[todd92]

My 2 year free oil change period was up, so I changed the oil myself. No big deal, 5.7 quarts of synthetic 5W-30 and a Motorcraft 910S filter, both from Wal-Mart, total $31.

Now the stupidity. Lincoln designed an easy access cover to get to the filter and oil pan. This is a cover that is part of the undertray for the entire engine. It is held on by 2 easy to remove clips and should just slide out. Mine was GLUED ON. With some kind of industrial strength glue. Utterly moronic.

So the entire undertray must be removed, which is now typical for most cars anyway. So how else could Lincoln make it a PITA? 7 Torx bolts and 2 regular bolts. Yes, you need 2 different bits just to get the undertray off.

Anyway, still just a simple oil change, but Lincoln gets 2 F's at once.

 

[bkrell]

Wait....so...was the glue from the dealer??? Weird on the trays. Never had them before this car and my 2014 Mustang.

 

[todd92]

I had one oil change done at the dealer, a year ago. I have no idea, and no way of knowing, if the the dealer or the factory glued it. Either way, stupid.

 

[blankster]

The entire under tray has to be removed for an oil change. I think there are 7 screws. The escape has the same tray and there are oil change instructions out there. The tray is 2 pieces that are glued/attached. One part is an air vent and the other is the tray itself. Mine happens to have a rattle where the two join together towards the rear. i will point it out to the dealer at the next oil change. Here is the instructions for the Escape.

https://howtune.com/articles/212-change-the-oil-on-a-ford-escape

 

[todd92]

The part you are calling an 'air vent' was definitely engineered to be an easily removable oil service panel. It exactly reveals the oil filter and oil drain (if it would come off). Mine has 2 black plastic clips at the rear, which are are not on the picture you attached. The front of it has tabs that slide into the main piece. Why Ford/Lincoln intentionally or unintentionally decided to glue it in place is a mystery.

If it was just an air vent, the entire part could have been one piece, there is no need to have a separate panel, with tabs and clips, glued in place.

 

[todd92]

Wait....so...was the glue from the dealer??? Weird on the trays. Never had them before this car and my 2014 Mustang.

Odd, my 2010 Mustang had a panel that had to be removed to change the oil.

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Odd, my 2010 Mustang had a panel that had to be removed to change the oil.

Same with my 2011 Mustang GT...I run it up a pair of ramps I manufactured with better end stops,out of heavy angle steel,fully welded....I added a cantilever to both outside ramps, once I have pulled the car on top and chocked the front wheels,I swing the lever from back to front and I get an additional 6" instant lift....levers lock in place with heavy duty pin rods....floor to bottom of tire is now 1' 9" or 21" plenty of room to work on it.
Man, that lower plastic panel is just so flimsy...I'm going to use it as a template and make an identical light alloy replacement.....I'm really hating the over use of plastics nowadays!

 

[bkrell]

Odd, my 2010 Mustang had a panel that had to be removed to change the oil.

Lol, I'm not speaking clearly enough. I said never had them BEFORE this car AND my 2014 Mustang (GT). Meaning, both them had it but none before that.

My worst oil change experience is on my 2002 Honda CR-V. It's a wonderful car that we bought 14 years ago last week and can't part with, since it won't die and is kind of sentimental since it was our first family car. But the oil changes are obnoxious because of the oil filter placement. When you remove it, oil pours directly onto the subframe and you just have to position your drain pan in the middle of it and hope to catch it all.

 

[todd92]

The MKC cover isn't plastic, it's some fiberous material. I have no problem with the use of plastic/composite, it's lighter and has excellent sound deadening properties, whereas metal can amplify noise. Especially for an cover where strength is unimportant.

My new F150 has a composite oil pan with a 1/4 turn drain plug. I think it's a fantastic design, but you should see the bitching and moaning on the F-150 forums! "It ain't steel!", "I can't tighten the plug like I used to!". People just don't like change.

