Holy crap!

I figured at the dealership, you'd have to make an appointment to get an oil change if you didn't want to sit around all day waiting. So I called today to schedule an appointment for tomorrow. Earliest they can get me in is next Thursday....not going to work.

So I figure I'll change it myself. Drain the oil...go to the filter, and it won't turn. No problem, I'll grab the oil filter wrench...oh wait, just re-arranged the garage when I had the garage door installed...no luck finding it.

That's ok, I'll try with both hands. Nope. So I look for another hour...no luck. So I try using a leather belt...and I'm pulling on this filter HARD...no it's not coming off.

Now I mean no problem if I had an oil filter wrench, which I should have somewhere...but why the hell did they make this damn filter so tight from the factory anyway? It's uncalled for.

 

I bet they didn't lube the filter prior to spinning them on.

Mine was a witch too.

 

yeh. if u got a big pair of channel locks u can get them off. or a strap wrench

 

Well I gave it one last try by hand and one last look for the filter. I called a buddy that is going to bring his over, but he can't be here for an hour.

I'm about to go door to door lol.

It's not bad to leave the engine empty for an hour or two is it?

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And I tried my HUGE channel locks, but no good. There is nowhere to put the ends. You can clamp onto it from the front, but from the side, no good. There is a hose on the one side and the body, then there is a cross member, and all kinds of other stuff on the right.

 

Only bad if you start it.

 

Check out the thread below for my experience with the first oil change on my 2007.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ght=oil+change

I also had some big channel lock pliers that did not work for me because there is not enough room to turn them.

The only way I was finally able to get it off was from above with a hammer and screwdriver after pulling off the air intake. Hammer in screwdriver, turn 1", pull out screwdriver, and repeat. I had to do this about 4 times before I was finally able to loosen the filter enough to turn it with my hands.

 

On my 03 its easier to get to the filter if you turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. Id assume the new ones are set up the same basic design

You can put you key in the "run position" so you can turn the steering wheel and it wont lock up.
-Patrick

 

I'm considering the screwdriver method...but I don't want to put it in, then mangle the filter so that a filter wrench couldn't fit on it. My intake tube is already off as I tried from the top also lol. I might go try that.

 

Turning to the right works for me on my '01. I usually forget until after I have pulled the oil drain plug, meaning I can't crank the engine, meaning I have to muscle the steering wheel over without p/s.

 

Ahh well, I got it with a oil filter wrench. Still, it was no easy task.

I swear I got 2 full turns before it started to get easier. Something must have malfunctioned the day they put my oil filter on at the factory. I used to change oil for a garage and I've never seen one THAT tight before.

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I was surprised to see it take the whole 7 quarts. I put 6.5 in just incase, then started it up, and it definitely needed the extra half. My poor oil drain pan wasn't quite ready for 7 quarts lol...so it overflowed. I already changed the oil in my mower and my pressure washer so it had a good 4-5 quarts in it.

 

i had the opposite problem. i had a pretty big oil leak after having my truck for a month and come to find out the filter was loose. i got 2 turns on it with my hand. don't go to power ford of north Scottsdale az

 

Screwdriver and hammer works, trust me. I had to do it too, then the next time I paid to get my oil changed at Monroe while I was at work, wow big mistake. They didnt even put my oil cap back on. After those 2 incidents Ive never let anyone touch my engine again, other then myself and my friends with me there along side.