Forget about changing your own oil in new Ford Ranger

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted by The Critic
At most, we are talking about an extra 2 min of work.

If you are not capable of removing several push pins and a few bolts, you should not be changing your oil anyway..
Says the poster with unfettered access to a shop lift/lifts and impact wrench. Without those, far more than "an extra 2 minutes of work." That as compared to driving on ramps, or with high enough ground clearance, simply sliding under the truck.

I believe most commenting about the stupid design, addressing wheel removal more as opposed to the push pin portion of the service.

 

[kawie_guy]

Originally Posted by DuckRyder
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.


Originally Posted by Virtus_Probi
I had a vague interest in a Ranger crew cab with a short bed if it would fit in my garage, but I probably won't bother looking into it after seeing this thread...


Originally Posted by wemay
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.


If that procedure is accurate... This^


Originally Posted by NormanBuntz
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.


It sure would be for me!


Originally Posted by fcjeep
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.

Me too!!


Originally Posted by dlundblad
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.


x2

Nope nope nope...


Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by dlundblad
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.


x2

Nope nope nope...



X3.
Ford has been famous for doing some real headscratchers from an engineering standpoint over the years.
This is just another example. Having to undo anything besides a filter and a drain plug is asinine.


Originally Posted by JLTD
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.


1000% correct.

Next vehicle.....


Originally Posted by cjcride
Originally Posted by dblshock
instant deal killer.

Exactly


Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by DuckRyder
Well I guess we know who hits the clickbait articles...

No one with a lick of sense is going to not buy a truck that otherwise suits them because it takes an extra few minutes to change the oil...

Just more BITOG hand wringing...


No one with a lick of sense is going to argue that something stupid and more complicated is better than the alternative.
Will it dissuade someone from buying a Ranger if that's what they want? Of course not. But then that was never the point anyone was trying to make.


Yeah that was never a point anyone was trying to make...

I'm not saying it is better, I'm just saying it is a non-issue...



Key phrase you missed was "IF that's what they want". All the folks you quoted were not in that category, and were not trying to dissuade anyone who was.

And if stupid engineering is a non-issue for you, then you're exactly the type of buyer Ford is looking for!

 

[kawie_guy]

Originally Posted by supton
I agree; it's stupid, but minor in the scheme of things. I wouldn't like it but since i do my own work I'd just do a tire rotation at the same time. which I have to wonder if most "smart" owners would just do at the same time, or a smart shop. Roll the two costs into one and then it's not nearly as big of a deal.


That's a good plan, but as anyone who's owned a truck and tried it can attest to, it's not always going to work like that. Sometimes tires need rotating or replacing before the oil does, or vice versa.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by supton
I agree; it's stupid, but minor in the scheme of things. I wouldn't like it but since i do my own work I'd just do a tire rotation at the same time. which I have to wonder if most "smart" owners would just do at the same time, or a smart shop. Roll the two costs into one and then it's not nearly as big of a deal.


That's a good plan, but as anyone who's owned a truck and tried it can attest to, it's not always going to work like that. Sometimes tires need rotating or replacing before the oil does, or vice versa.

Perhaps--but I do my work on 5k intervals. I don't quite trust OLM, yeah it's better than mileage I know. But we seem to have too many engines which have issues that frequent OCI's might prevent (timing chains, sludge, ring coking, dilution). My FWD cars have definite chop if I go to 10k, so I believe in doing 5k rotations. My RWD might go 10k but I think I can see wear patterns if I do that--so I think I'd rather do 5k on it also.

5k is just too easy to do, just watch the odometer and do work.

Anyhow, each to their own, there is no one service schedule that works for everyone.

 

[kawie_guy]

Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by supton
I agree; it's stupid, but minor in the scheme of things. I wouldn't like it but since i do my own work I'd just do a tire rotation at the same time. which I have to wonder if most "smart" owners would just do at the same time, or a smart shop. Roll the two costs into one and then it's not nearly as big of a deal.


That's a good plan, but as anyone who's owned a truck and tried it can attest to, it's not always going to work like that. Sometimes tires need rotating or replacing before the oil does, or vice versa.

Perhaps--but I do my work on 5k intervals. I don't quite trust OLM, yeah it's better than mileage I know. But we seem to have too many engines which have issues that frequent OCI's might prevent (timing chains, sludge, ring coking, dilution). My FWD cars have definite chop if I go to 10k, so I believe in doing 5k rotations. My RWD might go 10k but I think I can see wear patterns if I do that--so I think I'd rather do 5k on it also.

5k is just too easy to do, just watch the odometer and do work.

Anyhow, each to their own, there is no one service schedule that works for everyone.



I do 5k oci as well. And I've tried to keep the tire rotations at 5k too, but it didn't always work out. I've had some aggressive off road tires that would start to vibrate pretty bad if I didn't rotate them at 3k. Also had times where I tried a different kind of oil and then switched to something else after a short while because my truck didn't seem to run as good with it. There's all sorts of ways to get oil changes and tire rotations out of sync.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted by dblshock
10 yrs. from now, after the shine is off a '19 Ranger it will still require a $200 OCI, forget that.


