Oil drain plugs are made of plastic and metal material depending on the model of the Ford vehicle. The drain plug contains the seals to seal drain openings. In addition, these plugs are also helpful to remove contaminated and old oil from the engine compartment. It allows the complete removal of contaminated oil without leaving the residues behind.
Why Does Ford Use Plastic Drain Plugs? Ford uses plastic drain plugs because of their quick draining, corrosion resistance, affordability, reusability, and easy installation or removal. In addition, you can see the plastic drain plugs in the F-550, F450, F-150, Mustang, Fusion, and Edge Sports Utility. Moreover, plastic drain plugs were introduced in Ford vehicles in 2015.
Plastic drain plugs are made up of high-quality material. I do not use plastic oil drain plugs in trucks because these have a shorter life span as compared to metal ones. These are more vulnerable to warping and deformed shape because of overheated oil. In addition, I also saw these can crack and break easily because of the drying of plastic material.
Why do Ford vehicles have plastic oil drain plugs?
Several Ford vehicles have plastic oil drain plugs instead of metal ones because of their benefits. You can use these plugs to seal the oil drains and reduce the oil seeping issue from the engine parts. Moreover, you have to install it properly while replacing it because incorrect installation causes leakages.
Quick draining
You have to remove the contaminated engine oil from your vehicle to reduce the risk of damage to engine components. Removing the contaminated one properly before adding new and fresh motor oil is necessary.
Vehicles contain plastic and metal drain plugs for contaminated oil removal. However, many Ford trucks are equipped with plastic plugs instead of metal ones because of its several benefits.
These are comparatively smaller in size, which causes quick oil draining from engine compartments. It takes less space at the opening area and provides more area for oil flushing.
I had two Ford vehicles, which had different drain plugs. I removed them at the same time for contaminated oil removal. I noticed that the truck with a plastic plug emptied early because there was more surface area for oil flushing.
You have to spend less time on oil removal from the engine parts to ensure their smooth functioning. These are made of high-quality rubber material that can withstand the high engine temperature.
No corrosion chances
Ford introduced plastic oil drain plugs in their different vehicles because these are not vulnerable to corrosion, which can affect their installation.
Corrosion does not cause their tightening, which can affect their installation and removal processes. Because of the rustproof material, you can easily remove and install them with your hand.
In addition, these last longer and cannot get damaged. Corrosion exposure causes degradation of affected material because of the oxidation process.
These do not oxidize because of exposure to humid temperatures and water splashes. These cannot break or crack because of the absence of an oxidation process.
Corrosion-resistant material also makes them easy to remove while changing engine oils. Metal plugs are at more risk of corrosion because of oil exposure and certain environmental conditions.
Affordable
Automobile manufacturing industries always try adding vehicle parts to reduce manufacturing costs. In addition, they use affordable manufacturing materials that reduce the overall cost of the vehicle.
Ford is also focusing on the overall manufacturing cost. They installed plastic drain plugs in their trucks instead of metal because these are cost-effective.
These are more affordable than metal ones because of their different chemical composition and manufacturing ingredients. Their installation helps reduce the overall truck cost.
Reusable
Some metal oil drain plugs are not reusable because of the presence of corrosion on their surface. You can reuse the plastic plugs because of the absence of corrosion and the durability of the material.
The reusability of this part makes them environment-friendly and cost-effective. They do not get damaged during their removal and reinstallation.
You can easily reuse them after an oil change. Their thread design helps make them reusable because of the absence of strips and cracks on their surface. You can also increase their longevity by installing them correctly and avoiding over-tightening.
Easy to install and remove
Ford company added plastic oil drain plugs in their pickup trucks because these are easy to install and remove. These are resistant to corrosion, which decreases their tightening chances.
These have a release mechanism and built-in grips for easy removal. You can also grip it with your fingers and remove them.
In addition, you do not have to hire a mechanic for their removal during oil changes. You can save the mechanic cost by removing it with your hands.
Moreover, you do not require any specialized tools to deal with them. My friend also installed it in his truck within minutes and without using any installation tool.
These are lighter in weight, which contributes to a decrease in the overall weight of the vehicle. The fuel efficiency of the truck also increases because of the decrease in its weight.
Not vulnerable to stripping
Metal oil plugs are vulnerable to stripping, which increases the risk of oil leakage. It directly reduces the pressure and affects the lubrication of engine parts, which increases the risk of damage.
Plastic drain plugs are not vulnerable to stripping and last longer because of their manufacturing with durable material. The risk of leakage through the drain opening is less, which can improve the overall working efficiency of engine parts.
In addition, these are not at risk of stripping because of their different chemical composition compared to the metal material. You cannot see stripping on their surface because of their corrosion-resistant property.
Chances of stripping and cracking are less because of their flexibility and less chances of deformation. It is also an insulated material that cannot strip or crack because of electric changes.
What Ford vehicles have plastic oil drain plugs?
All Ford Vehicles are not equipped with plastic oil drain plugs. You can see selected models of Ford trucks depending on their manufacturing year.
It is significantly present in the Ford F350, F150, F-450 and F-550. In addition, it is also present in some of the Ford cars, including the 2015 model of the Ford Mustang.
Moreover, the 2015 and 2016 models of Lincoln MKX also have plastic plugs. You can also see it in the Ford Fusion, Edge, and Edge sports utility.
When did Ford start using plastic drain plugs?
Ford started the plastic oil drain plug in 2015, and FEMCO manufactured the plugs for the Ford F150 and Mustang. It is yellow in color and made up of durable plastic material.
In addition, it is present in Ford vehicles manufactured from 2015 to 2021. It is the replacement of the OEM plugs that are also yellow in color but more vulnerable to cracking and breaking.
You do not have to replace FEMCO-developed plugs after every oil change. Most of the F-series contain FEMCO-developed plastic plugs for oil removal. Furthermore, you do not have to replace it regularly for routine maintenance.
Are plastic oil drain plugs reusable?
Plastic oil plugs are reusable because of their corrosion-resistant properties. You do not have to replace them for every oil change because there are fewer stripping and cracking chances.
These need replacement after certain times. It is better to replace them when you see engine oil leakage from their seals because of the worn-out plug.
You cannot reuse it after performing multiple oil changes. You should also inspect the O-rings because sometimes these are the reasons behind leakages instead of drain plugs.
One of my friends told me he prefers the drain plug replacement after every two oil changes to decrease the leakage chances.
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