How to Replace the Oil Filter on an Ford Cars

Changing the oil filter on the Ford car tractor is not like changing the oil filter on an automobile. The filter is a cartridge that sits inside of a canister. This differs from the standard all-in-one filter used on modern automobiles. The Ford car is actually easier to change the filter because it is on the side of the engine and not tucked underneath the engine. This limits the amount of time you must be under the tractor.

Under The Hood:

• How to Replace the Oil Filter on an F-550
• How to Change the Oil Filter on a Ford 8N
• How to Change the Oil Filter on a 1969 Ford 3000
• How to Change the Oil Filter in a Ford F-250 Diesel

 How to Replace the Oil Filter on an F-550

6.4L Diesel

Raise and prop the hood up.

Position a stepladder in front of the vehicle and climb up.

Remove the oil filter housing cap. The cap is top-center of the engine, adjacent to a similar, black cap. The oil filter housing cap is black with a 36 mm plastic bolt on top. Use a socket wrench to loosen the cap and remove it by hand. The filter is removed with it. Pull the filter off the cap and dispose of it.

Remove the O-ring gasket seated above the threads on the filter cap. Replace the gasket with the new one that came with the oil filter. Apply some fresh oil to the gasket.

Attach the oil filter to the cap. Ford calls for a WIX 51372 oil filter or other manufacturer's equivalent. The oil filter slides over the center tube and clicks in place. Replace the oil filter housing cap onto the housing and hand-tighten it. Use the socket wrench to securely tighten the cap. Lower the hood.

6.8L Gasoline Engine

Place an oil bucket beneath the filter, located on the lower, driver's-side edge of the engine block, above the axle.

Use a filter wrench to loosen the oil filter and remove it by hand. Make sure the original gasket comes off with the filter. Remove the gasket by hand, if it does not.

Apply fresh oil to the new gasket on the oil filter with your finger. Place the filter onto the threads, and spin it on until it is hand-tight. Ford calls for using a WIX 57312 oil filter or other manufacturer's equivalent.

Twist the filter one-quarter turn further by hand.

Start the vehicle and allow it to run for two minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick and add more as necessary. The internal filter holds a certain amount of fluid, so you will need to add some.

 How to Change the Oil Filter on a Ford 8N

Place a drain pan capable of holding five quarts of oil under the oil pan drain plug. The drain plug is a large bolt with a square head on it. Open the drain by turning the bolt counter clockwise with an adjustable wrench. Drain all of the oil into the bucket. Place the drain plug back into the oil pan and secure it with the adjustable wrench.

Locate the oil filter canister on the left side of the engine and remove the oil canister cap with an adjustable wrench. The oil filter canister is located directly behind the alternator.

Locate the thin metal handle on the filter cartridge and lift the cartridge out of the filter canister. Discard the old filter.

Place a towel into the filter canister and soak up the oil left inside of the canister.

Place the new oil filter cartridge into the oil filter canister with the handle facing upward.

Pull the gasket off the canister cap and place a new one onto the cap. The gasket comes with the filter cartridge. Rub a small amount of oil on the gasket to lubricate it.

Place the canister cap onto the oil filter canister and secure it into place with the adjustable wrench.

Remove the oil breather cap from the breather tube that protrudes from the oil pan. The breather cap is positioned below the oil filter canister. Place six quarts of 10W40 oil into the oil breather tube. Place the breather cap back onto the tube once completed. To avoid spilling oil, place an oil funnel into the hole and drain the oil through the funnel.

 How to Change the Oil Filter on a 1969 Ford 3000

Canister-Type Filter Change

Locate the oil filter canister on the right side of the tractor for gasoline models or the left side of the tractor for diesel models. Place a catch pan under the filter.

Support the canister with your hand and loosen the canister retainer bolt on top of the filter plate using a wrench. Pull the canister retainer bolt out of the filter plate and separate the canister from the plate.

Dump the old oil into the catch pan. Pull the filter element out of the canister and place it in the catch pan to drain. Inspect the canister for sludge or loose particles and wipe it clean, using a rag. Wipe the filter plate-to-canister mating surface, using a clean rag.

Remove the gasket from the canister retainer bolt and discard. Install the new gasket supplied with the new element.

Remove the gasket from the top edge of the canister and discard. Install the new gasket supplied with the new element. Make certain that the gasket fits securely within its groove in the canister. Lubricate the gasket with a thin coat of new motor oil.

Insert the new filter element into the canister. Fill the canister with new motor oil and allow it to saturate the element. Add oil as necessary until the element ceases to absorb oil and the canister is full.

Install the canister on the filter plate. Install the canister retainer bolt and tighten it securely, using a wrench. Wipe any residual oil from the canister and plate.

Start the engine and make certain the low oil pressure warning light is off. Check the canister and plate for leaks.

Turn the engine off and check the engine oil level with the dipstick. Add oil as necessary.

Spin-On Filter Change

Locate the oil filter on the right side of the tractor for gasoline models or the left side of the tractor for diesel models. Place a catch pan under the filter.

Unscrew the oil filter, using a filter wrench, from the filter base plate by turning the filter in a counterclockwise rotation. Place the old filter in the catch pan and allow it to drain. Wipe the filter base plate with a clean rag and ensure that the old filter gasket does not remain stuck to the filter base plate.

Fill the new filter with new motor oil and allow it to saturate the filter element. Add oil as necessary until the element ceases to absorb oil and the filter is full.

Lubricate the filter gasket with a thin coat of new motor oil.

Spin the filter onto the filter base plate until the gasket contacts the plate. Turn the filter an additional 1/4-turn by hand. Do not tighten the filter with a filter wrench. Wipe residual oil from the oil filter and base plate.

Start the engine and make certain the low oil pressure warning light is off. Check the filter and base plate for leaks.

Turn the engine off and check the engine oil level with the dipstick. Add oil as necessary.

 How to Change the Oil Filter in a Ford F-250 Diesel

Place a drain pan beneath the drain plug of the oil pan reservoir. The reservoir is under the F-250 truck, behind the front tires. Remove the drain plug, using a socket wrench, and let the oil drain.

Locate the oil filter in the engine compartment. The filter is in the top middle of the engine, on the passenger's side.

Remove the oil filter with a filter wrench. Clean off where the filter was in contact with the engine block.

Screw the new filter onto the peg where the old filter was. Plug the reservoir with the drain plug bolt. Add oil to the engine.

Place the used oil filter in a plastic bag, and carefully pour the used oil into plastic jugs. Dispose of the used oil appropriately.