Do your own oil changes (avoid dealer service)!

[georgeb]

Quickjacks with a set of SUV adapters is pretty good - just make sure you wont hit your garage door opener!

And for those of you whomstest dont want a dirty floor - dont use just an oil catch pan - also grab one of these:

Its a much larger pan - you can put your oil pan on top of it. They sell different types - I just liked the black one. First oil change with the new floor - got the pan dead on - no issues. Looked away for a moment and now the oil is pooring all off the side of the oil pan because the flow reduced and I wasnt watching - but all of the mess went on the washing machine pan.

(btw if you decide to add a washing machine drain pan to your arsenal they are located dead middle of the washer/dryer section - not on an aisle (at least at Lowes it was).

Walmart is the place to get the oil + filters - Walmart stocks the OEM Ford filter and the Quaker State synthetic that meets Ford specs - just make sure to search the Walmart site so you can get it all at the same store. Ive had multiple times I had to goto several walmarts to get the Filter + 5gal + 1quart.

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[bgn]

My truck was returned with oil on the headliner, scratches on the A pillar and B pillar plastics, unseated rubber seals, and other issues for the airbag recall.

The dealers don't care and Ford doesn't either. When I come back from vacation, I'm going to another dealer for the 6th time to hopefully finally get the headliner replaced.

It's absolutely insane to me that they can be this careless with someone else's property.

 

[unclerunkle]

Walmart is the place to get the oil + filters - Walmart stocks the OEM Ford filter and the Quaker State synthetic that meets Ford specs - just make sure to search the Walmart site so you can get it all at the same store. Ive had multiple times I had to goto several walmarts to get the Filter + 5gal + 1quart.

Which one is the OEM Ford Filter? I searched Walmart's site and didn't see anything that appeared OEM-like. I bought the extended warranty so don't want to give Ford any chance of an easy way out.

 

[Montana]

Tbf, those "nuts" they use on that portion are cheap garbage. I got spares just in case.

 

[unclerunkle]

Quickjacks with a set of SUV adapters is pretty good - just make sure you wont hit your garage door opener!

Would recommend buying and using their pinch weld blocks (or similar knock-offs for cheaper) instead https://www.quickjack.com/accessories/pinch-weld-blocks/

 

[Montana]

Would recommend buying and using their pinch weld blocks (or similar knock-offs for cheaper) instead https://www.quickjack.com/accessories/pinch-weld-blocks/

Do those fit over the plastic on the Maverick too? I had to custom cut my pinch weld adapters to be wider for the Maverick. I have a metal one that fits though.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

My dealership recently put new tires on -- put the wrong ones on -- in correcting their mistake they nicked a gouge out of my brand new rim which I'm waiting to get repaired. (An aside: the day I was in there on the tires, an old man came in to say he'd had them do an oil change the day before, and now there was oil all over the engine compartment and dripping down. Tech "forgot" to put the cap back on.)

Once they fix their latest fubar, there is no way in hell those guys are going to touch my truck again unless it's my only (warranty-related) option. (EVERY dealership in driving range is scheduling 6-8 weeks out). Dealers are clearly not recruiting the best and the brightest as techs, or even the barely competent. You've also got to understand that really NO ONE is as invested in a job being done right on your truck as you are, and the dealership service department is less about Service and more about Profit. Period. Full stop.

I have a trusted mechanic a few blocks away who will do the oil changes (I'm entirely too old to do them myself, happy to pay someone I trust). Him I trust completely, and when the time comes for other routine maintenance I can't do myself, he'll get that work, too. All fully documented (including photos of oil and filter used) in Ford Pass.

 

[nklem]

My son has done his first two changes himself with pennzoil platinum in the driveway and takes less than 30 mins on ramps. He is doing them every 5k miles. 11k miles since March, he loves his MAV.

I will do the same myself. I do not trust any dealer at all, too many bad experiences.

 

[MaverRick]

Mine is currently at 9200 miles and I’ve done two oil changes and one tire rotation. Haven’t gone back to the dealer for anything and probably wont do the airbag recall.

 

[23grayXLT84]

It's quite sad the reputation dealers and mechanics get.

I hate to say it but in most cases you decided to be a mechanic, take pride in your work or else consider a career change.

 

[GPSMan]

Crawled under and took pics.
4 busted that i've noticed.

Mine was worse than yours I think.
Mine came home with no underbelly panel at all.

I didn't notice right away so they threw it away.

They "ordered" me a new panel after I complained. But SA said "You're probably better off without it."
Has to come from Mexico.
Will take 3-4 months.

 

[OpieGoneBad]

I didn't want to do the first oil change but now i'm regretting not doing it myself.

I always do my own oil changes. I can't even remember the last time I had my oil changes at a dealership or mechanic/quick fill place. It's been decades. With these modern vehicles there are fewer and fewer things that we can actually do ourselves on them. Oil changes is one thing we can still do without specialty equipment or training. Besides, it is a good way to get yourself under your vehicle and look for any potential issues/leaks. It's a good thing to get your hands dirty every now and then on your own vehicle.

 

[jsus]

Mine was worse than yours I think.
Mine came home with no underbelly panel at all.

I didn't notice right away so they threw it away.

They "ordered" me a new panel after I complained. But SA said "You're probably better off without it."
Has to come from Mexico.
Will take 3-4 months.

On the bright side, it should have the recall holes stamped at the factory instead of being cut out by hand by the newest guy(/gal?) at the dealer. Much cleaner and neater that way. Maybe they did you a favor.

 

[commadorebob]

Find a better quick lube. Not counting my dealership, I practically trip over them in my town. One is bound to be competently run.

 

[homerdog]

Ford keeps sending me coupons for an oil change with synthetic blend oil. I throw them in the trash since we're supposed to be using full synthetic.

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