Sorry, I misread the other post I quoted, I see your 2014 Mustang HAS a cover. I've had cars with various undercovers since 2004. Yes, I've had many cars with very poor filter placement that oil drips all over frame and suspension parts. My F-150 has the European style cartridge style on top. Best design.

 

[blankster]

From the Lincoln parts guide - Shows the part as one piece and no clips (at least in the drawing). I also looked at some MKCs at the dealer and they were the same as mine (no clips). Again when I looked at mine the "air vent" appears not to be removable. I assumed the hole to the rear was for oil changes or the entire shield has to be removed.




Official Ford Parts Site | Buy Motorcraft & OEM Ford Parts Online | FordParts.com

 

[kkreit01]

Mine was 1 piece also. I too looked at the Escape instructions before my first DIY change. I prefer to do the first change in my driveway. After that, I'll take advantage of the free dealer maintenance.

It seems I had to add more than 5.7 qts for it to get full. I think it was closer to 6 -- which would be much easier.

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

Lol, I'm not speaking clearly enough. I said never had them BEFORE this car AND my 2014 Mustang (GT). Meaning, both them had it but none before that.

My worst oil change experience is on my 2002 Honda CR-V. It's a wonderful car that we bought 14 years ago last week and can't part with, since it won't die and is kind of sentimental since it was our first family car. But the oil changes are obnoxious because of the oil filter placement. When you remove it, oil pours directly onto the subframe and you just have to position your drain pan in the middle of it and hope to catch it all.

Oh man, what a PITA....guess brake cleaner is your new friend! lol

 

[KenZ]

Hah... Definitely a topic I can't participate in! Last time I changed my oil myself was sometime in the 70's. I suspect 1972 or 1973.

 

[5.0 Candy REDCS]

LoL Ken! can we interest you in a brand new pair of latex disposable gloves,hehehe

 

[jprski]

Hah... Definitely a topic I can't participate in! Last time I changed my oil myself was sometime in the 70's. I suspect 1972 or 1973.

I know the last oil change I did was mid 80's when it became a PITA to dispose of used oil besides by then quick oil change places were around which made everyone else lower there costs too making oil changes reasonably priced. I think at my dealership it's like $65 bucks and they look it over, rotate tires and wash it. I will pay that. My VW uses synthetic oil and it costs $55 at the dealer but that is with a $20 rebate.

 

[kkreit01]

I've never paid anyone to change my oil.

 

[jprski]

This cool so how do you get rid go the oil?

I've never paid anyone to change my oil.

 

[todd92]

Every auto parts store and most garages accept oil for recycling. I cannot imagine not changing oil yourself because recycling the oil is too difficult.

It takes much less time to DIY, like 30 minutes, than it takes to drive somewhere and wait while they do it. Plus it's done right, you get to choose the oil and filter yourself, the oil isn't over or under filled AND it cost half as much.

 

[johntempleman]

This problem always occurs for the first time. It originally comes glued although there are clips to keep it in place but still it doesn't come off as we unclip the tray. It is really a hack.

 

[bkrell]

Every auto parts store and most garages accept oil for recycling. I cannot imagine not changing oil yourself because recycling the oil is too difficult.

It takes much less time to DIY, like 30 minutes, than it takes to drive somewhere and wait while they do it. Plus it's done right, you get to choose the oil and filter yourself, the oil isn't over or under filled AND it cost half as much.

Easier said than done sometimes. The closest recycling spot for me is the nearest Super Walmart and it's a PITA to get them to deal with it sometimes. And, used to, they would at least let me pour it in. But now they have to pour it in b/c of either the law or their rules "to make sure it's all motor oil." I realize that's a legitimate concern but...

I would just leave it but have always put it in a 5 gallon gas can that I reuse.

But that aside, these days I just have too many things competing for my time. If I can drop my car off at the dealer and get a loaner from Lincoln...why not?