Does anyone know what the size of the factory filter is on the 5.4? I mean the motorcraft filter 820 is 93mm 36 flutes and is to big for the filter from the factory. I got a change coming up soon and I already tried the wrench I bought specially for this situation, but it only fits the 820.

I don't wanna have to go to the dealer for a oil change, so if anyone could tell me the size of the factory filter, I'll go out and get that wrench.

 

You might want the dealer to do the first as it is a b!tch. They do not oil the gasket and do a good bit more than hand tight. More than one here has had to use everything from screwdrivers to chisels to special tools to get it off. As far as the filter, that is the first that I heard that they used anything except the FL-820S.

 

The first change absolutely sucks. Be sure you never again tighten it any more than you can by hand. On this model truck I don't even tighten it a quarter turn by the tool, because Ford decided to put the oil filter in the worst location possible. It was great on the '97 model, but it's terrible on the '04 model. Expect major swearing and bloodied knuckles the first go-round, and like I said, just hand tighten and that is it. Trust me, I hate changing my oil in this truck. Funny, it's time for me to change mine as well right now.

PH2 Fram oil filter works for '04, same as '97.
Let's all pray the '09 model is back to normal as far as oil filter placement. Heck, at least leave room for the oil filter wrench, the '04's barely leave room for a single hand at an incredibly odd angle...

 

No doubt! I just got done doing my first oil change. That thing was a bear to get off. I went in from the top, after nearly breaking my left wrist trying to loosen it by hand. I took off the plastic piece of the intake and the intake mounting bracket, to get them out of the way, then went at it with one of those cinching type filter wrenches with a 3 foot piece of aluminum pipe over the handle to use as a breaker bar. Took much longer than anticipated.

 

Well I am still alive and my truck is still running. I also did my first oil change yesterday. I figured since it was Sunday and if I messed up anything to bad I could go to the parts store and square everything away before work on Monday so I would not be walking...if you'll read close I'll share with you my exploits:

I was well armed with information and details of the many souls who have gone before me and changed their oil for the first time themselves. Needless to say I was determined to do the first change myself since I have been no stranger to doing my own oil changes since the begining. I could not see giving the dealer a cent to do a task that I could do myself regardless of how tight the filter was. These guys on the forum they must be weaklings or have the wrong tools...the filiter can't be that tight come on, I'll get it off no sweat (this is me preping myself up).

Having a bucket load of tools and oil filter wrenches one is bound to fit. I had bought a new 93mm 36 flute oil filter only to learn on here that Ford did not use a regular FL820 from the factory. So here I lay on my back with every tool imaginable determined not to let this filter out due me, since I am man, I am the superior being, the truck is only a machine.

Having removed the air induction garbage, I was ready to roll. Laying on my back and with the first attempt and pull on the filter I could sense I was in real trouble Real trouble. I took a few more pulls before I finally realized that the folks on the forum who had gone before me were absolutely right....then I remembered a post I had read the the forum where the guy used his cup filter he had bought for the FL 820 and forced it on the factory filter and then eased off the tight filter. Boom it worked I was still the superior being.

Getting the filter off without to much trouble was cool my chest was stuck out and I was yet again in charge. With the filter removed and the new FL 820 installed I have ensured myself that there would be no more episodes of this nature in the future.

Putting the drain bucket under the truck and loosening the oil drain plug...in my mind it was just at that point I realized that the engine was hot, the oil was hotter, my drain bucket was for a 5 quart capacity and my truck held 7 quarts all this flashed through my mind as the final turn was done on the plug and the oil started to drain into the bucket at a relatively fast pace.

Can you ingine what I was thinking at that point as I watched the bucket get that much closer to capacity before it overflowed onto my nice clean driveway...well it does not take a superior being to realize what will happen if you try to stick the drain plug back into the pan while the oil is coming out full force still.

My kids are engrossed into their tunes so loudly that there is no use in yelling for them to bring me something anything and by the time I got out from under the truck to get something it would be too late anyways. Mine you all this is going on in my head in the split seconds before.

Needless to say all I could do the superior being was to watch as roughly 2 quarts of used oil free flowed all over my driveway and down the driveway...other than that I had a pleasant oil change experience....NOT.

Moral...all the things you read here especially the things that folks have done before you are absolutley correct and noteworthy of paying attention too. In addition please make sure that your oil drain bucket has a capacity larger than 5 quarts!!!!!!

 

I took mine in to the local quick lube shop for my first oil change since I didn't want to have to deal with getting the filter off. Since then, I've been doing all my own oil changes and oiling the gasket like the factory should be doing with the first one. I told the guys at the quick lube that the reason I was having them do the first one is that it is a pain and I didn't want to deal with it (they just laughed, but had a heck of a time getting the filter off).

 

I didn't wuss out for my first change, and it went VERY smoothly due to research. Ampro P/N T70403 from Advance Auto Parts. That, a couple extensions and a 3/8" u-joint with your 3/8" ratchet will get the job done no sweat...