If you’re part of the minority who prefers do-it-yourself solutions for your vehicles, you’ll need to know this one important aspect when it comes to changing the oil on the 2019 Ford Ranger. You’re going to have to remove the left front wheel to do it. It’s not the hardest job in the world — you only need a jack and some muscles to do it — but it is inconvenient, especially when you only need to pop up the hood of your vehicle to gain access to the oil filter. But, apparently, Ford made some changes to the U.S.-spec Ford Ranger, which necessitated this move. You’re not going to find it impossible to change the oil on the new Ranger, but you are going to have to work more than you probably expected to get the job done.

2019 Ford Ranger Oil Change

If you happen to be one of those people who prefer to let other people do the work of car maintenance, then this probably doesn’t concern you. But if you like to do these types of work yourself, then this is important information, especially if you're in the market for a 2019 Ford Ranger. The first thing you need to know is what makes the U.S.-spec 2019 Ford Ranger unique as far the location of the oil filter is concerned. Whereas in most models, the filter hangs towards the oil pan near the rear of the engine, the Ranger’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine comes with a larger oil cooler that occupies the space where the oil filter is traditionally located.

This isn’t that big of a deal because we see engine parts move around depending on the needs of a vehicle. But this is different because the location of the oil filter means that actually changing the Ranger’s oil will require a procedure that you only typically do when you have a flat tire. Yes, according to a service manual for the 2019 Ranger that The Truth About Cars obtained, you’re going to have to remove the front left wheel of the Ranger to gain access to the oil filter. Actually, simply removing the front left wheel doesn’t do the trick all by itself. Once you remove the wheel, you’ll also need to remove nine push-pin clips in the wheel well before you access to the filter is granted. It’s like an extra layer of security for a component that doesn’t really need it. Imagine trying to remove those clips after they’ve been through 100,000 miles or so of wear and tear. It won’t be the best job in the world, that much I can predict.

In the event that those clips cooperate, you can now remove the oil filter with an end cap tool. Unfortunately, your work doesn’t end there, either. Before you actually put new synthetic oil into the filter, you’ll need to drain whatever oil is left from the filter. Before you can do that, though, you’ll need first need to unbolt the Ranger’s power steering control module underbody shield. The good news is that only four bolts hold that in place.

Granted, the 2019 Ford Ranger isn’t alone in this regard. A number of other modern cars require owners to go through these processes in order to reach maintenance items like an oil filter. It could be other panels or coverings that are put in place for a number of reasons, including improving fuel economy or, in the case of a lot of vehicles these days, underbody protection. But even that knowledge doesn’t change the inevitable hassle that comes with having to remove the front left wheel of the Ranger when the pickup needs an oil change. It won’t matter if you have someone do it for you, though you can be sure that the labor costs attached to that service will be higher.

It’s worth noting, too, that Ford recommends a tire rotation to go along with every oil change. If you don’t have a tight hold of those purse strings, you’re probably going to have the tires off anyway by the time you make an oil change. That should ease concerns of this extra maintenance step in the short-term. But it could get annoying over the years, especially when you consider that a lot of the Ranger’s biggest rivals — the Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline — don’t require this extra step the way the Ranger does.

Ultimately, it’s a minor long-term inconvenience, at worst. It shouldn’t be enough reason for you to look elsewhere when you’re in the market for a pickup. Would you shun the Ranger because of this little inconvenience when you know you’re also getting a pickup that features a 2.3-liter EcoBoost that produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, has a max payload capacity of 1,860 pounds, and can tow up to 7,500 pounds when properly equipped. Mind you; Ford claims that the Ranger’s towing capacity sits at the top of its class among mid-size pickups. If you think about it in those parameters, does it really matter if you need to remove the front left wheel to gain access to the oil filter?

Further Reading

Read our speculative review on the art173508

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Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor.