the oil itself is not a problem, its the filter that a PITA.

 

I think you're talking about the 3.0 Duratec. I know it made it's way in a couple Jags. As far as the pushrod 3.0 I don't think it's been used in much other than Taurus' and Ranger.

 

Don't forget the Mercury Sable. :)

 

Why are you guys trying to remove the filter from underneath????Get a step stool or box and reach down looking into engine bay.So much easier:)

 

haha glad I saw this, I need to get this done

 

Oh I also get my filter from the bottom, The manifold usually doesnt bother me, but I do wait about 10 - 15 minutes before I attack anything

 

i have never had a problem changing the filter on my 3.0, i just go through the wheel well. never a scratch or drop spilled...

 

See thats my problem, I cant change oil on anything without getting it all over me. If I were clean after I finished one, I'd think I didnt do it right

 

I know......6 pages of this.

If people are not able to remove the oil filter and pull it up around the exhaust header and up through the engine bay, they should not be doing anything them self.......this includes driving. LOL

I really don't see how people CAN'T do this correctly. Also, if you need a step stool to get into your engine bay on a stock height truck, do you also require to sit on a phone book to see over the steering wheel? LOL

 

we never said we CANT do it, just said that its a PITA to do it.

 

lol i see... and how does that make you feel?

 

I changed the oil on my truck yesterday and i gotta say that it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. Managed to get the oil filter off from the bottom without spilling. All you have to do is take your time

 

You guys are scaring me now....don't even want to know if I want to try changing it myself now. Only had my Ranger for a little over a month and it is not due for an oil/filter change.

Now if I were a Caveman, maybe I would try.....

 

its really not THAT bad. the oil is cake, but the filter is kinda fun to manuever it out of its space.

 

With my truck I have the body lift. So all I have to do is reach through the fender well and its right there.

 

OI had no problem gettin the filter today!

 

just take the filter out through the wheel well, then its a cake walk, unless your truck is lowered...

 

Ive mastered changing oil on my 96' Ranger, well the starter is right below the oil filter and we all know that oil and the starter dont mix haha so take a plastic cup like a mcdonalds cup and cut the bottom off and and slice it up the middle and slide that over the starter, works like a charm. And i always removed the filter from the top but u can do it from the bottom a lot easier, but yea i can never get out of that job without a bad burn or scratch or my arm gettiin stuck, definitely a ***** lol

 

Okay so ...... the 3.0 compared to the 4.0 on a mustang ........ 3.0
the 3.0 compared to a 5.4 ............ 5.4 if theyhad enough hand room to turn the SOB

 

My 02 ranger edge I let the filter drop where I can see it from top and then grab a stick or tool and apply a little pressure and it slides through and falls into drain pan (mine has covered top no splash) and as far as burns go take an old pair of jeans and cut the leg into a sleeve if there is a real issue there

 

^^ Just saw this

 

I change mine myself all the time and have never had a problem. I have a 92 though so maybe there is less crap on mine. But ive always wondered why ford put the oil filter right above the starter? Maybe so it can lube the starter when it leaks!?

 

Here I am... writing on an OLD thread but today's festivities are worth mentioning. I decided to do my first oil change on my 2007 Ranger XLT which I bought used in April.

I moved to my present home back in April and just got rid of a lot of stuff at the time. One of them was the sealable oil change basin that I use to slide under the drain plug on my Taurus. Well, yesterday I went out and picked up a new one, along with 3 oil filters and 3 five quart containers of 5W30 oil. After all, the Ranger and Taurus both have the 3 liter engine and use the same filter. Well, hell... as I'm approaching changing the oil on the Ranger, I note the oil cap says 5W20. Oops.

So I rush upstairs to read what you guys have said about 5W30 and decided my truck (with 68,800 miles) won't die if I use it. OK.

Then I try to cram myself under the truck and I don't fit. Damn. I drag out the ramps that I use with the Taurus and tried to drive the Ranger onto them. I couldn't get enough traction and dug a hole in my driveway under the back right tire all the way to the axle. (My driveway is pea gravel over sand). So I move the ramps further into the garage so that the truck is all the way in before the tires engage the ramps. Now the ramps want to slide on the concrete. Damn.

Time for Plan B.

I blocked the right rear tire and got my hydraulic jack under the frame on the left front (truck in park with the parking brake engaged), then jacked it up enough to set the frame down onto two jack stands. I pulled the hydraulic jack out of the way and crawled up under truck. OK... I see the drain plug and can get to it.

In the meanwhile, I consider how to get to the filter. From underneath? Nah... my arm is too short and I don't relish getting oil sprayed in my face and/or eyes. From above? I'll be damned if that isn't good either. I could get my fingertips on it but just barely. Then there was the matter of getting my arm fried on the exhaust manifold.

I was in a plane crash back in 1988 and had an incomplete amputation of my right forearm. My arm was reconnected and eventually I got my strength back in it but I've not rotated my wrist since 1988... at least not very far. Although I'm right handed, rotation type chores require the use of my left arm. So I'm at a bit of a disadvantage when you need to snake your way through obstacles.

I run back upstairs and look on the forum again. I decide I'll take a look in the wheel well, based on what some of you have written. Eureka! An almost clear shot at the filter! I must not have one of those mud flaps under there because I didn't see anything like that blocking my view.

So I unscrew the filter with my left hand and retrieve it without spilling much oil at all. So far, so good. Getting the new one started was a little bit of a PITA but not all that difficult.

Time to drain the crankcase. I slid back under the truck and removed the plug without difficulty. Of course, during the course of draining, the oil decided to start splashing and nailed my new tee shirt. Yeah, I know... you don't have to say it. Then I look at the plug.

Damn! No wonder the dealer wanted to change my oil for me! While the beginning threads looked in good shape, the threads closest to the head of the bolt were completely sheared off ! After the oil drained, I started the plug back into place. No cross threading detected... it started easily but even when the residual oil stopped dripping, I never was able to get it to snug even using very little pressure... my hand gripping the head of the socket wrench so I didn't put much torque on it.

So I'm at an impasse until tomorrow. I'm going to drive into town (in the Taurus) and buy a replacement plug... THEN I'll pour my 5W30 oil in. I can't see wasting it and I surely can't see trusting a plug that may decide to take a dump at any moment.

I prefer not to think of the metal fragments of the old plug and to where they've wandered off. In the meanwhile, I'm just going to leave the truck up in the air so I don't accidentally jump in and crank the engine.

Every day a new adventure around here.

 

ok,,,am I the only idiot who thought someone dropped that funnel in there and ripped it out? lmao

 

its not changing the oil, or fighting the filter, Its getting rid of the used oil in a responsible way that is a pain