I just traded in my 1997 F150 with 240,000 miles, for a 2008 F150. Always changed the oil on my old truck myself. My new one doesn't need an oil change yet but how the heck do you change the filter. The old truck had the filter under the wheel well. The new one looks kinda tricky to get to

 

What engine do you have. I have an 08 with the 4.6 and it looks a little like a PITA to get to as well.

 

At least on the 5.4 motors, I can get to the filter pretty easy right behind the bumper. Very easy to get your hands on it, and takes a 4" ratchet extension if using a filter cap wrench.

 

If the engine setup is the same as my 05' 4.6, its not hard at all. Go from under the truck.

 

Oh I will. No its not too hard, more it looks like it would make a hell of a mess. My old car you just spun it off and it drops straight down, no mess at all. No, it will be easy to get off. Just have to do a little clean up.

 

It's a 4.6 Here's a pic. If i reach down from the top, i can just touch the end of it with my finger-tips and there is some kind of cowling under it to keep me from getting at it from below.

Pic's not working.

 

Host it on a site like photobucket, then post the link here.

 

If it's the same as my 07 5.4, you can reach from in front of that cowling, from underneath. First time it's kinda a pain with the gorillas they use to put them on, but you get the idea.

 

It's on Photobucket. Let me switch to FireFox and try it.

 

So the residual oil just runs onto that cowling when you pull the filter ?
Cause i can't see how to get anything in there to catch it.

 

Yup, Ford could care less about it's placement when they designed the engine. While you could poke a hole in it before removing and drain the oil, I find it's easier to just spin it off quickly and turn it upright as quickly as possible. Be sure to grip it with some rags as it will leak down the sides of the filter and all over your hand. It drips but it's not too bad.

 

To avoid a big mess:

• Loosen the filter so that you can spin it by hand, but not so loose that it leaks oil.
• Take a large ZipLoc bag, and place it completely over the filter.
• With the bag over the filter, use your hand to remove the filter.

Doing this, the oil will run into the ZipLoc bag, and not onto you/the floor/your truck/etc. I've been doing this for a few years now, and it works great!

 

I don't know how you manage that, but mine probably dumps over a cup of oil just by loosening the filter, before it even comes completely off.

 

This is precisely why I have TASCA FORD do my services, while I go to lunch in the TASCA CAFE!............

 

You gotta pull the plug and drain it first. jk