Ford vehicles use plastic oil drain plugs that are easy to remove and install because of their delicate material. These are easy to remove because they are resistant to corrosion and have fewer sticking issues.
How To Remove Ford Plastic Oil Drain Plug? You can remove the Ford plastic drain plug by locating it. These are present in the engine compartment near the oil pan. Jack up or crawl under your vehicle to access these plugs. Use a pressure washer to remove the dust and grime residues from the surroundings. Push the plug to unlock the tubs, turn it counterclockwise slowly, and pull it backward.
You need special care when installing and removing these plastic plugs because they are delicate and vulnerable to cracking when you exert force on them. Cracked parts cause oil leakage, which directly affects the engine efficiency.
How do you remove Ford plastic oil drain plug?
I usually change engine oil in my Ford truck after 5000 to 7000 miles, depending on the driving conditions. Many people do not know about the method of oil replacement, and they take their vehicles to the dealerships and spend extra money on it.
Locate the plastic drain plug
You can find it in the engine compartment of your vehicle. It is the nut or plug-like structure that is preset at the bottom side of the engine.
You can see it under the oil pan that is used to hold the engine oil. Sometimes, it becomes difficult for you to access these parts because of complex and interconnected engine parts.
You have to jack up your truck to access the drain plug. However, you can also find them after crawling under your pickup, which is challenging and risky.
I did not crawl under my truck because of the risks of injury. I used the hydraulic jacks to lift the engine side and access the plug. I adjusted the jacks on the specific jacking points because incorrect installation can cause the frame to bend.
I also put the jack stands in the middle of the frame to provide additional support and reduce the risk of damage. Lifting increased the ground clearance, and I easily removed the plugs near the oil plan.
You can read the owner’s manual to find the jacking points according to the year and model of your vehicle.
Clean surrounding area
Dust and grime accumulate around the plastic plugs because of the presence of oil residues. Moreover, the chances of grime deposits increase because of oil leakages from cracked seals.
You have to clean the surroundings to get rid of the grime and dust from their sides, which cause their sticking and difficulty in their removal.
You can use the pressure washer to clean the dust and small debris that are stuck on their sides. Use a mild detergent to remove the grime and its stickiness.
Oily residue cleaning is crucial because it can lead to slipping of your hand when you turn it counterclockwise. Spray the mild washing detergent and wipe it off with a clean cloth.
Avoid using bleach-based detergents because it causes shrinkage or burning of plastic drains. You should not use harsh detergents that can affect the efficiency of this part.
Using the liquid soap mixture with dishwashing detergent is better because these do not contain harsh chemical ingredients. I also used liquid handwashing soap for cleaning.
I mixed the liquid soap with water and poured the mixture into the spray bottle to avoid excess solution application on these plugs. I sprayed the mixture on the affected area and wiped it off with a clean rag.
Avoid using used cloth for their cleaning because it leaves dust residues on its sides.
Turn the plug with a hand or use pliers
I removed the oil drain plug after completing the cleaning procedure. I did not use any tools for this procedure and removed it with my hand.
I wore rubber gloves because oil can spill on your hand. In addition, rubber gloves are also helpful to protect your skin from burning because of hot engine components.
It reduces the risk of electric shocks from touching the electric or metal parts. I grasped the plastic plug with my two fingers and pushed it to unlock the tubs.
I heard the clicking sound, which came because of their unlocking. I turned it counterclockwise and moved it backward slowly to decrease the risk of sudden oil spills.
Many people complain that they cannot exert force with their hands to remove these plugs. In addition, these are difficult to deal with hands because of the sticking issue.
You can use the pliers in this situation to remove them. One of my friends also faced the same issue, and he told me that he exerted force with his fingers for its removal but could not do it.
He used the driver ratchet to unlock them for their removal. However, you need special care while using tools for plastic material because it can crack when you exert excessive force or pressure on it.
Things to consider when removing the Ford plastic oil drain plug
You have to consider these things while removing the oil drain plug from your Ford truck to ensure safety during the procedure.
Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves, and turn off your vehicle for 2 to 3 hours before accessing the oil plugs. It allows the engine parts and oil to cool down. Hot oil can spill on your skin and lead to skin burns and serious injuries.
You should use the right size plier, wrenches, and ratchet for their removal to decrease plastic stripping chances. In addition, avoid exerting excessive force with prying tools because it can cause cracking.
I put the container underneath the plug to collect the contaminated oil and reduce its spillage chances on the ground surface, which is hard to clean. Dispose of the used plastic plug properly to decrease the chances of environmental pollution.
Why would you remove Ford plastic drain plug?
The engine contains the oil to lubricate its moving parts and decrease their friction. Motor oil reduces the risk of direct metal-to-metal content, which leads to grinding noise from the engine compartment.
Motor oil moves between the engine parts to ensure their smooth movement. The oil gets contaminated because of the metal shavings generated from the metal parts.
In addition, dirty parts also lead to oil accumulation. It becomes darker in color and causes overheating of the engine because it reduces efficiency.
You have to change the oil after 5000 to 7000 miles in your Ford truck for smooth driving. Plastic plug removal is the only way to flush out the contaminated oil from the engine parts.
In addition, you have to remove them to replace them with new ones. People often want to replace plastic plugs with metal ones because of their reliability and strength. You can also remove the drain plugs when they break.
Do plastic oil drain plugs need to be replaced?
Many people think that plastic oil drain plugs are for one-time use. However, it is not true because these are reusable because of their durability.
In addition, their reuse also depends on the quality of their material and cracking chances. You have to replace them after single oil changes if these are cracked and have strips on their surfaces.
In addition, they also need replacement because of warping, which can cause oil leakage. Sometimes, locking bars can also break during their removal, so you have to replace them with new ones for sealing oil drains.
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