What Have You Done To Your Explorer ST Today

Nascarbilly · Apr 18, 2026

@UNBROKEN :
You are a very talented guy!! FORD should hire you as a Consultant to help improve the overall quality of their performance vehicles. If the ordinary ST could be a better vehicle from the start 1) the buying customer would get more for their money 2) "Lookers" would turn into buyers/owners and 3) FORD's bottom line profit sheets would benefit too.

BTW: I'm still waiting on you to crack the nut and get rid of the fake engine noise without damaging any other functions. No pressure!!

nyuk98GT · Sunday at 9:05 PM

Fellow STers,

Today I did the first oil change with 1,137 miles on the clock. Filled with Mobil 1 5W-30 and a Motorcraft filter. I put in 6 quarts as a start and will check the level after a drive tomorrow.

FWIW, the drain plug (2026) has a 10 or 11 mm bolt head in the center and it was not a problem to loosen. Glad I didn't need my spare (it has a 3/8" square drive recess in it). The OEM plug has a central passage and drain hole so the oil can be drained slowly without fully removing the plug. It took about 3 minutes to drain and only a fine line of oil drained after the plug was pulled out.

JLT oil catchcan had about 2 teaspoons collected after 700 (pretty gentle break-in) miles.

That's it for today.

DSGR · 2026-04-27T22:14:31-0500

I've contacted Fenfab over the fitment issue with my 2026 ST and his cold charge pipe. He has yet to respond and I doubt he will. He's determined he's right and I'm wrong. I guess it's on to the BBB. I called S&B and they have provided me with excellent support along with my order of their cold charge pipe. They requested some photos and a description of the fit since they advertise it to fit up to a 2024 Explorer ST. There are differences and it doesn't seem that anyone makes a cold charge pipe that is an exact fit at the intercooler outlet on a 2026 ST. I drove our '26 ST today after installing the S&B cold charge pipe and it did fine. If anyone has installed the S&B part on their '26 ST, please let me know and how it's going so far. Does anyone know if there is an exact fit cold charge pipe for a '26 ST? I'm thinking about the rear differential brace and brake upgrades by Brake Performance. I've used their slotted rotors and ceramic pads and they have been the best brakes I've ever used!

DSGR · 2026-04-27T22:17:53-0500

nyuk98GT said:

Fellow STers,

Today I did the first oil change with 1,137 miles on the clock. Filled with Mobil 1 5W-30 and a Motorcraft filter. I put in 6 quarts as a start and will check the level after a drive tomorrow.

FWIW, the drain plug (2026) has a 10 or 11 mm bolt head in the center and it was not a problem to loosen. Glad I didn't need my spare (it has a 3/8" square drive recess in it). The OEM plug has a central passage and drain hole so the oil can be drained slowly without fully removing the plug. It took about 3 minutes to drain and only a fine line of oil drained after the plug was pulled out.

JLT oil catchcan had about 2 teaspoons collected after 700 (pretty gentle break-in) miles.

That's it for today.

Thank you for the info. I recently purchased a '26 ST and am planning to change the oil at 1,000 miles. I was wondering about that oil drain plug. I guess it's still plastic?

nyuk98GT · 2026-04-28T06:07:28-0500

@DSGR,

You're welcome. Yes, the plug is plastic. It did not take much torque to loosen it (the tabs will flex over the stops). Even though the hex protrusion has a slot for a screwdriver, it is safer (imho) to use a socket - more surface area to spread the applied force and less chance of the tool slipping.

I picked up a replacement plug at the dealership and it has a 3/8" square indent in it. I don't know if this is a newer plug than the OEM plug. The 'emergency spare' plug looks shorter, too but I failed to put them side by side to compare.

Once the plug is loosened, don't pull it all the way out. Hold it in place and let the oil drain out at a gentle rate. A little higher flow can be had by by tilting the plug in the drain hole. After a few minutes, most of the oil has drained and the plug can be removed. I let the pan drip for 30 minutes or so after removing the plug - probably not necessary to wait that long.

Removing the top of the (stock) airbox opens up the work area to remove the filter. The air inlet tubes come off and then it takes a little jockeying to get the lid off (and to reinstall it). Have a rag ready to put under the filter.

I poured a little fresh oil on the new filter (don't go wild, just get the filter wetted). Don't know if that is necessary but old habits die hard.

HTH.

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What Have You Done To Your Explorer ST Today

Nascarbilly

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DSGR

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DSGR

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nyuk98GT

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