I'm going crazy here. I'm pissed beyond belief. Two times in a row now, I've gone for a simple oil change and came out needing expensive repairs, towing, etc. Never, never again will I ever change the oil in any vehicle I own.. just add when needed.

Now, I just spent the past 4 months trying to get the oil dipstick unseized from the dipstick tube. Impossible, so I eventually just cut the tube off with a Dremel about an inch from the top and installed a new, now inch-shorter dipstick. Problem solved.

So, I figure I'll go get an oil change now, and proceed to do so. Went to a place about a half-mile from my house, and sprung for the full synthetic change which was $80. Come back to get my truck, and here we go... "Um, you know you have a power steering leak, right?" No, I don't *******, but I'm sure you will say I do. "Yea, and it's pretty bad".

The damn thing is leaking like someone just pouring it out of a glass. It was just fine when I left my damn house, a half-mile away. But what-the-hell-ever, I'm used to it.

Anywayyyy, enough ranting. So here I am, trying to get the power steering return line out. Oh what f**kin fun this is! By the way, if you ever have this problem, don't even bother - bring it to a shop and save yourself the pain and misery. Trust me.

I get the return line out, but of course I damage the pressure line above it in the process. Figured that would happen, but it's rusty and will probably go soon anyway.

Enough BS... here are my questions:

1) Can/should I re-use the oil that literally has one-half mile on it (since now I have to remove oil filter to replace pressure line)? I just paid $80 for the stuff. lol

and..

2) I really don't give a chit anymore, so could/would I be able to leave the pressure line attached to the pump, and 'piece' it together with the new line? I only ask because I heard it's a REAL pain in the *** to get to that pump fitting, plus, again, I'd have to drain my oil. Is it even possible to piece them together somehow, and if so, how exactly? I know that's 'rigging', but at this point I really don't care anymore.


Any input would be fabbbbbuulloouussss, thannnkkksssss.

 

Assuming you've drained the oil out of the engine and into a CLEAN container, you can simply put it back in the engine. I don't remember the 2004 being that much of a PIA to swap the PS lines. Pulling the filter should have been enough as I recall. No need to drain the oil but maybe yours is different. You didn't say ym or engine. Mine was a 2004 4.6 2wd. If the oil filter is still clean and will seal against the filter mount, you can reuse it too. Might look to a local dealer for oil changes instead of the corner quicky place. The biggest benefit of using a dealer is they can check if there are any recalls on the truck and since they see these everyday, have a clue about what is commonly wrong. I've found the dealers to be reasonably priced for oil changes although the wifes Escape is the only one we use the dealer for oil changes. That car is a wreck to change the oil or do battery service.

 

Thank you! Ya know, you're right... I haven't changed the oil in a vehicle in so long (because it was too much of a mess to be worth it, not having any way to dispose of the used oil, etc.), that I didn't realize that I could probably take the oil filter off without losing any (most) of the oil, right? I'm so used to changing it in mowers and motorcycles and ATVs where you'll lose it all, just like draining via the drain plug.

By the way, it's a 2004 5.4 FX4.

Thank ya!