Ford dealers around here do an oil change + rotation for $50 or so. Has been that way for years.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted by kawie_guy

I wouldn't doubt that's the way Ford designed it. I've helped my uncle change his oil on his '99 F150 a couple times. The driver's side tire is supposed to be removed, but if you're skinny enough, you can turn it and just barely squeeze by it. But then the oil filter is jammed up in there so far that we had to basically build a wrench to fit it. Then there's the drain slide that's supposed to put the oil in the drain bucket, but it actually just aims it all over everything under there instead. Great design. Yeah. Brilliant Ford engineering there. Only on internet forums would people argue that isn't stupid. (Roll eyes)

And by the way, I've owned four trucks in my lifetime. All of them required nothing more than unscrewing the drainplug, and unscrewing a filter with a standard $5 wrench from Autozone. Two of them actually had remote filters that I didn't even have to get under the truck to unscrew. Loved it.


Things have not changed much as I have that same "funnel" on mine - never quite gets the oil where I want it but it's not the end of the world. I take off the body pan and the skid plate as I don't trust the access holes. I've never had to do a custom wrench on any car. Usually a cap wrench or one that goes on the end of a socket + extension or u-joint is all that is needed.

Today's vehicles have panels that need to be removed. It's no big deal.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Questions for you:
Why are there so many different sizes of filters? Shouldn't there be, maybe 10?
I love Hondas, but so many had filter in the back/middle of the engine where you always got hot oil all over your arm. Why?
Even our beloved TSX has the filter in such a contorted place. Why?
Why aren't all filters mounted vertically to minimize spill?

Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking...

 

[supton]

Originally Posted by JeffKeryk
Questions for you:
Why are there so many different sizes of filters? Shouldn't there be, maybe 10?
I love Hondas, but so many had filter in the back/middle of the engine where you always got hot oil all over your arm. Why?
Even our beloved TSX has the filter in such a contorted place. Why?
Why aren't all filters mounted vertically to minimize spill?

Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking...

Conspiracy is my thinking. I mean, why all the different tire sizes? Can't they have standardized on a car size, and a truck size, by now?

 

[PimTac]

"Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking."




I would walk into your local auto parts store and ask for one.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted by PimTac
"Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking."




I would walk into your local auto parts store and ask for one.


While you're there you may want to get an extra gas cap too.

 

[kawie_guy]

Originally Posted by itguy08
Originally Posted by PimTac
"Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking."




I would walk into your local auto parts store and ask for one.


While you're there you may want to get an extra gas cap too.



In the old days, it was the joke to ask for a radiator cap for a VW Beetle. I'll bet there are kids behind the counter who'd actually fall for it now.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by itguy08
Originally Posted by PimTac
"Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking."




I would walk into your local auto parts store and ask for one.


While you're there you may want to get an extra gas cap too.



In the old days, it was the joke to ask for a radiator cap for a VW Beetle. I'll bet there are kids behind the counter who'd actually fall for it now.


Slightly. They're so programmed to that computer that they will simply look it up by the year, make, and model, and when there is no listing they will simply say, "We don't carry it.". They're just too ignorant to get invested into the deception. The era of "we must have it somewhere here" is gone.

You could probably ask for a spark plug for a 2005 Ford F-150 and encounter exactly zero chagrin if they can't find it in "the system". You'll get a dismissive "We don't got it" and the same dumb moose stare.

I'd say these jokes last worked maybe 4 years back at the most.

 

[kawie_guy]

Originally Posted by DoubleWasp
Originally Posted by kawie_guy
Originally Posted by itguy08
Originally Posted by PimTac
"Extra credit: I can't find a filter listed for our new Tesla... What am I gonna do?

Just asking."




I would walk into your local auto parts store and ask for one.


While you're there you may want to get an extra gas cap too.



In the old days, it was the joke to ask for a radiator cap for a VW Beetle. I'll bet there are kids behind the counter who'd actually fall for it now.


Slightly. They're so programmed to that computer that they will simply look it up by the year, make, and model, and when there is no listing they will simply say, "We don't carry it.".



Point being that employees today would probably automatically go to their computer to look up a part that doesn't exist because they probably don't have any knowledge of how an old antique car cooled itself (even though it's the best selling car of all time).

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted by DoubleWasp


Slightly. They're so programmed to that computer that they will simply look it up by the year, make, and model, and when there is no listing they will simply say, "We don't carry it.". They're just too ignorant to get invested into the deception. The era of "we must have it somewhere here" is gone.




They also make minimum wage and in a store full of 10s of thousands of parts, who wouldn't rely on a computer inventory system? I hate some of the idiots working behind the counter as much as the next guy, but then I remember how many people have no clue about the car they drive.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted by itguy08
Originally Posted by dblshock
10 yrs. from now, after the shine is off a '19 Ranger it will still require a $200 OCI, forget that.


