How to Do Your Ford Oil Change Service
Looking to
keep your engine running for as long as you own your Ford? Of course, you are
and that’s why it’s important to change your car oil. The most common part of
your routine maintenance is an oil and filter change. Your Ford’s engine
depends on clean oil to prevent internal wear, clean sludge deposits that might
form, and protect against corrosion and friction. It even helps disperse excess
heat.
How Often
Should You Change Car Oil?
Your Ford
oil change interval is determined by the Intelligent Oil Life Monitor. Instead
of using generic preset mileage intervals, the Intelligent
Oil Life Monitor uses your vehicle’s data to help your engine perform
its best while minimizing your maintenance costs.
Your Ford
oil change may only need to be done every 10,000 miles if you drive in normal,
light-duty conditions. However, if your driving leans more toward extreme, your
oil and filter change could be due every 3,000 miles or so. Follow your
Intelligent Oil Life Monitor. When a message is displayed on your instrument
cluster to change the oil, it’s time to get it done!
How to
Change Car Oil
If you’re a
DIYer, you might be inclined to change car oil for yourself. Sound like you?
Then here’s how to change car oil in your Ford vehicle, whether you drive a Ford Fiesta, F-150, Mustang,
Explorer, or any other Ford vehicle, courtesy of your SoCal Ford Dealers.
Life and
Support the Front End
Jack your
car’s front end up at the lift points indicated in your owner’s manual. You need
to make enough room to slip underneath the car to drain the oil and change the
filter. But before you get under the car, put axle jack stands under the lift
points for safety!
Drain the
Engine Oil
Place a
catch basin under the drain plug. Using a wrench or a ratchet, remove the oil
pan drain plug and let the oil flow into the basin. Let it drain completely.
Change the
Oil Filter
While the
oil is draining, remove the oil filter using an oil filter wrench. Turn it
counter-clockwise to remove the filter. Wipe the gasket surface with a clean
lint-free rag.
Dab your
finger into clean engine oil and lubricate the gasket on the new oil filter.
Turn it on by hand until it’s snug, then turn it another quarter turn. Don’t
use a wrench to tighten it. And always use
a Genuine Ford oil filter for the best performance.
Install the
Oil Pan Drain Plug
With the
oil no longer flowing, re-install the drain plug in the oil pan. Tighten it
with a torque wrench to the specification listed in the owner’s manual.
Fill the Engine
with Oil
Use only
the correct engine oil as specified for your Ford. You’ll find the right grade
listed on your oil cap and in your owner’s manual. You’ll also find the engine
oil capacity in manual.
Fill the
engine with your clean oil, checking the engine oil dipstick to ensure it’s not
over- or under-filled.
Check Your
Work!
Lower your
car and run the engine for ten seconds. Shut if off and recheck the oil level
and adjust as necessary.
Choose Your Local SoCal Ford Service Center
Sounds like more than you bargained for? Don’t have the time to be a DIYer this time? If you’re in Southern California, there’s no need to search ‘where to change car oil near me’. Simply visit your local Southern California Ford Dealers in person or online, or call to schedule your Ford oil change. A Ford factory-trained technician will change your Ford’s engine oil using Genuine Ford parts and fluids and perform a complimentary visual inspection as well.
