Just got done changing the oil in my truck and when I went to get the old filter off it started a series of a lot of 4 letter words! Maybe it's just me but the first problem I had is the old filter was on too tight and I couldn't get it to come loose by hand at first b/c it's hard to get to above the front differential housing. Went to get my oil filter wrench and it was too small to fit the huge oil filter! Tried several more times and when the truck cooled down enough it finally came loose then came the next problem. I could not get it out w/ out jiggling it around and of course when I was doing that oil was spilling all over the front diff and the ground. Finally after fighting and fighting it I figured it out but I will tell you this I won't change the oil myself again in this truck. It's not worth saving the $10 or whatever in labor! Just FYI for anyone w a 4x4 351. Worse I've done and I've changed my own oil since I was 16 years old 10 different vehicles. Next time it's time for an oil change I will be calling Meineke!

 

I was able to get a better angle and grip on the filter from the top of the engine bay. Looked at it from the bottom and saw a giant pain to get to, went to the top and was really easy.

 

x2 from the top, and NEVER trust an oil change place. WAY too many horror stories. Not ALL are bad, but can you REALLY trust someone to do something that is a PITA correctly, and to YOUR requirements. Just my .02, last place that repaired one of my vehicles (1990) forgot to put top nut on ball joints driver side, (Thanks Manny, Mo, and Mac).

 

filter from up top is WAY easier and cleaner .still have to clean off the diff and xmember a bit though

 

The correct filter wrench that fits over the end of the filter really helps. Not such a tough job once you get it all figured out.

 

Yeah pull the filter from the top it's a lot easier. I unscrew it with one hand and as the threads let go I let the end drop and hit the diff, and then I slide my fingers up the side and catch the lip and lift it out. There will still be some oil spill from the engine and filter so you want a pan under there but the mess is minimized. The new filter gets primed with 1/2 a liter of fresh oil and installed hand tight.

 

It ain't the easiest, but it certainly ain't hard. Do like I do and reach in from up top. If you can't get it to break loose then you can always get a better grip from underneath, break it loose, then finish unscrewing it from up top.

And next time you have a filter that won't come loose using just your hands, grab a nice fat screwdriver and stab it all the way thru the filter can NEAR THE BASE and you'll have yourself a nice pry bar.

Oil running down the front diff when changing the filter is just part of life with these trucks lol.

 

Wrap a small plastic garbage bag around the filter and it will catch all that. I do that whenever I think of it, not very often.

 

I did about 40 oil changes on my '95 F-150, 4x4, 351 while I had it. It certainly wasn't the easiest, or least messy vehicle to change oil on, but I never thought it was that bad (in contrast, I'll never do an oil change on my wife's 2005 Escape again!).

Like others have said, I reached down from the top with a strap-type filter wrench. Once I had broken it loose that way I went underneath and unscrewed it by hand. It does need to be snaked out, but I never found that all that difficult.

To minimize the mess I always just put a drain pan under the front diff. I still ended up with some drips on the driveway, but it wasn't too bad.

 

I use one of these: Form-A-Funnel® Flexible Draining Tool

I also use PIG mat on the shop floor for any drips. Works great.

 

Thanks all. I had an oil catch pan and it got most of it. Any on my driveway is being soaked up in kitty litter. Few small puddles not much. I sopped the rest up in shop towels that was around the diff and frame etc. Never considered going in from the top but my main problem was getting the old one out when full

 

forgot this tip in my post-

just as the filter is just about unscrewed I try grab it and keep it upright as possible-stick the index finger in the hole (insert joke here) and bring filter top side