Shade-tree mechanics, rejoice!
Stories began to emerge late last week about an unusual procedure for servicing the 2019 Ford Ranger. Techs would need to take off the left wheel of the mid-size pickup truck in order to change the oil filter on its turbocharged turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is 2.3-liter. However, Ford PR Man Mike Levine was seen tweeting journalists (and possibly emailing outlets that reported the story) to inform them that the story was wrong.
The Truth About Cars originally reported that the Ranger’s 2.3 liter turbo engine was only slightly different from the engines found in Ford Mustangs, Focus RS and Lincoln MKC.
The Ranger has a larger oil cooler so the oil filter sticks out to the left side of engine at a 90 degree angle to the cylinders. According to the report, owners had the task of removing the entire wheel, removing a number of fasteners holding the wheel well liner, and then using an “end cap tool to remove the filter. It sounds like a lot of work.
Levine explained the procedure to replace the Ranger’s oil filter in an tweet that he sent to Autoblog. This was initiated by Joel Feder, Motor Authority. The only thing techs need to do is remove three of the nine fasteners from the wheel well. Then they will need to remove the liner from the wheel well and access the oil filter. Voila.
The wheel arch has a rubber flap that is held in place by 9 fasteners. Three of the fasteners can be removed with a screwdriver. Remove flap. Take out oil filter. Easy. pic.twitter.com/YoDHtobkZJ
— Mike Levine (@mrlevine)
January 7, 2019
Dawn McKenzie is Ford’s product communications manager for pickups and commercial cars. She confirmed that the information was correct, telling Motor1,, “The wheel doesn’t need to be removed in order to change the oil or filter in the 2019 Ford Ranger.”
This is why it is so popular, especially among enthusiasts. Shade-tree mechanics have found it increasingly difficult to repair cars over the years. It doesn’t always make sense to perform a simple service at your home. The Ranger’s case is different. All five of the people who will perform their own oil changes can rest assured that their truck can still have the wheels.