V6 Oil Change Problem

[karbate]

I ran into an issue doing an oil change, everything went smoothly until it was time to take out the oil filter. I managed to force the old one out but can’t put a new one in because it is hitting my sway bar. I looked online and it doesn’t seem like other mustangs have it and i don’t recall buying or installing one either. Am I just fucked and have to remove the sway bar? Even the oem filter won’t clear it.

TLDR: Oil filter won’t clear sway bars is there any way around it or do I have to take it all apart ?

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[dn1984]

i don't see how it's possible that a sway bar would interfere with your oil filter, can you take a picture?

 

[Nagare]

That video help at all? I don't do my own oil changes so far, but looks like it's pretty straight forward to reach other than maybe the shield being in the way.

 

[karbate]

even the oem one won’t clear

 

[Cobra Jet]

Can’t tell what model # filter you are using... but this is supposedly the correct size filter for a 2015-2017 S550 w/3.7 V6:

https://www.americanmuscle.com/motorcraft-oil-filter-2015.html

If you can’t get a stock size filter back on, there’s some other issue... has the drivetrain shifted forward?

Are you certain the old oil filter O-ring is still not stuck to the block? If it is and you’re installing a new filter on top of it, that would double the space between engine block and oil filter...

 

[GT Pony]

Did you buy this car new? What are the two open aluminum tubes just to the right of the filter?

 

[karbate]

I bought the oem motorcraft filter and managed to manhandle it in.

Did you buy this car new? What are the two open aluminum tubes just to the right of the filter?

I have no idea what those two open aluminum tubes are actually. I bought the car stock last year and had no problems doing oil changes then. This was the first time I did an oil change myself after it’s been through a new motor from Ford and I could’ve sworn i’ve never seen that bar before.

 

[Cobra Jet]

I bought the oem motorcraft filter and managed to manhandle it in.


I have no idea what those two open aluminum tubes are actually. I bought the car stock last year and had no problems doing oil changes then. This was the first time I did an oil change myself after it’s been through a new motor from Ford and I could’ve sworn i’ve never seen that bar before.

So the engine was replaced?

It’s possible when they put in the new engine it’s not seated properly on the mounts or the mounts to the subframe need to be adjusted. The oil filter should not be that close to the sway bar impeding oil changes.

I’m also curious as to what the open tubes go to - can you get more pics? Are those going to or for an oil cooler (can’t see that area of engine where it’s hidden)?

 

[karbate]

I’m also curious as to what the open tubes go to - can you get more pics? Are those going to or for an oil cooler (can’t see that area of engine where it’s hidden)?

Doesn’t look like there’s anything it it lol

 

[GT Pony]

Doesn’t look like there’s anything it it lol

Whoever put the new engine in didn't use the oil cooler. Are you sure it's even the right engine for the car?

 

[karbate]

Whoever put the new engine in didn't use the oil cooler. Are you sure it's even the right engine for the car?

It looks the same. Ford did the engine replacement under warranty. I've been going 15K miles on it so far with no issues as far as I can see. I went to Ford for the first two oil changes at 5K and 10K, only doing it myself at 15K.

 

[Cobra Jet]

That pic confirms what I thought... that certainly looks to be the oil cooler block... and explains why the “normal” oil filter is not fitting.

Usually when an engine has what they call an oil cooler “sandwich”, it’s mounted between the oil filter and engine block. If the vehicle is equipped with a functional cooler and depending on its location, the proper oil filter is usually smaller in length so that it will fit properly if other parts are in close proximity of the cooler.

So here’s some questions:
1) Does the S550 3.7 have an functional oil cooler? I don’t know as I’m not familiar with that S550 platform or engine family.

2) If you had the engine replaced, was it definitely a brand new Ford replacement, or did they source a 3.7 from something else - and from what? I would go back to the Dealership that installed that engine for you and start asking some questions.

3) If the original S550 3.7 is supposed to have a functional oil cooler, then why isn’t the unit hooked up?

4) If the original S550 3.7 isn’t supposed to have an oil cooler at all, then why when the engine was replaced did the Tech install that part?

5) If The Dealership did (2) oil changes after the engine replacement, why didn’t the Techs make note of the non-functional oil cooler and oil filter fitment issue?

Well, that pic definitely explains why you’re having fitment difficulties with the oil filter.

 

[usgiorgi]

What I'm amazed by is the fact that you're no spilling oil all over the place. I can't find any info online about a V6 Mustang having an oil cooler and all pics of the oem filter and undercarriage show that no sandwich plate should exist. Whoever replaced your engine did something wrong.

Can you confirm that the filters you've been getting in the past have been the same length?

 

[Nagare]

So here’s some questions:
1) Does the S550 3.7 have an functional oil cooler? I don’t know as I’m not familiar with that S550 platform or engine family.

Mustang 3.7 does not come with an oil cooler AFAIK, but you can swap over the cooler from the F-150 (I believe the 3.7 there, maybe from the 3.5 instead).

 

[GT Pony]

What I'm amazed by is the fact that you're no spilling oil all over the place. I can't find any info online about a V6 Mustang having an oil cooler and all pics of the oem filter and undercarriage show that no sandwich plate should exist. Whoever replaced your engine did something wrong.

Those lines are for the coolant circuit that goes through the oil cooler ... so that's why there isn't any oil leaking out of the cooler.

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