🔧 Explorer - Engine Oil and Oil Filter Replacement

This service drains the old engine oil, replaces the filter, and refills your Explorer with fresh oil. Regular oil changes protect the 3.5L V6 from internal wear and sludge buildup.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes

Assumption: Specifications below are for the stock U.S.-market 3.5L naturally aspirated V6.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on firm, level ground and keep the transmission in Park.
• ⚠️ Never work beneath a vehicle supported only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ Warm oil can burn skin. Let an excessively hot engine cool before beginning.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves because used oil is harmful to skin and eyes.
• ⚠️ Keep oil away from belts, exhaust components, and electrical connectors.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnection is not required for this service.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 15mm socket
• 3/8-inch-drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs
• 8mm socket
• 3/8-inch-drive 6-inch extension
• Oil filter cap wrench sized for replacement filter
• Oil drain pan rated 8-quart minimum
• Automotive funnel with 1-quart minimum capacity
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks rated for SUVs
• Shop towels
• Nitrile mechanic gloves
• ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• SAE 5W-20 full-synthetic engine oil meeting Ford WSS-M2C945-A - Qty: 6 US quarts
• Engine oil filter equivalent to Motorcraft FL-500S - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug with sealing washer - Qty: 1 if the original seal is damaged

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🚙 Park your Explorer on level, solid ground and shift the transmission into Park.
• 🛑 Apply the parking brake and place wheel chocks securely behind both rear tires.
• 🌡️ Run the engine for three to five minutes, then switch it off. The oil should be warm, not dangerously hot.
• 🧰 Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap so the crankcase can drain more easily.
• ♻️ Have a sealed container ready for transporting used oil to an authorized recycling facility.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and Support the Front

• Place the 2-ton floor jack beneath the front subframe’s reinforced center lifting area and raise the vehicle.
• Position the 2-ton jack stands beneath the reinforced front support points on both sides. Jack stands are fixed supports that safely hold the vehicle after lifting.
• Lower the vehicle onto the stands, then gently push the body to verify that it is stable.
• Keep the wheel chocks firmly positioned behind the rear tires.

Step 2: Open the Lower Access Area

• Put on the ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses and nitrile mechanic gloves.
• If the lower splash shield blocks access, use the 8mm socket, 6-inch extension, and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to remove its fasteners.
• Set the shield and fasteners aside in their installed order.

Step 3: Drain the Old Engine Oil

• Place the 8-quart oil drain pan beneath the oil-pan drain plug. Position it slightly toward the rear because the oil initially exits with force.
• Use the 15mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug by hand while keeping inward pressure on it, then pull it away quickly.
• Allow the oil to drain until only occasional drops remain, usually five to ten minutes.
• Clean the drain plug and surrounding oil-pan surface with shop towels.
• Inspect the plug’s sealing surface. Install a new engine oil drain plug with sealing washer if the original seal is split, flattened, or damaged.

Step 4: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Start the drain plug clockwise by hand for several turns. This prevents cross-threading, which means damaging the threads by installing the plug at an angle.
• Use the 15mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench to tighten the plug to 27 Nm (20 ft-lbs).
• Do not overtighten the plug because the oil pan threads can be damaged.

Step 5: Remove the Old Oil Filter

• Move the 8-quart oil drain pan beneath the oil filter.
• Use the correctly sized oil filter cap wrench and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to turn the filter counterclockwise.
• Unscrew the filter by hand and keep its open end facing upward as you lower it.
• Use shop towels to clean the filter mounting surface.
• Confirm that the old rubber filter gasket came off with the filter. Two stacked gaskets can cause a major oil leak.

Step 6: Install the New Oil Filter

• Apply a thin coating of fresh SAE 5W-20 engine oil to the new filter’s rubber gasket using a gloved fingertip.
• Thread the new engine oil filter clockwise by hand until its gasket contacts the mounting surface.
• Tighten the filter by hand an additional three-quarters of a turn. Do not use the filter wrench for final tightening unless the filter manufacturer specifically provides a torque specification.
• Hand-tight prevents gasket damage and future removal trouble.

Step 7: Reinstall the Lower Shield

• Use the 8mm socket, 6-inch extension, and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to reinstall any removed splash-shield fasteners.
• Tighten the small fasteners only until snug. Do not crush or crack the shield.

Step 8: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the 2-ton floor jack to raise the front slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove both 2-ton jack stands, then slowly lower your Explorer onto level ground.
• Leave the wheel chocks in place until the service is complete.

Step 9: Add Fresh Engine Oil

• Insert the automotive funnel into the engine oil filler opening.
• Pour in approximately 5.5 US quarts of SAE 5W-20 engine oil, then wait two minutes.
• Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a shop towel. Fully reinstall it, remove it again, and read the level.
• Add oil gradually through the automotive funnel until the dipstick reads near the upper mark.
• The specified capacity with a new filter is approximately 6.0 US quarts (5.7 liters). Use the dipstick as the final authority and do not overfill.
• Remove the funnel and securely reinstall the oil filler cap.

Step 10: Start the Engine and Check for Leaks

• Start the engine and confirm that the oil-pressure warning light turns off within a few seconds.
• Switch the engine off immediately if the warning light remains illuminated.
• Let the engine idle for about 30 seconds while checking beneath it for leakage at the drain plug and oil filter.
• Switch the engine off and wait five minutes.
• Use a shop towel to wipe the dipstick, then recheck the oil level. Add small amounts through the automotive funnel if necessary.

Step 11: Reset the Oil-Life Monitor

• Switch the ignition on without starting the engine.
• Use the steering-wheel controls to select Settings > Vehicle > Oil Life Reset in the instrument-cluster display.
• Select Set to 100%, then press and hold the OK button until the display confirms the reset.
• Switch the ignition off after confirmation.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start the engine and verify that no oil-pressure warning appears.
• 🔍 Inspect the drain plug and filter again for fresh oil after a short drive.
• 📏 Park on level ground, wait five minutes, and verify that the dipstick remains near the upper mark without exceeding it.
• 🧼 Clean spilled oil with shop towels before operating the vehicle.
• ♻️ Pour the used oil into a sealed container and take the oil and old filter to an authorized used-oil collection facility. Never pour oil onto the ground or into a drain.
• 📝 Record the date and odometer reading for future maintenance.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹4,500-₹8,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹3,000-₹5,500 (parts only)

You Save: ₹1,500-₹2,500 by doing it yourself!

Labor rates around Sonīpat vary by workshop. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.5-1.0 hour.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.