mess....on the Ranger, the oil does the same, but it is funneled on a little black "funnel" attached to the engine DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME RAIL.....then travels back wards and into the frame and exits in multiple locations as far as two feet from the filter location, totally missing the pan and going all over the floor, splashing like hot bacon grease all over the floor. I was warned about having the truck on level ground and I had it perfectly level in a garage. Haven't given it a good look to see how to avoid all of this as it was cold in the garage.

Aside from that, not sure what everyone's stress is with the fasteners for the rubber shield. If the whole fastener turns when unscrewing the Philips head, just use a flathead and push the whole thing to one side or the other and it will force the threads to catch and allow a simple extraction. Shouldn't take more than 30 seconds on those.

Other than the mess, this is a simple oil change comparatively....but might consider letting someone else do it next time to avoid the mess.

Not sure if your truck is missing something or what. The oil from the filter on my 2019 goes from the funnel under the filter to another trough and to a location behind and to the rear of the wheel. It drain out at a single point into a properly placed pan. Just need to use a rag to wipe out the funnel and trough to prevent left over drips. I found pulling the drain plug the first time more of a mess. I replaced the drain plug with a Valvomax valve and now have a hose to drain the oil into my pan. I change my oil without so much as a drip on the driveway. Sounds like you maybe missing the second trough to direct the filter oil.

 

[MIBuckeye]

Not sure if your truck is missing something or what. The oil from the filter on my 2019 goes from the funnel under the filter to another trough and to a location behind and to the rear of the wheel. It drain out at a single point into a properly placed pan. Just need to use a rag to wipe out the funnel and trough to prevent left over drips. I found pulling the drain plug the first time more of a mess. I replaced the drain plug with a Valvomax valve and now have a hose to drain the oil into my pan. I change my oil without so much as a drip on the driveway. Sounds like you maybe missing the second trough to direct the filter oil.

I'd love to see a picture of this if you've got it...I do have the funnel but don't see anything else...it drained out onto the front drive shaft and all over the rail.

 

[Msfitoy]

Not sure if your truck is missing something or what. The oil from the filter on my 2019 goes from the funnel under the filter to another trough and to a location behind and to the rear of the wheel. It drain out at a single point into a properly placed pan. Just need to use a rag to wipe out the funnel and trough to prevent left over drips. I found pulling the drain plug the first time more of a mess. I replaced the drain plug with a Valvomax valve and now have a hose to drain the oil into my pan. I change my oil without so much as a drip on the driveway. Sounds like you maybe missing the second trough to direct the filter oil.

The properly placed pan is NOT right under the drain trout...the oil shoots at an arc always making me underestimate the placement of my 12x24 pan everytime arrrrgggg....?

 

[MIBuckeye]

Oh it's a messy operation. I just did my first change a week ago and when I first pulled the plug I thought "this isn't so bad"...then after 10-15 seconds or so the pressure from the weight of oil in the pan lessens and the stream catches braces/frame and literally goes everywhere. On the plus side your truck basically gets corrosion protection applied in quite a few places..lol. I was using my brother's garage and was running late for something at the time, and left him with about a quart of black oil all over his previously clean floor. Not sure I'll get the OK to use it the next time around ? The filter drain assembly did its trick for me though. Not a drop spilled during that part.

Yeah..that happened too! The oil hit the frame and splashed over the pan for me too.

 

[SVTPaul]

I'd love to see a picture of this if you've got it...I do have the funnel but don't see anything else...it drained out onto the front drive shaft and all over the rail.

It's probably the next victim of parts cut off these trucks to save cost ?. In all seriousness though, my 2021 has the funnel and trough sections.

 

[Langwilliams]

FYI I put a few magnets on the frame where the plastic fasteners go, put the liner back up an put another magnet on an it's been holding for 2 months. I don't bounce it around off road though.

 

[Big Blue]

The properly placed pan is NOT right under the drain trout...the oil shoots at an arc always making me underestimate the placement of my 12x24 pan everytime arrrrgggg....?

Yeah..that happened too! The oil hit the frame and splashed over the pan for me too.

Yeah, with the plug basically horizontal the oil shoots out and sprays everywhere. I think the first time I did mine it almost hit the passenger front tire. That's why I was glad I had my valve to put on. Now I don’t even need to remove the skid plate. The valve also let's me regulate the oil flow. Valvomax and Fumato both make good valves for this.

 

[Msfitoy]

Yeah, with the plug basically horizontal the oil shoots out and sprays everywhere. I think the first time I did mine it almost hit the passenger front tire. That's why I was glad I had my valve to put on. Now I don’t even need to remove the skid plate. The valve also let's me regulate the oil flow. Valvomax and Fumato both make good valves for this.

My comments were referring to the oil filter drain spout on the driver's side...the flow from that area is very hard to predict...or should I say, remember...lol...

 

[Blue Streak]

I personally do not find it that difficult. Never dripped a drop on the floor. I use my never miss oil deflector.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I haven't changed my own oil yet, but I learned to use a piece of aluminum foil back when I had my Lincoln MKVIII LSC (a car designed for a V6 but got a version of the Cobra DOHC V8)

Removing the oil filter required some advanced yoga positions and a degree in Tetris also helped.

OIl ended up everywhere since you had to tilt/rotate the filter through multiple planes in 3-dimensional space to coax it out of the hole it was in.

The foil can be bent to whatever shape works best to direct the oil where you want, it stays in place, and you just pitch it when done.

 

[Rickfar]

well i have changed my oil 3x since i got all paranoid over fuel dilution which i have had . I have 3800 on the clock on my 19 ,but don't laugh but I have access to baby disposable diapers and i lay one in the trough under the filter and it catches all the oil from filter no mess no fuss. The worst part is when you pop that drain plug holy bejesus it go's everywhere

 

[Dr. Zaius]

well i have changed my oil 3x since i got all paranoid over fuel dilution which i have had . I have 3800 on the clock on my 19 ,but don't laugh but I have access to baby disposable diapers and i lay one in the trough under the filter and it catches all the oil from filter no mess no fuss. The worst part is when you pop that drain plug holy bejesus it does everywhere

I can only imagine the thoughts of the garbage collectors when they see one of those diapers!

"Whoa! What are they feeding this kid?"

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