Oil Change on 3.5 Ecoboost = PITA!

[Sackett]

My wife has a new Expedition FX4 with the 3.5 Ecoboost. I changed the oil yesterday for the second time and it's a Royal PITA. To get to the oil pan plug, you have to remove a 4'x3' "Plastic plate" and to get to the oil filter, you have to remove a skid plate. It literally takes me 3x the time to change her oil than it does my Diesel F250.

Am I missing something and there is an easier way? I know, "just take it in and have it changed", but I enjoy doing my own maintenance.

[BigValley]

Unfortunately, I think that's just how it is. I have a '12 F150 with the 3.5L and change my own oil as well. There is a little rubber gasket they made that you can pass the oil filter through if you have tiny hands, so I always end up taking the plastic plate and skid plate. Agreed on the PITA. I had an '07 F150 before this one and it took me no time at all.

Wish I was more help!

[WItoTX]

Can't you just leave that cover off? All its for is fuel mileage anyways. Trucks never had them until recently.

[bbqfan5909]

You will really appreciate those plates if you take the vehicle off the road. Otherwise, just leave them off it you change oil often.

[kcnatural]

Can't you just leave that cover off? All its for is fuel mileage anyways. Trucks never had them until recently.

X2, at least the plastic one. It will offer little protection off road other than a mud deflector

[hog_down]

I hate that plate thing too, trust me.

[Hooverfb]

Are you sure you have to remove the plate for the oil to drain? I have to remove one of my skid plates to get to oil filter, but the drain pan empties into a little section that allows it to come off the side of the skid. Different vehicle but I'd imagine they have something like that.

If not you get used to it. Couple extra steps not that hard.

[twistedmidnite]

Hole saw some holes in the plate?

[MacDaddy67]

Buy a Chevy....

[deerplanter]

Doesn't sound like you are enjoying doing your own maintenance. I won't do my wife's car for similar reasons.

[LlanoHunter10]

My time is worth money as well. I understand the feeling of getting your hands dirty and the feeling of accomplishment that comes from changing your own oil, but at some point you have to ask if it's really worth it. I did the first couple oil changes on my F150 with the 3.5 EcoBoost, before I decided my time was better spent indoors in the A/C watching other people do it.

[BuckSmasher]

My wife has a new Expedition FX4 with the 3.5 Ecoboost. I changed the oil yesterday for the second time and it's a Royal PITA. To get to the oil pan plug, you have to remove a 4'x3' "Plastic plate" and to get to the oil filter, you have to remove a skid plate. It literally takes me 3x the time to change her oil than it does my Diesel F250.

Am I missing something and there is an easier way? I know, "just take it in and have it changed", but I enjoy doing my own maintenance.

It's not THAT big of a deal.

I carry an cordless drill with for all the little bolts that hold on the aerodynamic plate/plastic wind shield.

You shouldn't be removing the actual metal skid plates.

[Easttxbowman]

Take it to the ford house.

$45 for the works. Tire rotation, oil/filter change, top off all fluids and a multi point inspection.

[Eastwood]

I have a 2012 f150 with the the 3.5 and I've done every oil change since new. I hooked that fiber shield on something and messed it up, so I threw it away the first year. At some point that little square rubber cover got lost. I'd rather spend 20 minutes changing it in my driveway, than a couple of hours setting around some oil change place.

[RattlesnakeDan]

We whip in to Jiffy Lube, get semi synthetic and back out in 20-30 minutes for maybe $35, can't justify crawling under them anymore....although I do my 7.3 myself most times.