5th Gen Ranger Oil and Diff Change (2019-2021)

Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
4,144
Location
Athens, GA
The Ranger crossed 1000 miles, which is the point where I like to do an oil change on a new car to get the break in oil out and new stuff in. I thought I would go ahead and squash the Ranger Oil filter rumor. There is 100% no need to take off the tire. There are 4 clips you pull, move a rubber guard out of the way, and the filter is right there. They even built a little flume for the oil to drain down so it doesn't get all over everything. The truck takes nearly all of a 6qt box to refill and there is another couple inches of height for filters, so you could use a longer filter if you wanted. The only thing in the way is the steering shaft. (Looking back at the pictures it doesn't look like the shaft is in the way. I swear it did at the time. I will have to look again)

The rear diff uses a rubber gasket, so it is reusable. I don't have any pics of that as it wasn't my original intention to take it off. I dropped a plastic nozzle in it and had to pull it apart to retrieve it and was PO'ed at myself at the time and didn't take pics.

At 1000 miles, the motor oil had already begun to turn pretty dark, and the diff fluid was black and sparkly. The FoMoCo filter looks to be well built, pleats are nice and spaced out and there's lots of them. Any damage to the element was done by me since the can got crushed coming off (as usual, the factory puts them on with a 3/4" breaker bar it seems).

I went back with Havoline Pro-DS 5W30, Valvoline Synthetic 75W-90, and a FL-910S (Motorcraft) filter. I'll probably switch over to a longer WIX when I get around to ordering some. I bought 4 Motorcraft's to get me through the next 15-20k since it was easy to just order what they specced.

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Does your rear diff have a mechanical LSD? If so, I am curious if the included FM will be sufficient.
 
Does your rear diff have a mechanical LSD? If so, I am curious if the included FM will be sufficient.
E-Locker. No need for the FM really. Its just a regular ol open diff till you push the button, which will probably rarely get used.
 
That’s good you don’t need to take off the tire I’m sure that makes it better for people who do it on ramps. Glad to see it has a spin on filter as well. I’ve never changed the differential oil though as a break in procedure.
 
Adding this here and admitting some ignorance. I bought the pump because I didn't want to pull the cover off to drain the diff.

The diff has a drain on the front. 🤦‍♂️ (GIANT FACEPALM)

Live and learn. But at least I found out the diff gasket is reusable, and I still would have dropped that stupid nozzle in there.
 
That’s good you don’t need to take off the tire I’m sure that makes it better for people who do it on ramps. Glad to see it has a spin on filter as well. I’ve never changed the differential oil though as a break in procedure.
I did it on my Mustang at 5K miles. The Track Pack comes with a fined diff cover that has drain and fill plugs so that was easy.
 
Do you have to go through the wheel well or can you get in there from the bottom?
 
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