Any body got any tips on changing the filter on the 2.7L? It is relatively easy to get to, but on my 4x4 there is a skid plate located right beneath it and it looks like since I have bought this truck it has become coated with the drippings of hundreds of oil changes. The way the filter is oriented it seems difficult to get it off with out getting oil on the skid plate and steering gear. I'd love to hear anyone's technique to this short of removing the skid plate for every oil change!

 

Remove the skid plate or soak it in oil like the PO did.

 

I removed the plate and removed almost 1/4 inch of what looked like oil sands completely covering he aft skid plate and the forward piece wasn't much better... It is nice under that truck except there. I think it was all jiffy lubes that made that mess. It does seem like a pain to pull that plate fore every oil change, but I don't want it to get that nasty again!

 

I pulled the skid plate in two parts, but it looks like it might be possible to just remove the front bolts and the rears and take both out leaving the 2 bolts that connect the skid plate parts. I'm just lazy that's just 5 bolts to undo instead of 7...