First Oil Change Tips Needed

So there are a million threads on oil changes and the mess it makes. Watched videos... looks horrible. Was looking to consolidate and suggestions into a single post. Haven't changed the oil in a vehicle in 30 years so looking for some tips..

1) I want to avoid taking the full skid plate off. Should I use a level surface or should i jack up the back of the truck to minimize the amount of oil flowing back on the skid plate?

2) How tight should I install the Fumoto drain?

3) Any tricks to the oil filter drain? Some said create a funnel?

Thanks for the tips!

I’d just deal with the mess for the drain and wipe up as much as you can on the skid plate...a week later wipe again. Install the fumuto drain plug and you won’t have to worry about it again. The oil filter is just another PITA...you can buy a relocator kit and place it lower to prevent this in the future, but other wise it is hard to pull off, hard to clean up, and hard to get back on. Worst design ever

I read the oil change threads and made a funnel(trough really) out of one of those thin plastic cutting boards that we retired. Easy peasy, not messy so long as you hold the plug in the hole to keep the flow rate reasonable.

I changed my oil for the first time a few weeks ago and here are my tips for making it as easy as possible:

(1) Make sure the truck is on a level surface. I didn't jack it up, there is plenty of clearance with the stock suspension height.

(2) Once the oil begins to flow, it flows predictably. When the oil stream slows down be prepared it will come out the holes in the skid plate. Anticipate this and move the catch pan accordingly (if its big enough). Get an absorbent oil spill mat (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07899SN62/?tag=fordraptorforum-20) to make sure nothing get's on your driveway/garage floor. Afterwards, just reach in and clean up any oil on the skid plate with shop towels.

(3) Don't over-tighten the Fumoto valve. Thread it on by hand and then snug a quarter turn with an open end wrench.

(4) I had plenty of access to the oil filter using the access panel in the front skid plate. Put your oil catch pan under the drain hole (rectangular in shape just behind the frame cross member) in the skid plate just behind the front one. That is where most of the oil drained out from.

(5) I used this funnel for filling the oil. It helps a lot and it fits in the locking grooves where the oil cap sits in and it doesn't leak or move around. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VY839T8/?tag=fordraptorforum-20)

Don't wear your favorite shirt.

I bought a large mortar pan and Couple packs of shop towels. Don't remove skid plate. Just the two smaller panels. The pan is plenty big enough to catch the oil when it comes spewing out. Before I loosen the drain plug I pack a handful of the cheap shop towels up on the skid plate where the oil collects/runs once it starts to slow to absorb it and prevent a big mess. Ive successfully done 3 oil changes now without getting any on my driveway or creating a mess underneath. Hopefully number 4 is the same

For filter i just bought a oil filter attchment for my 1/2 in drive ratchet that fits filter. Juat use it to break it loose then use hand to remove. Minimal spillage that way. Then hand tighten new one. Has worked well so far.

Yup, bought the Fumoto before first Oil Change.

Agree about location of filter...insane.

between all the disassembly and hard locations, this is by far the hardest vehicle I've had to change the oil on. Now, I can't claim to have had hundreds of vehicles, only 10 or so, but I've always changed my own oil, and doing so sucks on the Raptor.

My last 4 trucks have been 3.5 Ecoboosts. Even on the Gen1 Ecoboost the oil filter and drain plug were in the same place as the Gen2. After 9 years of practice Ecoboost oil changes are easy.

4rdFan said:

I changed my oil for the first time a few weeks ago and here are my tips for making it as easy as possible:

(1) Make sure the truck is on a level surface. I didn't jack it up, there is plenty of clearance with the stock suspension height.

(2) Once the oil begins to flow, it flows predictably. When the oil stream slows down be prepared it will come out the holes in the skid plate. Anticipate this and move the catch pan accordingly (if its big enough). Get an absorbent oil spill mat (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07899SN62/?tag=fordraptorforum-20) to make sure nothing get's on your driveway/garage floor. Afterwards, just reach in and clean up any oil on the skid plate with shop towels.

(3) Don't over-tighten the Fumoto valve. Thread it on by hand and then snug a quarter turn with an open end wrench.

(4) I had plenty of access to the oil filter using the access panel in the front skid plate. Put your oil catch pan under the drain hole (rectangular in shape just behind the frame cross member) in the skid plate just behind the front one. That is where most of the oil drained out from.

(5) I used this funnel for filling the oil. It helps a lot and it fits in the locking grooves where the oil cap sits in and it doesn't leak or move around. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VY839T8/?tag=fordraptorforum-20)

Click to expand...

I’m not sure I get #2. If you remove that access panel, that end of the drain pan is fully exposed. The initial shot of oil will jump the access panel gap, and end up on the other side, but, once it slows down it drops directly down from the pan, and doesn’t flow onto any skid plate.

When I did my first, I put the catch pan under the access panel, and jammed a piece of cardboard between the pan and cross member. The cardboard deflected that first shot of oil, and the rest just fell into the pan. No mess.

Fumoto valve went in on that change, so I only had to do that once.

Haven’t changed the oil in 30 years so why start now???

I’ve been getting $39 synthetic blend oil changes/ tire rotations from Ford dealer every 5k miles for 3 years. Never had any leak or issue. And I’ve also never had any oil on me or my garage floor! And I even have the dreaded plastic oil pan!