New Ranger OC Procedure

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

meep

Joined
Feb 20, 2007
Messages
9,147
Location
Southeast
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2...nge-procedure-contains-a-big-extra-step/

Lots of fussing on the article's website, but I wouldn't be perturbed. After the first couple of DIY-tribalist 5,000m OCIs, following the OLM for a 10,000 OCI makes this slightly more than an annual affair. For a 26mpg mid-size truck with it's HP/torque numbers, I'd be all in. If I didn't need the fullsize for our TT, I'd be all over this truck.

-m
 
Originally Posted by NormanBuntz
Idiotic design. No thanks, Ford,
.


+1 and I thought removing the wheel to change spark plugs on the 2001 Ranger 4.0 SOHC was annoying.

Good job Ford, i'm sure this won't make for a cheap service at the dealer either.
 
For my 1996 2.0 Zetec Contour it's easier to remove the passenger front tire, if you don't have a lift, to remove the oil filter to avoid spilling oil all over the axle and suspension and fighting to get the filter out from the compressed suspension. It's no big deal. Thank goodness for 20,000 mile synthetic oil filters, only have to do this every other oil change
grin.gif
. Our 2017 Explorer has the same 2.3 EB engine BUT it's mounted sideways due to being mainly front wheel drive. The oil filter is super easy to access, right in front. And the best part is there is no underside cladding that has to be removed to change the oil & filter, the PTU drain & fills or the transmission drain & fills
grin2.gif
.

Whimsey
 
This is at least the third thread on this. Why don't I see what all the interest is? This isn't the first and it won't be the last vehicle with an oil filter in an inconvenient location, not to mention book procedure often have steps that can be bypassed.
 
"To actually drain the oil, which of course you'll accomplish before attacking that filter, you'll first need to unbolt the power steering control module underbody shield. Four bolts hold that on."

That bothers me as much as the oil filter access.

Typical modern Ford, anyway, stay far away. Designed to be manufactured, not maintained.

And non-DIY owners WILL mind... once Iffy Lube starts charging more for their SPECIAL vehicle.
 
They went through a lot of trouble to change what was a simple design on the 2.3. On my '18 Mustang, there's not even a shield to remove. Filter and plug are right there in front of your face when you crawl under. What a shame.
 
Originally Posted by HangFire
"To actually drain the oil, which of course you'll accomplish before attacking that filter, you'll first need to unbolt the power steering control module underbody shield. Four bolts hold that on."

That bothers me as much as the oil filter access.

Typical modern Ford, anyway, stay far away. Designed to be manufactured, not maintained.

And non-DIY owners WILL mind... once Iffy Lube starts charging more for their SPECIAL vehicle.





To be fair, pretty much all modern vehicles have shields underneath which require some removal to do the oil change. If the design is smart they placed a access port so the whole shield doesn't have to come off
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Chris Meutsch
Dear Lord, you'd think this was a German vehicle..........



Naw. German vehicles usually use a cartridge filter located near the top of the engine block. The oil drain plug is hidden behind a little door within under body pan.
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted by dishdude
This is at least the third thread on this. Why don't I see what all the interest is? This isn't the first and it won't be the last vehicle with an oil filter in an inconvenient location, not to mention book procedure often have steps that can be bypassed.


Same here.

Much to do about nothing, really.
 
Originally Posted by PimTac
Originally Posted by HangFire
"To actually drain the oil, which of course you'll accomplish before attacking that filter, you'll first need to unbolt the power steering control module underbody shield. Four bolts hold that on."

That bothers me as much as the oil filter access.

Typical modern Ford, anyway, stay far away. Designed to be manufactured, not maintained.

And non-DIY owners WILL mind... once Iffy Lube starts charging more for their SPECIAL vehicle.





To be fair, pretty much all modern vehicles have shields underneath which require some removal to do the oil change. If the design is smart they placed a access port so the whole shield doesn't have to come off

Mercedes, BMW and some VW/Audis have the "luxury" of top-mounted oil filters, so do newer Subarus with their new FA/FB series engines.

On any newer Toyota model, if you don't have a filter access door, you're looking at removing the engine splash shield to get to the oil filter. It's cleaner just to remove it so that oil won't spill on it.
 
Toyota botched the design on my Tundra; oil drain is easy to get to, but have to remove 5 bolts to drop the skidplate for the filter. Stupid.

Personally I like 5k OCI's and 5k tire rotations, so while I wouldn't like pulling panels I might be ok with such a job. Yes it's more work than it should be, but I don't think it'd bother me that much. But I sure wouldn't like paying for it, if i were to be taking it to iffy lube.
 
Originally Posted by Linctex
Originally Posted by dishdude
This is at least the third thread on this. Why don't I see what all the interest is? This isn't the first and it won't be the last vehicle with an oil filter in an inconvenient location, not to mention book procedure often have steps that can be bypassed.


Same here.

Much to do about nothing, really.

There was a 4th, but it got deleted, I havent seen any others but its possible.
I guess everyone sees a oil-related article on a VERY POPULAR AUTOMOTIVE WEBSITE, you know, and doesn't think, "Well, if I saw it, for sure some other BITOG'er has seen it and may have posted it already. I should go search BITOG for "Ranger" and see if anything about oil change procedure pops up before I just blindly post it."
Naw. Can't do that.
And idk what the hubub is over anyway. Sure the "Factory procedure" says one thing, but its a totally different thing once you actually see and it try out if you REALLY need to remove that wheel or not.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Colt45ws

And idk what the hubub is over anyway. Sure the "Factory procedure" says one thing, but its a totally different thing once you actually see and it try out if you REALLY need to remove that wheel or not.


As it turns out they posted an update to the article. Someone from Ford has stated that the access panel can be peeled back after removing just 3 of the fasteners, without removing the wheel. So while removing the entire panel is likely the official published method in the service manual, as you stated there is another way to get access to the filter. I'm guessing that many people have done this sort of thing on other vehicles which have plastic panels, especially larger ones that are hard to get lined back up correctly.

Shortcuts to factory procedures are indeed common. Whether it is a DIY customer working around tool or access constraints, or a flat rate tech shaving off a few minutes to beat book time, there's often a way. Factory service information is not always based on reality when it comes to the processes used. Sometimes vast shortcuts can be taken, and other times there's something in the way that isn't mentioned in the manual.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom