OK. I got it off in about 2 minutes with the wrench I bought at pep boys. It is the band type wrench, but it has a swival in the handle so you can bend it in a way that allows for better leverage. At first I could not get the wrench on because of two obsticles: (1) the oil gutter that routs oil that falls out of the filter over, down and around the transfer case (cool idea, but it is too close to my filter). I loosened it up and pulled it out of the way until I could turn the filter by hand. (2) there is a cable harness that rests against the front of the filter (bad place for any wiring in my opinion). And yes, gritting your teeth and curling your lip does help. Everything went smoothly from there.

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Black F150 XL 4.6L 5speed Sport 4X4 Extended cab towing package 3.55 rear

Deer Hunter

 

Make sure that once you get the old one off, before you put the new one back on to put a little oil on the rubber ring before putting it on the truck. It will be easier to get off next time. I forgot to do this last time I changed my oil and I'm dreading taking the filter off. I have another 1k miles till it needs a change.

Bones

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2000 F-150, XLT, 4X2, Ext. Cab, S/B, 4.6L, 3.55 L/S, Tow Package, Sony CDX-C7050X Head Unit, 6.5' Sony Three Way Speakers In Each Door. Hopefully An Amp And 12' Sub Soon.

Future Mods: NONE, I'm broke.

 

Bones,

Yeah, you may have a fun time getting your filter off. I did that before and had to scrape part of the gasket off. I read your truck specs, are you planning on putting a 12'(foot) subwoofer in your cab? I'd like to see that

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2000 Black F150 XL 4.6L 5speed Sport 4X4 Extended cab towing package 3.55 rear limited slip

Deer Hunter

 

I ended up buying the same type of filter wrench for my 5.4, the swivel handle is a must!!! Even then, like someone said, you get and inch or two, then have to move the wrench...
My biggest complaint is that when you get the filter off, the oil drains all over the front end and wires up there...what a mess!!!

Whatever happened to easy access for maintenance???


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99 F150 XLT 4x4 SC/SB 5.4/Auto
Off-Road Pkg
Wedgewood blue/gray
Lund Interceptor
Ford Factory cab steps
Ford mud guards
Pendaliner bed liner

 

I guess some of us are lucky - my filter is also located behind the driver side fog-lamp. It's the easiest filter to remove on any vehicle I've ever had. I assume everyone knows this, but you are only supposed to put the filters on hand tight - I put it on as tight as I can with my two hands and it has never leaked. Many people recommend screwing it on until the gasket touches and then going 1/4 more turn - by tightening it as much as I can by hand, it equates to gasket touching and about 1 more full turn - plenty tight enough. It still takes a filter wrench to remove it, but it comes off really easy. I've never had one leak.

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1998 Ford F-250 LD XLT, 5.4 4X4, Midnight Blue/Grey 2-tone, Line-X, Leather, Kenwood Excelon, Rockford 600a5, JL Audio 10", 285/75/R16's, Flowmaster 40 series cat-back with 3" pipe, Chrome tip, Superchip, K&N Filter, Clear turn signal lenses, Superwhite bulbs from Fred@Sportbikes.net(awesome bulbs for $40), Rancho RSX Shocks.

Coming Soon: factory fog lights.

 

In reply to you guys who so proudly speak of your relo kits behind the fog light. My old 89 GMC Jimmy had a remote filter attached to the fender >in< the engine compartment, all kinds of room. Now that was a sweet idea. That was the easiest oil change I have had in 30 some years, except the 67 VW. It had no filter!

Rick

 

If you have a truck it should be easiest just to slide you body under the truck and use you hands to turn the dam thing. That’s what i do and it comes off every time. No uses in buying that dam oil filter wrenches. It just makes matters worst. And make sure that if you go get a oil change, that they dont tighten it to tight.


[This message has been edited by F150grl (edited 06-07-2000).]

 

That's fine advice, but the original question indicated that it wasn't possible to get it off with bare hands and asked for help. As for the first time I took the filter off my 80 chev, the filter had been put on so tight >at the factory< that the nipple came out of the block with the filter. And I had to use both a screwdriver and a lug wrench through the filter to do it!

[This message has been edited by RBurton (edited 06-08-2000).]

 

FYI

Amsoil makes a remote Full Flow filter mounting kit. This is not the by-pass system, it just moves your location of your existing filter and has an adapter that hooks up where the filter goes on the block.

Its called the BMK-14 runs $180 bucks