Oil change on FX4 REALLY requires skid plate removal (heed the PSA!)

[shadowthrone]

So today I decided was a warm enough day to change the oil in my Maverick.

Great! I read a few topics on here with folks saying that you don't need to remove the big skidplate for an oil change, the oil *just* misses it and drains if you take out that plastic air scoop. Just use a red cup on the filter - easy no mess!

Gather around folks, this is about to get educational! I found out the hard way those previous statements were full BS. Initial drain was *mostly* fine, but then the drip...oh the drip. Dripped a good pint of oil onto the big skid plate from filter and drain plug side. Had to take it off anyway, but now with added fun of using paper towels for soaking up the oil from the noise/heat insulation that's on the back of the skid plate, and garage floor. Great fun!

Learn from my mistakes - there is only 6 13 mm and 4 T30 bolts holding the big plate on, I spent less than 5 seconds per bolt taking it off and then putting it on with an impact. Would have saved me from a great big mess if I didn't try "car wisdom" from "mechanics with 40 years experience" on this forum!

Both the drain hole and the oil filter are positioned in a way that you need to take out the big skid plate, the small one can stay in place. Otherwise the big skid plate becomes your extra oil reservoir and makes a great mess all over your garage as well. Get an impact and spend 2 minutes, try the "shortcut" and waste another hour.

Oil, filter and oilcan waiting their turn on the tonneau cover, got to be precise about those 5.5 quarts!

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[psuarmy]

So today I decided was a warm enough day to change the oil in my Maverick.

Great! I read a few topics on here with folks saying that you don't need to remove the big skidplate for an oil change, the oil *just* misses it and drains if you take out that plastic air scoop. Just use a red cup on the filter - easy no mess!

Gather around folks, this is about to get educational! I found out the hard way those previous statements were full BS. Initial drain was *mostly* fine, but then the drip...oh the drip. Dripped a good pint of oil onto the big skid plate from filter and drain plug side. Had to take it off anyway, but now with added fun of using paper towels for soaking up the oil from the noise/heat insulation that's on the back of the skid plate, and garage floor. Great fun!

Learn from my mistakes - there is only 6 13 mm and 4 T30 bolts holding the big plate on, I spent less than 5 seconds per bolt taking it off and then putting it on with an impact. Would have saved me from a great big mess if I didn't try "car wisdom" from "mechanics with 40 years experience" on this forum!

Both the drain hole and the oil filter are positioned in a way that you need to take out the big skid plate, the small one can stay in place. Otherwise the big skid plate becomes your extra oil reservoir and makes a great mess all over your garage as well. Get an impact and spend 2 minutes, try the "shortcut" and waste another hour.

Oil, filter and oilcan waiting their turn on the tonneau cover, got to be precise about those 5.5 quarts!

I have a FX4 and have 3 oil changes in now. I do not remove the skid plate. I bought a FUMOTO valve and it works great and is super easy.

If you don't want that option (Which I can understand) try aluminum foil. Take a piece and fold it in such a way that you can shove it under the drain plug and route it to drip out into your used oil container. It is much easier than removing the skip plate and mess free (unless it is windy).

Added bonus: another well sculpted piece of aluminum foil works great under the oil filter to keep it from dripping everywhere.

 

[shadowthrone]

I have a FX4 and have 3 oil changes in now. I do not remove the skid plate. I bought a FUMOTO valve and it works great and is super easy.

If you don't want that option (Which I can understand) try aluminum foil. Take a piece and fold it in such a way that you can shove it under the drain plug and route it to drip out into your used oil container. It is much easier than removing the skip plate and mess free (unless it is windy).

Added bonus: another well sculpted piece of aluminum foil works great under the oil filter to keep it from dripping everywhere.

I was thinking of putting in the fumoto valve as well, but now decided against it. The space around both oil filter and drain plug is narrow-ish and awkward, nothing to really attach the foil to reliably, going to be a pain and still has a great chance for spillage. So have you managed to keep your big skid plate free from drips, or is there a quart of oil on there that you just don't know about?

Undoing 10 fasteners guarantees a mess free experience and takes less than a minute with an impact. If there was a nice opening for the oil filter, I would go with Fumoto 100% and save 2 minutes. Since there isn't, messing around with foil to still end up with a puddle of oil just isn't for me.

 

[psuarmy]

I was thinking of putting in the fumoto valve as well, but now decided against it. The space around both oil filter and drain plug is narrow-ish and awkward, nothing to really attach the foil to reliably, going to be a pain and still has a great chance for spillage. So have you managed to keep your big skid plate free from drips, or is there a quart of oil on there that you just don't know about?

Undoing 10 fasteners guarantees a mess free experience and takes less than a minute with an impact. If there was a nice opening for the oil filter, I would go with Fumoto 100% and save 2 minutes. Since there isn't, messing around with foil to still end up with a puddle of oil just isn't for me.

My first oil change the skid plate collected all the dripping oil. The second change I used foil and had no issues. The third I used the FUMOTO and it was amazingly easy.

With the foil I just rolled the sides up on 3 sides. Then I just pushed it onto the skid plate under the drain plug. It sat at an angle because of the material on top of the skid plate. The unrolled side hung over the opening. I just folded it down to give the oil a place to flow. It worked surprisingly well.

With the FUMOTO I just take the plastic off and connect a hose to the nipple and open it up. The hose is 2 feet long and goes right into a container.

 

[dcs12345]

I plan on using a funmoto valve...

I really wish they went with a top loading canister style like the 3.6 pentastar in wranglers....damn easy and quick to change.

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

I plan to use a Fumoto valve, but that still has to be installed. So, at least for the initial oil change, I'll plan to remove the skid plate completely and give myself a nice open work area for the first draining and valve install.

 

[kentsa1]

I agree with the OP. I changed the oil and filter today and after taking o
the front skid plate off and looking at the filter, I decided it would be easier and cleaner to take out a few more bolts and remove the whole skid plate. It was much easier to change both oil and filter. I also found a hood adjuster loose on top of the skid plate that I had no idea was on it.

BTW I have 2033 miles on my first oil change and plan on changing at 5000 miles in the future.

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