Changing oil is one of the first tasks undertaken by anyone who wants to work on vehicles, whether they're aspiring professional mechanics or simply a do-it-yourselfer out to save a few dollars. Performing an oil change on the 2001 Ford Windstar is fairly straightforward and can be accomplished in under an hour by anyone with some mechanical aptitude. Make sure you have a plan for disposing of the waste oil after the job. Many auto parts stores and local automotive repair facilities will dispose of it, but it is best to inquire first.
Drive the Windstar onto the ramps and shut the engine off once it has reached operating temperature. Raise the hood and remove the oil filler cap and pull the engine oil dipstick up a few inches. This allows for faster oil draining.
Place the drain pan directly under the engine oil pan. Remove the oil drain plug with the 15mm box wrench and allow the oil to drain out until it is dripping slowly. Put a half-pea sized dab of black RTV onto the threads of the drain plug and reinstall it with the box wrench. Be careful not to over tighten it. Once the head of the drain plug contacts the pan, do not turn the plug more than 1/2 turn further.
Remove the oil filter with the oil filter wrench. Make sure the drain pan is under the filter before removing it. Make sure the old oil filter gasket came off with the filter. If not, remove it by hand. Put a dab of oil around the replacement oil filter's gasket and screw it back onto the Windstar. Tighten it down with the oil filter wrench.
Place the funnel in the oil filler neck and pour 4 quarts of oil into the funnel. Wait for it to drain and remove the funnel. Push the oil dipstick down into the tube fully. Start the engine, allow it to run for 15 seconds and then shut it off.
Pull the dip stick out, wipe the oil from it with a rag and reinsert it fully. Pull it back out and check the oil level on the dipstick. If the oil level is in the crosshatch area, you are fine. However, you should need to add at least one more quart, one pint at a time, rechecking the oil level after each time you add some oil. Continue until the oil is within the crosshatch, preferably near the top.
