Pulled a part off accidentially
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 827
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From: Seattle
Pulled a part off accidentially
So I was changing the oil today and decided that lying under the truck was the best approach. It was, but I spotted this black funnel right between the oil filter and the starter motor. Thinking it was something that my friends at JiffyScrewtheTruckUp put there and forgot I tugged on it. It moved around like it wasn't attached or anything so I tugged a little harder and out it comes. Turns out it wasn't something from the boys at SpeedyHosethetruck and was in fact Ford equipment.
Its an elongated funnel with what used to be bolt holes next to the filter and the funnel spout away from the starter wires. I'm assuming that this was funnel to prevent oil leaks from shorting out the starter. So am I hosed or can this be salvaged? There's NO WAY I can get it back on without removing the starter and probably the oil filter, control arm, transmission, engine, frame, all the body panels, and probably the windshield wipers too!
So is it a big deal to remove the starter?
BTW: To answer the poster from a few days ago - pulling the filter from under the truck is best.
Its an elongated funnel with what used to be bolt holes next to the filter and the funnel spout away from the starter wires. I'm assuming that this was funnel to prevent oil leaks from shorting out the starter. So am I hosed or can this be salvaged? There's NO WAY I can get it back on without removing the starter and probably the oil filter, control arm, transmission, engine, frame, all the body panels, and probably the windshield wipers too!
So is it a big deal to remove the starter?
BTW: To answer the poster from a few days ago - pulling the filter from under the truck is best.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 827
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
I'll keep that in mind. I got enough oil on it trying to pull the filter out of that tight spot - not mention all over my arm and down my neck.
I have to say the starter doesn't look like the most solidly built item in the world. Cheap plastic caps flopping around and all that.
I have to say the starter doesn't look like the most solidly built item in the world. Cheap plastic caps flopping around and all that.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Just cover it with a rag when you change the oil!! And grab it from the top and it won't get all over you or spill. You have to loosen then set it there on the frame then get another pick on it to get it out!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
I had a 91 3 liter ( different 3.0 than yours, I'm sure), and it also was supposed to have a shield by the starter. The engines are probably similar in that respect.
Anyway, mine didn't have the shield, and I know that I dripped some on the starter when changing oil. Didn't seem to bother it. I'm sure that it COULD, if you really dumped a bunch.
On mine, I usually had to pull it off from the top, but I might have loosened it from below. I remember that it was a real circus. More than once I dropped the new one while snaking it down to get it in place.
ford2go
Anyway, mine didn't have the shield, and I know that I dripped some on the starter when changing oil. Didn't seem to bother it. I'm sure that it COULD, if you really dumped a bunch.
On mine, I usually had to pull it off from the top, but I might have loosened it from below. I remember that it was a real circus. More than once I dropped the new one while snaking it down to get it in place.
ford2go
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Northern Maine
I have a 98 Ranger with a shield under the oil filter. The shield works very well but I have to access the filter from the top. Anyway, my wife has an old Tempo with 243,000 plus miles on it and it has no such shield. Just like Racsan says, the oil runs down all over the starter every time I change the filter. It hasn't hurt anything yet. When you do the math, that is 81 oil changes. My vote would be to disregard it and put a rag on the starter if you wish.
