How to Change the Oil Pan in a 2001 Ford Ranger

Always replace your oil filter when replacing the oil.

The Ford Ranger is a light-duty pickup truck. This truck serves many functions, as it can be used as a work truck or for recreational purposes. The more use the truck gets eventually could require replacement of the the oil pan and the pan gasket. The oil pan is the lowest part of the truck, and this puts the pan at risk for striking objects in the road, leading to dents or holes in the oil pan. The pan will need to be replaced right away once it is damaged.

Things You'll Need

• Drain pan
• Crescent wrench
• Oil-filter wrench
• New oil pan
• New oil-pan gasket
• 5 quarts motor oil

Instructions

Dropping the Oil Pan

1. Locate the oil pan underneath the truck. The pan is directly underneath the engine.

2. Place a drain pan underneath the oil pan. Loosen the drain plug with a crescent wrench. Allow the oil to drain into the drain pan. Tighten the drain plug when the oil is finished draining.

3. Unscrew the oil filter, located in front of the engine, with an oil-filter wrench, and set it aside to dispose of properly with the old oil.

4. Unscrew all the bolts around the oil pan with a socket wrench. There will be 16 to 20 bolts.

5. Pull the oil pan to the floor. Tap the pan with a hammer if the pan will not move from the bottom of the engine.

6. Scrape the gasket material off the bottom of the engine with a putty knife or a razor blade. Ensure that all the black gasket material is scraped away.

Installing the Oil Pan

1. Line the new gasket around the new oil pan. Make sure all the bolt holes on the gasket cover the bolt holes on the oil pan.

2. Place the oil pan against the engine. Begin threading all the bolts. Do not tighten them until all the bolts are started.

3. Tighten all the bolts in a criss-cross pattern. This will ensure that all the bolts are tightened adequately and consistently.

4. Rub motor oil on the gasket at the top of the oil filter. This will ensure that the filter seals correctly, and the oil will come off easily during the next oil change.

5. Screw the oil filter to the filter housing with your hands. Do not tighten with a wrench, as this will strip the threads on the filter.

Adding the Engine Oil

1. Open the hood to access the engine compartment. Locate the oil-reservoir cap on the valve covers.

2. Unscrew the cap, and pour in four quarts of motor oil. Start the truck, and allow the engine to run for 5 minutes. Turn the truck off, and let it the engine rest for 5 minutes to give the oil time to settle.

3. Pull the oil dipstick out of the dipstick tube, and wipe it clean with a clean rag. Insert the dipstick back into the tube, and pull it back out. Check the oil level as it is designated by the markings on the dipstick. Add additional oil if required in half-quart intervals. Check the oil level each time you add oil.

4. Start the engine, and allow it to run for 5 minutes. Turn the truck off, and allow the engine to rest for 5 minutes. Check the oil again to ensure that the oil level is full.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not overfill the oil reservoir, as it can be hazardous to the engine.

• Contact an auto-parts store or recycling center for proper disposal of the old oil and filter.

References

• "Ford Ranger and Mazda Pick-ups Haynes Repair Manual covering all Ford Ranger models for 1993 thru 2008 and Mazda B2300/B2500/B3000/B4000 for 1994 thru 2008"; John Haynes; 2008