Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance changing oil......

Is it just me or is changing the oil on the D-tec suck monkey poo? I love my 'tour......but changing the oil is just sometimes frustrating. The last time the oil was changed was by my local Ford mis-dealer. You know how that goes,

Ford Tech- Let's put 100 lbs of torque onto the oil filter and drain plug.
Manager- Good Idea, it'll never come off that way, since there is such a problem with oil plugs suddenly falling out.

Ah well, her oil is changed that is all that matters, but wow, it's the only time I get angry with her.

And yet people around me wonder why I'll do all my oil changes myself!

But you're right, the Contique is probably the worst I've had to do.. Now I'm making a hole in the lowest part of the oil filter with the car on the ground, to drain it first. Then I jack the car (and use stands) to drain the pan. This minimizes the amount of oil on the exhaust collector.. It works, not perfect, but...

Where's the best place to jack the car with a 2 and half jack. There seems to be no great spots.

why does everyone think its so hard to change the oil in the duratec...i think its very easy...i just pull 1 wheel up on my homemade ramp...drain it...use my huge(and i do mean huge)set of craftsman channel locks(best $20 ever spent,endless uses)take off the filter,replace,refill...i am not seeing how this is even remotely hard at all...

try taping a plastic bag over the exhaust manifold to help the oil drain ( spill ) over it. Then take some foaming engine cleaner and clean the area and the bottom of the engine. That should just about, if not completely eliminate the burning oil smell from spilt oil


btw, i notice working on the 99's we have that with out the air dam, like the 95's have, make it easier to get to the filters

I have to agree with chris. It isnt that hard. I do it with out ramps and have no problems. You want hard, try changing the oil filter on my girlfriends SPI focus.

Hard to changes???

You reach under and drain the oil.
You reach under and pull the filter.

Reverse steps to finish.

Don't forget to add oil either as that is supposedly bad for the engine.


Jacks?

Ramps?

Anything besides 2 tools???

Yes, if the filter is hand tightened when put on, and not more than 3/4 turn after contact with the gasket, it should come off by hand with no problems. The only times I've ever had problems getting a filter off was when I didn't put it on to begin with, on my car and other cars.

To keep hot oil off the exhaust, you can put some tin foil over everything.

just be glad it does not go like this...

Oil Change instructions

1) Go to O' Reillys auto parts and write a check for $50.00 for oil, filter, kitty Litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree.
2) Discover that the used oil container is full. Instead of taking it back to O'Reilly to recycle, dump in hole in back yard.
3) Open a beer and drink it.
4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.
5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
7) Place drain pan under engine.
8) Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
9) Give up and use crescent wrench.
10) Unscrew drain plug.
11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: get hot oil on you in process.
12) Clean up mess.
13) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
14) Look for oil filter wrench.
15) Give up; poke oil filter with screwdriver and twist off.
16) Beer.
17) Buddy shows up; finish case of beer with him. Finish oil change tomorrow.
18) Next day, drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car.
19) Throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18.
20) Beer. No, drank it all yesterday.
21) Walk to 7-11; buy beer.
22) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
23) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
24) Remember drain plug from step 11.
25) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
26) Discover that the used oil is buried in a hole in the back yard, along with drain plug.
27) Drink beer.
28) Uncover hole and sift for drain plug.
29) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor.
30) Drink beer
31) Slip with wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame.
32) Bang head on floor boards in reaction to step 31.
33) Begin cussing fit.
34) Throw wrench.
35) Cuss for additional 10 minutes because wrench hit Miss December (1992) in her overabundant chest.
35) Beer.
36) Clean up hands and forehead and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
37) Beer.
38) Beer.
39) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
40) Beer.
41) Lower car from jack stands.
42) Accidentally crush one of the jack stands.
43) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during step 23.
44) Beer.
45) Test drive car.
46) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.
47) Car gets impounded.
48) Make bail: Get car from impound yard.
Money spent: $50.00 parts, $25.00 beer, $75.00 replacement set of jack
stands, $1,000.00 Bail, $200.00 Impound and towing fee
Total = $1350.00