PSA: oil change on FX4 Maverick requires skid plate panels removal

[Me B]

Hi Trailmaster,
The cover came on the skid plate. It's nice because it just unclips and you slide it off.

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[TacoTanium]

Updated with photos of skid plates that need removal for an oil change - posted by @thunaman (link to post)

Ok Gents, I have taken delivery of my FX4 Maverick today, I can confirm you will need to remove a panel that runs the full width of the truck, and about 6-8” “deep” from the bumper to the main skid plate. The rest of the skid plate is a single piece that covers the rest of the engine bay -- see photos below.​

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As you can see there is a large panel on the front you need to remove to get to the filter. and a small plastic air scoop (transmission cooling?) in the middle you need to remove to get to the drain plug​

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All in it took me about 10 min to remove, take pix and replace.​

Original post:

I like to do my own oil changes when I can. Now that I see the FX4 skid plate under the front/engine, how much of a PITA is it going to be to get at the drain plug and filter? Surely FORD would think to add an access panel, but I don't see one in the pics I've viewed. I even cut a hole in the plastic skid plate on my Mazda for quick oil filter access. I only see one skid-plate with the FX4.

Thoughts?

Wow! Two different drives and probably different threads too, probably intentional....but dumb!

Thanks for the foto's!

 

[Swede]

Here's the ValvoMax for my FX4. I cut the skid plate a little which you can see outlined with white paint.

I put one of those our Outback, so far so good.

 

[Erwin]

Did my own at 7.5k. Two jackstands, piece of cake. ! 1/2 hours from tools out to put away and sipping a beer on the front porch.

 

[Kenny]

A good video has already been done for changing oil on FX4 with skid plate, pasting the link below. Others have mentioned making an access panel so you don't have to remove the skid plate. I intended to do that but the location of both oil drain plug and filter are such that it's not practical, so you'll have to remove the skid plate. It helps save time and effort to use an impact driver, altho the first time you do it you'll have to break loose the six (6) 13 mm bolts that are Loctited in from the factory (nobody knows why), with a socket wrench and possibly an extension. Here's the basic procedure:

1. Drive onto ramps and put in park.
2. Remove front (4) T-27 screws with impact driver.
3. Then remove (6) 13 mm bolts (socket wrench or impact driver).
4. Change oil as normal.
5. When finished oil the bolts so they'll be easy next time with just an impact driver.

 

[Barracuda340]

I put one of those our Outback, so far so good.

Looks great, also looks like you didnt need to cut anything. The plastic air scoop on yours does it just snap in from underneath? The one on my 4K snaps in on both sides of the fiberboard.

 

[FahnHup]

Hi Trailmaster,
The cover came on the skid plate. It's nice because it just unclips and you slide it off.

interesting - my MY24 XLT Hybrid didn't come w/ the filter - or perhaps it somehow fell off since i got it. whats the replacement part or a good place to get a new one?

 

[tic105]

Things are a little different on a 2025 FX4 - some as a result of the new engine.
1) some changes for the skid plate. It's black now but still two piece, The thinner front plate is held in place by four 13 mm bolts at each end and then a number of torx screws that fasten to the bumper at the front and the main skid plate at the rear. The main skid plate is attached by four 13 mm bolts. the rear bolt holes are no longer notched - instead, the front left bolt hole is notched. And ALL eight bolts have thread locker.
2) You can see the oil filter if you remove the front section, but getting to it is not easy. There is less crap around the filter so once you get to it, getting a tool on it is easier.
3) The drain plug is on the back side of the pan.
4) Bottom line is that there is no way to change the oil without removing the entire skid plate assembly.
5) The main skid plate has a thick fabric sound deadening material which is very good at holding water and small stones/sand. Mine was soaked and I'm thinking of just removing it when I put it back on.

 

[Ksprelude01]

I just changed the Oil, Transmission, PTU, and RDU fluids this weekend for the first time since getting the truck a little over a month ago (32,000 miles). After pulling down the skid plate and seeing some rusty areas, I ended up drilling a few drain holes in those areas to help air out under the heat mat and drain water from some of the rusty areas. Hopefully it helps.

One other note after doing all the fluids and seeing what came out of the trans, PTU, and RDU im defiantly changing them ever 30,000 mile. It was only $140 i think for the fluids, cheap insurance.

 

[MaverRick]

Completed 4th oil change on my FX4 Maverick today. Each time I’ve done it without removing the rear skid plate. Only 3k miles between oil changes this time but I don’t like to go more than a year between.

 

[nobbyv]

I apologize if this was answered, but does anyone know what the correct size is for the four spring steel speed clip fasteners on the front of the skid plate? One of mine is myseriously missing; must have dropped it when doing my last oil change.

 

[Kenny]

Completed 4th oil change on my FX4 Maverick today. Each time I’ve done it without removing the rear skid plate.

How did you do it without removing the rear skid plate?

 

[MaverRick]

I just removed the plastic air scoop to get access to the drain plug. Then I stuff some paper towels around it to stop oil from getting inside the skid plate.

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