So, I'm just venting here, but I'm sick and tired of Ford's practice of WELDING the factory original oil filter onto their vehicles. Yesterday I spent a few hours doing the first oil change on the truck. You know 5 minutes to drain the oil and put the plug back in, the remainder trying to get the dam filter off.

So, does everyone else experience this? I have on the past 25 years worth of new vehicles. Other brands included.....

Ok, now back to the regularly scheduled topics....

 

Agreed. My .last F150 has a skid plate I had to remove to get to it... PITA. Another reason to use synthetic and extend the oil change intervals a bit.

 

HOURS??? are you kidding what where you using to take the filter off?? I have a 2005 FX4 Screw and my filter was "WELDED" I have a filter cup wrench that fits the motorcraft FL820S and a small socket wrench and a regular sized one and never spent countless hours to take it off.

 

Ahhh, the Lou Ferrigno (Incredible Hulk fame) oil filter installation guy at the engine plant strikes again!

 

My first change is a while down the road, but I will remember this info.

 

I suspect the original filter is put on dry and the gasket sticks. After the first one, the rest go normally. I let my dealer do the first one ($28.00) and I have done the rest.

 

Here's a topic in the "beaten to death" category. The engines are mass produced, a machine is used to install the filters. Said filter is installed tight and gets tighter as you drive the first 3000 miles. This is why it's a good idea to let the dealer do the first oil change. Let them deal with the super tight filter then all your future changes are easy.

 

Another good idea is not to wait for 3,000 for the first oil change. Cheap insurance... just in case.

 

Dealer gave me my first 3 oil changes for free and even filled up the truck with gas on #1 & 2 oil changes.

 

For the record, the mileage point you mention has nothing to do with it. I always do the first oil change between 200 and 500 miles on a new vehicle and I always encounter the same BS. Filters that don't want to come off.

This time it really sucked because my band style filter wrench gave out in the process. All it was good for was bending in on itself and crushing the body of the filter. My luck, the adjustable filter wrench that I once had is gone. It would have made short work of this issue. That left me using a set of channel locks that are too small to really grip the body of the filter. Hell even the large screwdriver thru the can, with the lack of clearance around the filter didn't budge the dam thing....

So ya, it took a few hours of fumble F$%^ing around to get the filter to move.

Ok, Tbird69. I'm game, please explain how the filter tightens with mileage? This I've got to hear. I work in aviation industry, and we safety wire any sort of threaded device or fastener, to prevent it from loosening during operation. Am I to believe that something different happens here????

 

I'm thinking about adding an oil filter relocation kit. At least it would be easier to get to!!! Anyone else have one?

 

My 98 had one from the factory, it was a great feature. Please post what you find here. I think I may go the same route.

 

This is new information for you? In the aviation biz you say you have to safety wire things, why is that? The vibration those fastners endure will cause them to loosen over time. Well the opposite is true for things like oil filters. Heating and cooling cycles, the oil flowing in and out of the filter as well as the pressure in the system will make the filter tighten over time. Ever wonder why the instructions on the filter say to tighten it 1/2 to 1 full turn after the gasket contacts the motor? This is why.

 

i have an oil filter spider. the tighter the filter is the tighter this thing grabs. put it on the end of an extension with a swivel and these f-150 filters are a piece of cake.

 

Who sells the oil filter spider? That looks like a much better tool then the one I had.

Tbird69, thanks for the info. From what your saying there is something different going on with the filter in the application. Do you have a source where I can read more about this? My understanding on this topic appears to be incorrect. Thanks for the clarification!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!