Oil change where is the bolt to drain?

[16plati]

A few years ago we took our Odyssey (replaced by the Expy) to a couple of the coupon cheap oil change places. Next thing I know oil is dripping on the driveway. Took the Odyssey to our mechanic only to find that the drain bolt had been over-tightened and the threads in the oil pan stripped. One new $400 oil pan later...I vowed to take it to our mechanic (kind of a pain 'cause he only works M-F) or learn how to do it myself.

I had watched the 2015 Expedition EL video a few times only to find (after I'd crawled under our 2016) that its oil drains from the front whereas my 2016 non-EL apparently drains from the passenger side near the support bar.

There are two drain ports on all 15-17s for the secondary basin under the oil filter. One drains to front driver, other drains to passenger side. The oil drain plug should be passenger side of oil pan on all 15-17s

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Yes, some outfits make the price an easy decision to let them do it. And agree with the point about not having access to space or tools. At the same time, it is not likely that the same person will do the job every time or remember your vehicle from the many others that go through the shop, so at best you get a snapshot and no history.

For anybody that cares about what filter goes on / lube goes into the motor and does not want the discount bulk-buy item that shops typically carry, doing it yourself really really the better way. Bonus to doing this yourself is the opportunity to see the undercarriage, take mental notes of things as they change, and build a plan of when to repair other things.

I have been doing my Expedition's oil changes since I bought it simply because it was easy (no need to jack up). However, I was sending my wife to the quick lube places since we could get it done for $10 most times. It seemed like a no-brainer until the guy at Meineke drained half her brake fluid in an attempt to convince her she needed new brakes. Now I do hers also. It's a bit of a pain, but at least I know no one is draining other fluids, etc. (I do have a few trustworthy shops I use for repairs, but their oil changes are too pricey to make it worthwhile.)

 

[Eagle 71]

I have a much easier procedure.
"Call me when its done"

There are some of us, in spite of our old age, that still like getting our hands dirty and doing it ourselves. Plus, we're retired, and are cheap bazztards!

 

[JRHEXP]

I reach down from the top and get the oil filter off that way.

 

[mquick5]

I reach down from the top and get the oil filter off that way.

I'd like to see this, on a 2015+

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[1955moose]

Holy cow! They drained the brake fluid? If you had an under the hood snapshot, of beforehand, you'd own Meineke right now. That's scary. I had a boss at my first job, an Arco gas station, that said to me on a Saturday while wet tanking a lady's tire that was losing air. I yelled Ray across the shop, I can't find any leaks, the lady who worked as bartender at bar across the street, that owned the Ford Galaxy, was waiting in our small office. He said to me shhh, with his finger in front of his face, make one! Most deceitful thing I ever did in my life. All that to make $10.00 to plug a tire. He was such a crook. Right around the same time as Nixon. I heard that boss jumped the Golden gate bridge about 2 years later, in 1972. Paybacks a ***** ain't it!

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[rjdelp7]

I leased a 2009 Lincoln MKZ. It came with 2 'free' oil changes. I took it in for first one @ 2K mi/5 months. The service manager, said "it was not due". I said do it anyway. 15 minute drive and 45 minute wait, another 15min drive home. While waiting, I walked around the building. I am 99% sure nothing was done. I was told no receipt is given for the 'free' oil change. I was considering buying it, when the lease ended. For piece of mind, I changed it a month later(30 min. myself) The second time, the lazy mechanic drained the filter with the splash shield in place. Oily mess all over the engine bay and drips. One 8mm screw for the filter access panel! So... Over an hour and 15min, and both times sketchy service. 30-40min, I can do it and do it right.

 

[1955moose]

And people wonder why others buy German or British cars. That happened at a Lincoln dealer? That service manager not only needs to be fired, but he and and the owner of the dealership should be cattle prodded on their testicles. I would say shoot them, but I live in California, they frown on that here . Maybe I'll move to Texas, plenty of cattle electrical equipment there! What's wrong with these people. It's only oil, and they legally promised to change it. The more I read these posts, the more I don't want a new car.

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[adamsdaddy]

My mechanic is an incredibly kind and honest gentleman. Yesterday, after the usual complaints about being asked to take her Expy to the mechanic, the wife took it in only to find out that his lift just blew a hose. He was nice enough to crawl under the Expy and mark the bolt with a yellow marker...he even drew a big arrow pointing to it.

I'll do it myself this Saturday - debating whether to get a strap wrench or use the side grip oil wrench pliers. Since you have to slide your arm up at an angle in a small space - I'm not sure how well I'll fair with squeezing it tight enough to loosen it. I figure a strap wrench would be a sure fire way to get it loose.

Once I'm done cussing and making a mess then I'll take some pictures so the next time somebody looks this up it'll be less guess work.

