Rival skid plate removal for oil changes?

[fcooney7316]

Hello all , I just purchased 2025 maverick XLT last week and was thinking of purchasing a Rival skid plate. My question is when doing oil change do you have to remove skid plate ? As I see others on thread complaining that dealer didn't tighten skid plate back up??Thanks

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[Carlitos_92]

Hello all , I just purchased 2025 maverick XLT last week and was thinking of purchasing a Rival skid plate. My question is when doing oil change do you have to remove skid plate ? As I see others on thread complaining that dealer didn't tighten skid plate back up??Thanks

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/search/4549296/?q=rival&c[title_only]=1&o=date

 

[mshapeer]

Hello all , I just purchased 2025 maverick XLT last week and was thinking of purchasing a Rival skid plate. My question is when doing oil change do you have to remove skid plate ? As I see others on thread complaining that dealer didn't tighten skid plate back up??Thanks

I do my oil changes. You do not have to remove the skid plate. There are two small plates held with four fasteners each - one for access to the oil filter and the other to access the drain plug.

Make sure you use a small funnel when draining the oil to channel it. If you don't, the oil tends to drain onto the skid plate - particularly during the middle and end of the drain. I bought a small hyper tough red funnel at WalMart for 97 cents - cut off the bottom part and stretch out the accordion part so the oil does not back up in the funnel.

Per the Rival web page: Note: We recommend using a funnel with this 2022-2025 Ford Maverick skid plate when changing the oil to prevent spills and ensure a clean process.

I've had the skid plate on my Maverick for about 9 months. I probably would not buy it again - not off-roading and removing the factory cover is not a big deal.

 

[Potatomafia]

Access to the filter and drain plug is pretty good. Oil might get on the skid plate while draining but I'm going to install a ValvoMax oil drain valve with the hose so it's easier.

 

[Potatomafia]

That last paragraph was definitely foreshadowing.

I changed the oil in my '23 hybrid for the first time after installing the skid plate. I thought I'd just pull the access panels because that's what they are for, right?

Welllllllll that didn't work out very well. The initial oil stream drains cleanly past the skid plate but once it starts to dribble, it will absolutely drain onto the skid plate, then the oil will find all of the ventilation holes and it will be an oil rain shower.

Started out well:

Uh oh:

It's starting to fall apart:

Nothing like trying to get the skid plate off in a panic while taking a hot 0w-20 shower:

Lesson learned. Just loosen the rear bolts, remove the front bolts and take the skid plate off. I wish the hardware was a little better though.

 

[Aleks]

Mine got delivered yesterday, I plan on installing a quick drain plug, I've had one on a car years ago and it was great and made changing oil a breeze. Use a red solo cup when unscrewing the oil filter to cut down on the mess as well.

 

[mshapeer]

That last paragraph was definitely foreshadowing.

I changed the oil in my '23 hybrid for the first time after installing the skid plate. I thought I'd just pull the access panels because that's what they are for, right?

Welllllllll that didn't work out very well. The initial oil stream drains cleanly past the skid plate but once it starts to dribble, it will absolutely drain onto the skid plate, then the oil will find all of the ventilation holes and it will be an oil rain shower.

Started out well:

Uh oh:

It's starting to fall apart:

Nothing like trying to get the skid plate off in a panic while taking a hot 0w-20 shower:

Lesson learned. Just loosen the rear bolts, remove the front bolts and take the skid plate off. I wish the hardware was a little better though.

There was a prior thread on this. I have the skid plate. The key is to use a small funnel to channel the oil.

WalMart has a hypertough funnel for 76 cents. Cut off the bottom narrow part under the accordion so the oil can flow through the funnel. Stretch the accordion part of the funnel out. Don't have to use the funnel for the entire drain - I use it about halfway through before the oil starts to dribble. Worked perfectly - no mess.

 

[Potatomafia]

I forgot to mention that I also installed a ValvoMax drain valve which should make draining the oil mess free. I probably could have removed the oil filter without issue with the skid plate in place but I already decided to just drop it.

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