Ecoboost Expy Oil Change

Brubro · Aug 17, 2019

OK, I'm sure this has been covered, but a quick search didn't reveal anything in the first three pages of results:

What is up with the oil change procedure for the Ecoboost Expys???

Remove the skidplate, four bolts and two fasteners, to access the drain plug, then battle the lack of space created by a hard line right in front of the drain plug, requiring a wrench instead of a socket. Really???

Then, remove another cover with 12 fasteners to access the oil filter. Really???

THEN, after removing the filter, hunt blindly by feel to reinstall the new filter. Really???

AND THEN the residual oil from the filter drains onto the filter tray and spills out in two directions. It took a crazy amount of shop towels to clean up all that mess off the tray. If I did not do so, it would have drained slowly all over the skid plate and onto the ground/driveway/road. I bet motorcyclers would not be happy about those that don't think to do this.

Could Ford have POSSIBLY made the most basic maintenance procedure for a vehicle any more difficult? I'm surprised I didn't have to remove the motor mounts and lift the engine to change the oil. OK, I know that everyone has to make a buck, but engineering basic maintenance so that it just about has to be performed by a shop for the majority of people is just wrong, and makes me really dislike this vehicle. I think they took it too far.

And, since we are on the general subject of oil change, I am old school, and absolutely subscribe to changing out the filter with a QUALITY one, (IE, not Fram, WallyWorld, etc filter, sorry, they suck; research the build quality of these compared to good filters) every oil change and using full-synthetic oil. It is cliche, but oil is the life blood of your vehicle, and the filter is equally important. I had well over 200K on my 2nd Gen Expy with no smoke or other engine issues doing this sort of routine maintenance timely.

Anyone use and trust the Micro-Green bypass filters since I'm posting all of this? They seem to be engineered properly, the documentation seems solid, but I just don't trust changing an oil filter out every other time. Might use this bypass as the primary filter, changed every time, but that may be overkill. Thoughts?

Black · Aug 17, 2019

Yeah, pretty sure you don’t need to do all of that.
Are there not two rubber access panels squares in your skid plate?

16plati · Aug 17, 2019

Brubro said:
OK, I'm sure this has been covered, but a quick search didn't reveal anything in the first three pages of results:

What is up with the oil change procedure for the Ecoboost Expys???

Remove the skidplate, four bolts and two fasteners, to access the drain plug, then battle the lack of space created by a hard line right in front of the drain plug, requiring a wrench instead of a socket. Really???

Then, remove another cover with 12 fasteners to access the oil filter. Really???

THEN, after removing the filter, hunt blindly by feel to reinstall the new filter. Really???

AND THEN the residual oil from the filter drains onto the filter tray and spills out in two directions. It took a crazy amount of shop towels to clean up all that mess off the tray. If I did not do so, it would have drained slowly all over the skid plate and onto the ground/driveway/road. I bet motorcyclers would not be happy about those that don't think to do this.

Could Ford have POSSIBLY made the most basic maintenance procedure for a vehicle any more difficult? I'm surprised I didn't have to remove the motor mounts and lift the engine to change the oil. OK, I know that everyone has to make a buck, but engineering basic maintenance so that it just about has to be performed by a shop for the majority of people is just wrong, and makes me really dislike this vehicle. I think they took it too far.

And, since we are on the general subject of oil change, I am old school, and absolutely subscribe to changing out the filter with a QUALITY one, (IE, not Fram, WallyWorld, etc filter, sorry, they suck; research the build quality of these compared to good filters) every oil change and using full-synthetic oil. It is cliche, but oil is the life blood of your vehicle, and the filter is equally important. I had well over 200K on my 2nd Gen Expy with no smoke or other engine issues doing this sort of routine maintenance timely.

Anyone use and trust the Micro-Green bypass filters since I'm posting all of this? They seem to be engineered properly, the documentation seems solid, but I just don't trust changing an oil filter out every other time. Might use this bypass as the primary filter, changed every time, but that may be overkill. Thoughts?