Ford dealers around here do an oil change + rotation for $50 or so. Has been that way for years.


Wow, that's impressive.

The cheapest place around is a quick lube which does $29 oil changes for 5 qts conventional. Anything different is much more.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by jeepman3071
Originally Posted by DoubleWasp


Slightly. They're so programmed to that computer that they will simply look it up by the year, make, and model, and when there is no listing they will simply say, "We don't carry it.". They're just too ignorant to get invested into the deception. The era of "we must have it somewhere here" is gone.




They also make minimum wage and in a store full of 10s of thousands of parts, who wouldn't rely on a computer inventory system? I hate some of the idiots working behind the counter as much as the next guy, but then I remember how many people have no clue about the car they drive.





It ain't like old times. A good counterman would know exactly what you needed without even glancing at a catalog. If you were a regular they even knew what you drove.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I never denied that the lack of knowledge of Beetles is exactly why it would raise no response flags. I meant only that it's a pretty flat prank. Back when parts store guys were actually supposed to know something about cars, it was pretty hilarious. Matter of fact, when a parts clerk starts going on like they do know cars real well, they might just become the victim of that prank if they have a bad attitude. Pulled it on just such a person about 2 years back I think.

Asked for a water pump for a 70s Beetle, spark plugs for my Cummins Ram, and some other unicorn parts.

I know exactly why the situation is what it is. And I blame corporate for that, and not the employees. They were the ones who were told by their employers that they don't need to know anything about cars to sell car parts. I saw the AutoZone recruitment ads that literally said exactly that. I am also aware that this is a direct result of the decline of consumer education. They don't dare try that anywhere frequented by commercial customers who would never tolerate that level of ignorance.

There is nothing wrong with using a computer, but if that computer is your only link to product knowledge, that's just sad. Our local NAPA is very old school. If I ask for something, frequently the eyes only hit the screen to ring me up.

Anyone who deals with a real truck, Marine, or equipment parts supplier knows what I mean.

Not only does a good counterman know what you need without glancing at the catalog, many times they have a better atlternative not even listed in the corporate material. Many times they know what I need just by being told what's wrong with the equipment.

It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't literally see the differences on both sides almost every single day, but if one did it would be startling.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted by DoubleWasp
I never denied that the lack of knowledge of Beetles is exactly why it would raise no response flags. I meant only that it's a pretty flat prank. Back when parts store guys were actually supposed to know something about cars, it was pretty hilarious. Matter of fact, when a parts clerk starts going on like they do know cars real well, they might just become the victim of that prank if they have a bad attitude. Pulled it on just such a person about 2 years back I think.

Asked for a water pump for a 70s Beetle, spark plugs for my Cummins Ram, and some other unicorn parts.

I know exactly why the situation is what it is. And I blame corporate for that, and not the employees. They were the ones who were told by their employers that they don't need to know anything about cars to sell car parts. I saw the AutoZone recruitment ads that literally said exactly that. I am also aware that this is a direct result of the decline of consumer education. They don't dare try that anywhere frequented by commercial customers who would never tolerate that level of ignorance.

There is nothing wrong with using a computer, but if that computer is your only link to product knowledge, that's just sad. Our local NAPA is very old school. If I ask for something, frequently the eyes only hit the screen to ring me up.

Anyone who deals with a real truck, Marine, or equipment parts supplier knows what I mean.

Not only does a good counterman know what you need without glancing at the catalog, many times they have a better atlternative not even listed in the corporate material. Many times they know what I need just by being told what's wrong with the equipment.

It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't literally see the differences on both sides almost every single day, but if one did it would be startling.



I also love my local NAPA. The guys there know their stuff and will go out of their way to find something that will work for the customer. My friend worked at Autozone 8 years ago and even then they told him to not recommend anything to customers besides what the computer stated was correct. I assume for liability reasons. He hated the job, mostly because people had no idea what they wanted or needed. He would ask someone what kind of Chevy truck they owned so he could figure out what engine it had and they would just say "it's a pickup".

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by Sayjac
Originally Posted by The Critic
At most, we are talking about an extra 2 min of work.

If you are not capable of removing several push pins and a few bolts, you should not be changing your oil anyway..
Says the poster with unfettered access to a shop lift/lifts and impact wrench. Without those, far more than "an extra 2 minutes of work." That as compared to driving on ramps, or with high enough ground clearance, simply sliding under the truck.

I believe most commenting about the stupid design, addressing wheel removal more as opposed to the push pin portion of the service.


For many years I did not have access to a lift/shop. But I did own a cordless impact wrench, a floor jack and jack stands. Raising one corner of the truck to place a jack stand under it does not take an extraordinary amount of time.

Also, keep in mind that Ford expects a tire rotation and a wheels-off brake inspection at each scheduled service interval. The assumption is that the wheels will already be off the car, so the oil filter design is not truly an issue.