2.9L & 3.0L V6 Tech General discussion of 2.9L and 3.0L V6 Ford Ranger engines.

Does anyone else not like changing the oil on their 3.0?

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  #26  
Old 04-12-2009
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Originally Posted by Rolldogg
It's never bothered me. I'll change it when the engine is cool, doens't take a pro to figure that much out.

I slide the oil pan under the truck to where the oil filter is (to catch any spilled oil) then remove the old filter from the top. It hardly spills. When the filter is off, there's enough room to flip the filter on it's back and pull it out on up. I have large hands, so maybe that's why it's easy. I'll slap a new filter on, get under the truck, wipe up any oil that leaked down on the splash gaurd and starter. Then I'll remove the drain plug and drain the pan.

Really easy stuff.

Now an oil change on the g/f's 94 Civic is another story. Only way to remove the filter is from the bottom, and it's a PITA to remove the filter.
I like to change the oil when it is warm, but it takes hours for the exhaust manifolds to cool to the point that they won't burn.

Removing the old filter isn't a big deal, it's the "slapping" the new one on that isn't fun. It's hard to put it on when you can't see where it's supposed to screw on to. Maybe it's easy if you don't care about getting junk on the gasket, but I try not to get dirt and stuff on there.

I'd much rather change the oil on a Civic than a 3.0. I change the oil in my roommate's '97 Civic, and once it's up on the plastic ramps the filter is very easy to reach and get leverage on.
 
  #27  
Old 04-12-2009
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another fun one i forgot is the mid 90s style of Honda CRV
 
  #28  
Old 04-12-2009
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I have to jack up my car just to fit a drain pan under it. Then I can barely reach the plug, which is angled on the 4.6, so I have to position the pan perfectly. Then I have to blindly find the filter and on the way down it spills all over my steering rack, which blocks my wrench pretty well. All in all, at least you can crawl under your truck.
 
  #29  
Old 04-12-2009
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Yuck.. I hated my 3.0... I crawled under my friends truck the other day and her filter was right by the drain plug... so jealous!!
 
  #30  
Old 04-12-2009
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Ya, I have changed it on one before and it kindy sucked.

You should see how easy it is to change it on the 2.5
 
  #31  
Old 04-12-2009
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I have never had a problem with my 3.0 and I changed the oil every time.
 
  #32  
Old 04-12-2009
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I think its easy...I do it all the time
 
  #33  
Old 04-12-2009
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Yeah no complaints here. The body lift makes it super easy.
 
  #34  
Old 04-12-2009
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i'm at stock height and have no issues with changing it on my 3.0
 
  #35  
Old 04-12-2009
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Its not that bad. My 04 had the 3.0 and it wasnt terrible. I wasnt easy but i only had a real problem the first time i changed it. After i figured it out it wasnt such a big deal. I ALWAYS got the filter out from underneath the truck, stock height, with the starter funnel in place. I even got to use a filter wrench at times. Hell, i even filled the filter with oil and put it back on from underneath without spilling anything.

Im also 6'0 tall, 250ish lbs and i dont have small hands or arms.
 
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Old 04-12-2009
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Personally I haven't got the knack of it yet so right now, it's a PITA. I also have a 4x4 so all the stuff under the truck blocks any access to the filter. It takes some time to screw the thing off. Getting it back on, that's another fun little task.

I seen where some where saying about taking the splash gaurd off. I'm gonna try that next time I have to change my oil.
 
  #37  
Old 04-12-2009
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ive never had too much trouble besides making a bit of a mess. first thing i did was rip that little dinkey funnel thing off. but yeah it is a pain in the ***.
 
  #38  
Old 04-12-2009
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Originally Posted by Sixt9coug
Its not that bad. My 04 had the 3.0 and it wasnt terrible. I wasnt easy but i only had a real problem the first time i changed it. After i figured it out it wasnt such a big deal. I ALWAYS got the filter out from underneath the truck, stock height, with the starter funnel in place. I even got to use a filter wrench at times. Hell, i even filled the filter with oil and put it back on from underneath without spilling anything.

Im also 6'0 tall, 250ish lbs and i dont have small hands or arms.
Maybe they changed the design of the funnel? Did your truck have a heat shield type thing on the frame rail (mine does)? I have tried many times to get the filter off from below, but there isn't enough room for the filter to fit no matter how I try to maneuver it.
 
  #39  
Old 04-12-2009
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Originally Posted by pacodiablo
Maybe they changed the design of the funnel? Did your truck have a heat shield type thing on the frame rail (mine does)? I have tried many times to get the filter off from below, but there isn't enough room for the filter to fit no matter how I try to maneuver it.
I always took mine off from underneath when the truck was stock. Maybe its the difference in the frames between the EDGE/XLT and 2wd XLT trucks.....
 
