Can someone point me to a link or writeup on performing oil change on my 99? I know it's pretty basic but like to have a guide before I do this.

Mark

 

Get an oil pan, some rags, a filter wrench, and a few mm wrenches (14-16 should work i don't remember the exact size).

1. Start engine for a few minutes then shut it off.
2. Put the oil pan under the engine oil pan and unscrew the drain plug.
3. Go drank a beer or something as oil drains.
4. Put drain plug back in and snug it up (don't overtighten)
5. Move oil pan to filter location(mines behind front bumper)
6. Unscrew the filter with the filter wrench and let oil drain into pan.
7. Make sure the rubber seal comes off with the filter otherwise remove that by hand.
8. Open up a quart of new oil and dab ur finger in it and spread it around the o-ring seal of the new filter
9. Screw on new filter and hand tighten (some say 1/4 less than hand tight and others say 1/4 more than hand tight, but i always just hand tighten)
10. Pour 6 quarts (or recommended amount) into oil fill cap in top of the engine.
11. Start motor and check for leaks.
12. Check oil level.
13. Clean up tools, write down mileage and have a good day.

side note: some people like to fill the oil filter with oil before installing it, but i find thats a pain.

 

14. Pour the waste oil into a container.
15. Wrap up the old oil filter.
16. Take both to somewhere that offers proper disposal.

Not trying to be a smartass, but it's a lot easier to take it to a shop or an oil change center to have the job done.

 

crank the steering wheel all the way to the left to get better access to get the oil filter out.

 

Do not perform step #1 in weahova's instructions!!! You want to change your oil with as much of it in the pan as possible. If your truck was driven well the last time it was shut off then go ahead and change it cold. There's no problem at all changing cold oil as long as it's been sitting for a while. The one thing you don't want to do is crank it for a short period. It takes quite some time to get the oil warm in these motors. When you crank it for a short time like that, all you do is circulate cold, thick oil that'll take for ever to completely drain back down to the pan.

 

thanx for that info galaxy, everyones always told me to start it up and get it warm...i guess you learn something new everyday

 

Yes, that's fine if you do that but the key like you said is to get the oil warm...which is not accomplished in just a few minutes.

 

i wish the oil filter wasnt where it is. its such a pain to get up there to remove it

 

True, but its much cheaper, more fun to, and self confidence/proud feeling of maintaining your own vehicle.

 

It's not that much cheaper.

Don't get me wrong - I used to have the attitude that nobody was going to touch my vehicle but me - but I can't be bothered any more. I've gotten lazy in my old age and I now take my vehicle to people I trust to do the work. Crawling under a vehicle is no longer fun.

 

I would suggest what I do. Drive it for 15-20 mins to make sure oil is hot and that any moisture is evaporated. Then let it sit about 1/2 hour, then do the oil change. Oil is still warm, and drains easier than when cold.

 

^ yeah, go buy the oil and filter and by the time you get back the truck will be warm.

 

i've gotten my oil changed once and it cost me $50!
needless to say, never doing that again...i think the cheapest place in town (that i would trust handling my truck anyway) is $40...i can do it myself for half the price and even use synthetic oil (which i don't because i change the oil every 3k miles anyway). with regular oil, its only about $15 if that!

 

I've seen Ford dealers that will do it for 25 bucks or less. I pay $60, but I use Mobil 1 EP and a Mobil 1 filter - both way more expensive than Motorcraft.

 

Thanks for all the replies and the help! I really appreciate it. Lots of valuable info I didn't know too!