How to Change the Oil in a 2006 Ford F150

The oil change process on the 2006 Ford F150 is very easy--so easy that you can change the oil and filter without taking the truck to a shop. The engine oil and filter protects the internal engine parts from the wear of heat and friction. Once the motor oil is broken down, it cannot protect the engine as well as it should.

Drive the truck until the engine has reached a normal operating temperature. The hotter the oil, the thinner the oil will be. Thinner oil releases more easily from the engine and allows more of the engine oil to be drained.

Park the truck on a level surface and turn off the engine.

Pop the hood of the truck and remove the oil cap. The oil cap is on top of the engine on the driver's side, beside the oil dipstick.

Crawl under the truck and locate the oil drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan. The oil pan drain plug is on the lower back side of the oil pan. The oil pan drain plug is a 15mm plug.

Put the oil catch pan under the drain plug. Then, put the closed end of the 15mm wrench onto the drain plug and loosen the plug by turning the wrench counterclockwise. Finish removing the plug with your fingers. Unscrew the plug slowly because the oil will be hot. Let the oil run into the oil catch pan.

Wipe off the plug and reinsert the plug when the oil has completely drained out. Tighten the plug back down with the 15mm wrench. Make sure that the plug is tight but do not over-tighten it.

Locate the oil filter on the driver side of the engine and slide the oil catch pan under the oil filter. The oil filter will be facing horizontal out of the engine. Not vertical. Put the oil filter wrench on the oil filter. Turn the oil filter counterclockwise to loosen and remove the oil filter. Discard the oil filter into the oil catch pan and let the excess oil run into the catch pan.

Take a clean rag and wipe the facing of the oil filter housing. Dab a little bit of the used motor oil onto the rubber seal on the new oil filter. Screw the new filter onto the threads of the oil filter housing. Turn the filter clockwise to tighten it. Once the filter tightens down, turn the filter another half turn to securely tighten the oil filter.

Put the funnel into the oil filler tube. Pour seven quarts of 5W-20 oil into the funnel. When you have finished adding the oil to the engine. remove the funnel and place the oil cap back on; tighten it.

Crank the engine and let it run for about 30 to 45 seconds. Turn off the engine. Get out and inspect the oil drain plug and the oil filter for leaks.

Wait about two to three minutes for the oil to completely drain back down into the oil pan. Remove the dipstick and check the oil level on the dipstick. The oil level should be on the full mark of the dipstick.