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Old 04-12-2009
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Originally Posted by pacodiablo
Maybe they changed the design of the funnel? Did your truck have a heat shield type thing on the frame rail (mine does)? I have tried many times to get the filter off from below, but there isn't enough room for the filter to fit no matter how I try to maneuver it.


i dont remember seeing a heat shield. I remember that it was TIGHT between the starter and the frame, but it still made it. The funnel would get in the way but it would still come out. I also had to kind of blindly screw it on from underneath.
 
  #41  
Old 04-12-2009
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i crank the wheel and pop off the splash gaurd and get it through the wheel well 15 min oil change. yesterday i had a hard time getting it off because my hands were nasty nothing a strap wrench couldnt handle tho.
 
  #42  
Old 04-12-2009
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The 3.0 is a cinch compared to my project car, a Pontiac 301 V8, its a short deck block, the oil filter is right behind the passenger side exhaust manifold on the side of the block. Being a short deck, the oil filter is down almost level with the upper control arm. The only way to get to it is from underneath, between the control arms and exhaust pipes. You can get the filter out, but trying to fingertip roll the new one until it threads is an utter *****.

Thankfully I put some headers on it and an oil filter relocation kit, that was the best $60 I've ever spent.
 
  #43  
Old 04-13-2009
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I've never had any trouble changing my oil in my 3.0. I do everything from below the truck and keep the filter pointing up so the oild doesnt spill out. There actually used to be a little funnel attached next to the starter to guide oil away from it? I'm not sure but once I ripped that out it was a breeze.
 
  #44  
Old 04-13-2009
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i pull the oil filter out the wheel well
 
  #45  
Old 04-13-2009
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Originally Posted by Rolldogg
Now an oil change on the g/f's 94 Civic is another story. Only way to remove the filter is from the bottom, and it's a PITA to remove the filter.
lmao apply that to every honda ive ever owned which include a 91 civic, 94 accord, 94 civic, and 96 integra.

On the integra i eventally got good enough to not burn my arm on the exhaust .... but still spill a lot ... thank goodness for a dirt driveway.
 
  #46  
Old 04-13-2009
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I can never change the oil without at least a small burn from the exhaust manifold. Stupid ******* vulcans.
 
  #47  
Old 04-14-2009
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Originally Posted by pacodiablo
I like to change the oil when it is warm, but it takes hours for the exhaust manifolds to cool to the point that they won't burn.
That's why there are mechanics gloves, so you don't burn your knuckles. Give them a try next time. I just go in bare handed, a slight brush against the exhaust manifold never killed anyone.

Removing the old filter isn't a big deal, it's the "slapping" the new one on that isn't fun. It's hard to put it on when you can't see where it's supposed to screw on to. Maybe it's easy if you don't care about getting junk on the gasket, but I try not to get dirt and stuff on there.
Actually you're making this out to be A LOT harder then what it is. When you go down with the new filter in hand, use your index finger to feel for the threads and simply screw it on. It's very easy for me and the gasket never touches anything except for the mating surface. Getting dirt and grime on the gasket is never good. Do you have small hands?

I'd much rather change the oil on a Civic than a 3.0. I change the oil in my roommate's '97 Civic, and once it's up on the plastic ramps the filter is very easy to reach and get leverage on.
I guess your room mates 97 is stock height? My g/f's is lowered. I have to jack up the front of the car from both sides and place is on jacks. The car is too low to just drive up onto those ramps. After the car is supported on jacks, the PITA removal of the oil filter fun starts. I really don't know where it is on your room mates 97, but it sounds like it's in a much better spot then the 95's. The space it too tight to use any oil filter removal tool, and the filter is too tight to be removed by hand......not enough room to get your hand fully around it. No leverage.

But changing the oil on a 3.0L is very very easy. Everything is wide open and there is plenty of room to work. If it's that much of a chore, seek professional oil changes from the stealership.......LOL This poor kid needs help!!
 

Last edited by Rolldogg; 04-14-2009 at 07:34 AM.
  #48  
Old 04-14-2009
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I dont have a problem.

I warm the truck up, drain the oil. Let it cool down a bit, remove the filter. New filter new oil. done.
 
  #49  
Old 04-14-2009
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It's easier compared to what I've seen what the engine mechanics on my ship had to go through. It takes a real man to squeeze themselves INSIDE the diesel generator to get to the filter...and there are 4 generators of on that class ship.
 
  #50  
Old 04-14-2009
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Originally Posted by RaoulR
The first time I took out my filter and tried to pull it down past the funnel it hit the positive post on the starter and burned a hole through it. Much sparking fun!

So now I just remove the battery cable when I want to change my oil... PITA!
yeah, ive done that before with the tool i use to loosen the filter, done it three times now, looks cool, but scary at the same time
 


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