View attachment 31621 View attachment 31622

Drop the plate that covers the oil pan. Remove black fabric under front bumper, look up and in towards the motor to find the filter. I can fit my arm up in there on the ground no lift and I’m 6’3”. You can do it. Remove the oil pan plug and drain. Remove the filter, gently, and allow the oil to drain into the little overflow catch below the filter. Two drain outlets on either side so put out buckets appropriately. Put drain plug back on and torque gently. Put on new filter but fill with some new oil first and carefully screw back on. Fill oil. Turn car on and let it run for a bit. Check oil and add accordingly. Button everything back up. Full synthetic. Get yourself a catch can too

sixsix · Aug 17, 2019

You only need to remove one panel under the car to drain the oil, the flimsy one, not the metal skid plate. I get to the filter from the top. Take out the air box and you have more room to get your hand down there. For me it's much easier than going in from the bottom, and if you go slow enough the oil will only drain out of the rear funnel.

adamsdaddy · Aug 17, 2019

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/2016-expedition-oil-change.39684/

Brubro · Aug 18, 2019

Thanks everyone. I will try these suggestions next time. I still contend that the procedure is overly complicated.

16plati said:
Drop the plate that covers the oil pan. Remove black fabric under front bumper, look up and in towards the motor to find the filter. I can fit my arm up in there on the ground no lift and I’m 6’3”. You can do it. Remove the oil pan plug and drain. Remove the filter, gently, and allow the oil to drain into the little overflow catch below the filter. Two drain outlets on either side so put out buckets appropriately. Put drain plug back on and torque gently. Put on new filter but fill with some new oil first and carefully screw back on. Fill oil. Turn car on and let it run for a bit. Check oil and add accordingly. Button everything back up. Full synthetic. Get yourself a catch can too

Yes, I did do all of this. I am just shocked at how unnecessarily complicated and messy the entire process is. I have to clean up the drain plate, personally. I don't want the residual oil dripping out gradually, and access just sucks for all of this. I'm 6' & 52 yoa and have to say that it is the most complicated and messy procedure of any car I have ever owned or worked on, and more complicated than any skid steer, tractor or the host of any other myriad of heavy equipment that I have worked on.

17limited · Aug 18, 2019

They make Ford dealers to do that work for you. Reasonably priced for that kind of service

16plati · Aug 19, 2019

17limited said:
They make Ford dealers to do that work for you. Reasonably priced for that kind of service

Not if you want full synthetic. $90 from ford or 40-50 if you do it in your driveway. Literally takes less than 15 minutes in your own if you know what needs to come off and what can stay on

chuck s · Aug 19, 2019

The Works costs me $72.55 with full synthetic motor oil. With my annual mileage it's once a year and full synthetic is completely unnecessary but gives me a warm fuzzy feeling just knowing it's in the engine.

I don't even get my hands dirty.

-- Chuck

1970Maverick · Aug 19, 2019

I have been changing my own oil since the 60s and it was always pretty easy on all the cars I've owned but my current 2017 Expedition has been a challenge.
After a few oil changes I have a method that works for me and it's the least messy and least frustrating.
I will be installing a Fumoto or EZDrain valve at next oil change
Hope this helps you.

1) Remove both soft shields under engine. 8mm four screws(rear cover) and 1/4 turn clips plus several plastic plugs that pry out.(front cover)

2) Place oil catch pan under drain plug.

3) Remove drain plug 15mm, drain oil then install plug hand tight and start engine 30 seconds to drain filter.

4) Remove plug again finish draining oil. Install plug and tighten.

5) Remove large square rubber access toward front of metal cover under engine.

6) Install plastic cup in the square opening to catch oil when filter is removed. Use a plastic container/cup that can be squeezed into a square without cracking. Only a 1/4 cup should drain into cup

7) Move catch pan to front under metal cover see spout at front of metal cover. Loosen filter allow to drain several minutes. Remove filter. some oil may drain out of the spout depending on the amount of oil left in the filter after step 3

8) Install new filter

9) Remove cup from square hole and replace rubber cover.

10) Add oil + replace both soft shields

Ecoboost Expy Oil Change

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