 

[1955moose]

See, that's the kind of people the world needs more of. If only we could find the dealers and other top businesses to act that way. It's good to know there's a few good ones left.

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[16plati]

I'd like to see this, on a 2015+

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Same

 

[JRHEXP]

I'd like to see this, on a 2015+

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I have a 2017 3.5 .I remove the hose to the air cleaner and just reach down with an oil filter wench and spin it off . My 97 had a remote oil filter that was really nice.

 

[Boose]

not trying to be that guy, but if you have to ask how to drain the oil you probably should think about going to Jiffy Lube...

 

[mquick5]

not trying to be that guy, but if you have to ask how to drain the oil you probably should think about going to Jiffy Lube...

Yeah and let there half trained kids tear into your 50k+ vehicle. No thanks I'd rather ask a few questions myself, because I am that guy!

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[rjdelp7]

not trying to be that guy, but if you have to ask how to drain the oil you probably should think about going to Jiffy Lube...

Watch the video, earlier in this thread before posting condescending replies. The plug is on the front driver side, under a removable panel. Its a bit strange, by most standards. For such a large vehicle, I can't understand why they made maintenance, so difficult.

 

[Boose]

My point is that one should be able to tell the difference between a skid plate and/or an oil pan in order to successfully execute an oil change. I have a 17 Expedition and a 19 F150 both with the 3.5. I completely understand that they don't make it easy or straight forward to see the oil pan with the skid plate which has the small marked non removable plate attached to the main plate and the felt splash shield behind.

 

[creef14]

Yeah and let there half trained kids tear into your 50k+ vehicle. No thanks I'd rather ask a few questions myself, because I am that guy!

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When that "half trained" kid messes up and forgets a drain plug, puts in too little oil, or cross threads your oil filter, you're covered by the insurance policy of a multi-billion dollar company. Go ahead and make any of those mistakes in your driveway, and see how it plays out. That kid was also trained by a company that is doing this to make money, not break cars, and not getting instructions from hobbyists on the internet; so he's probably trained better than most on here in the simple process of changing oil. Plenty of great mechanics got their start in those places.

I know the insurance part for a fact because about 15 years ago a Jiffy Lube in FL forgot to replace the drain plug in a Nissan I owned and blew the engine about 2 miles down the road. It took less than a week for their insurance to take full responsibility, they put me in a rental, and paid the local Nissan dealer to replace a 170k mile engine with a dealer rebuilt one. I got back a better car than I went in with. And it definitely cost them more than the value of the car but as their attorney told me their "business model requires them to right these kinds of problems, even if that means they can't right off your car just because you want it back."

There are pluses and minuses to everything. You're not a genius for changing our own oil or a moron for letting others do it. But it is probably a bad idea to get into crucial components of your $50k+ vehicle if you admittedly do not know what you're doing. my 2 cents....

 

[rjdelp7]

When that "half trained" kid messes up and forgets a drain plug, puts in too little oil, or cross threads your oil filter, you're covered by the insurance policy of a multi-billion dollar company. Go ahead and make any of those mistakes in your driveway, and see how it plays out. That kid was also trained by a company that is doing this to make money, not break cars, and not getting instructions from hobbyists on the internet; so he's probably trained better than most on here in the simple process of changing oil. Plenty of great mechanics got their start in those places.

I know the insurance part for a fact because about 15 years ago a Jiffy Lube in FL forgot to replace the drain plug in a Nissan I owned and blew the engine about 2 miles down the road. It took less than a week for their insurance to take full responsibility, they put me in a rental, and paid the local Nissan dealer to replace a 170k mile engine with a dealer rebuilt one. I got back a better car than I went in with. And it definitely cost them more than the value of the car but as their attorney told me their "business model requires them to right these kinds of problems, even if that means they can't right off your car just because you want it back."

There are pluses and minuses to everything. You're not a genius for changing our own oil or a moron for letting others do it. But it is probably a bad idea to get into crucial components of your $50k+ vehicle if you admittedly do not know what you're doing. my 2 cents....

Let me get this straight... You drove 2 miles with no oil plug/oil? If so, was there a oil light on? Gauge? No engine noise? I say, you were at least 50% responsible.

 

[creef14]

Let me get this straight... You drove 2 miles with no oil plug/oil? If so, was there a oil light on? Gauge? No engine noise? I say, you were at least 50% responsible.

Not disagreeing with any of that statement... but

I was also 19 and figured that light couldn't be right and I rolled with 3-12's in the trunk so I didn't hear or feel a lot other than music at the time. By the time I felt the engine choking on itself it was too late.

I know I had fault in that, but the point is part of the reasons those companies exist to take the liability out of your hands.

 

[rjdelp7]

So.. minutes after getting your oil changed, you have an oil light on and figure 'that can't be right'. I will just blast the music anyway? Are you a Re-Re? You are officially not allowed to post on anymore 'oil change' threads.