MK3 2012 Focus - Oil Change 101

[engine ear]

Great to see a filter in the vertical position! Who'd a thunk it? Great design and about time.

[kjl2012]

man i use mobil 1 after about 3000 miles that stuff turns a dark brown i guess that the way it is lol.

[Pretherius]

Originally Posted by kam327

You guys are whimps. I did the oil change without lifting it - no ramps or anything. It was totally fine. The rear center screw of the felt cover was a little challenging to reach but no biggie.

That's impressive. You must be a thin guy. :) I had a tough time even with the front driver's wheel lifted an inch off the floor.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by Pretherius

That's impressive. You must be a thin guy. :) I had a tough time even with the front driver's wheel lifted an inch off the floor.

Ha, not particularly. I just lay my head on the floor and under the car as far as I can, then reach as far as I can and I got everything. Then I go pop a couple of Motrin...

[raptor1956]

I did my first oil change last Friday at 2866 miles. I used the ramps and that worked pretty good. Used Mobil-1 5W-20 and the Motor craft filter. Total time about 25 minutes -- not bad for the first time.

I used a 5-quart jug bought at Wally world for $27 but eyeballed how much to put in. I have a hard time seeing the correct level on the dipstick with new oil and it was a couple days before I was able to get a good read on it -- it was dead center between the marks.


Brian

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using FF Mobile

[Pretherius]

Originally Posted by kam327

Ha, not particularly. I just lay my head on the floor and under the car as far as I can, then reach as far as I can and I got everything. Then I go pop a couple of Motrin...

Haha

Originally Posted by raptor1956

I did my first oil change last Friday at 2866 miles. I used the ramps and that worked pretty good. Used Mobil-1 5W-20 and the Motor craft filter. Total time about 25 minutes -- not bad for the first time.

I used a 5-quart jug bought at Wally world for $27 but eyeballed how much to put in. I have a hard time seeing the correct level on the dipstick with new oil and it was a couple days before I was able to get a good read on it -- it was dead center between the marks.

Cool--what ramps did you use?

Yah this engine takes quite a long time to run the oil down from the filler hole into the drain pan for whatever. It's easy to overfill, and it looks low for a very long time after you stop the engine. 4.5 qt will have you below the top of the crosshatch but the full 5 qt will put you well over it.

(The old 3.0L vulcan was rated for 4.5 qt, but 5 qt put that engine perfectly at the top of the crosshatch.)

[raptor1956]

There were two different plastic ramps at Autozone and I picked up the cheaper ones -- was about $45 if I remember correctly. I chose the cheaper plastic ones because in addition to the 10,000 pound rating the FF is one of the lighter cars around so I don't feel too concerned.

For me, the hardest thing about seeing the oil level after changing the oil is that the new oil is so clean it's really hard for me to get an accurate reading of where the oil level is. I mean, pulling the dip stick out and putting it back in leaves a coating along the tube and when you pull it out that oil get all over the stick so it's hard to see what the level is with all the other oil on the stick.

What they should have on the stick is a couple of metal bands, one above and one below the oil range so that portion of the stick can't contact the tube and screw up the reading.


Brian

[PKII332]

Just what I was wondering.... "How hard it was to change the oil and filter." (To clarify I was thinking this BEFORE I came to this Forum I can read and understand and I will never take my car to a dealer for a oil change)

[greg hazlett]

^^ if you have to ask that question after 10 pages and all the how to's and tips in here you have no business doing your own oil changes, take it to the dealer.

[kjl2012]

thats not nice