Never done one on my dmax and going on a trip--no time to get it to the dealer so I want to try it myself. Is there anything special about doing it myself? Anything I should know about? Special procedures, anything?

I assume if I look around underneath that I'll find the drain plug without trouble, along with the oil filter (Btw: should I get the oil filter from the dealer, or will any filter do?). I've read about getting a fumoto(?) valve but no time for that this time. Planning on using Delo 400.

thanks!

Be prepared to work on the original filter. Mine was so tight, I crushed it before I got it removed. You can use most any brand of filter. I would recommend Baldwin, Wix(NAPA Gold), or AC delco. These are usually readily available at parts stores and will be cheaper there than at the dealer in most situations. The only brand of oil filter that I would recommend you stay away from is FRAM. Someone posted about Cat possibly making one for our trucks as well(don't know for sure yet). Check here for part numbers:


http://dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11246&PN=1


Drain plug is in the lower, rear area of oilpan and easy to find. I usually raise the front end of the truck for a faster, more complete drain, but that is a personal preference. Make sure you have a big enough drain pan. I use several different ones, but they are all in the 12 - 15 qt size, so I know they are large enough. I'm sure you already know but it takes ~10 qts when changing oil and filter.

Something very important is also the skid plate! As many people have found out, the oil will begin to drain very nicely from the pan and as soon as you look away it will begin to fill the skid plate and run everywhere. Many of us have replaced the factory plug with a Fumoto drain valve with a nipple for a piece of 3/8" tube. But without that, you should bend a piece of cardboard, cut a plastic oil bottle to form a funnel or use a funnel to avoid a big mess!

I was figurin' on taking the skid plate off before the job... no?


I also thought I saw something on my stealer invoice from a previous LOF that indicated some kind of filter kit?Edited by: donmiller714

Don't know what a filter kit might have been, but removing the skid plate is real easy. Four bolts and it's out of the way, I pulled mine off for the first oil change in anticipation of the filter fight and so I could more easily install the Fumoto.


Fumoto with a nipple is the only way to go, now all I do is drain the oil with a piece of 3/8" hose directly into the 2 1/2 gal. jug I have for waste oil. No mess, no fuss, just put the lid on it and take it in to your local drop off.

Any problem switching from syn to dino and back throughout the life of the engine?

When changing oil in any vehicle always do it with a hot engine. (This way any gunk and dirt will be floating around in the oil, and not laying in the bottom of the pan) I always do mine as soon as I get home from driving it at least long enough to get it to operating temperature. If you have ramps, drive the front end up on them, place the pan under the oil pan area and remove the plug. While the oil is draining, you can be doing other things like greasing the chassis, removing the dip stick, and filler cap may help drain the oil faster. Check the radiator bottle at this time, if it is low, add distilled water to it. This is a good time to change the transmission spin on filter. Check the transfer case oil level, check or change front (If 4x4) and rear differential. fill the windshield fluid reservoir. remove the old oil filter. prep the new one at this time. (I fill the new filter so that the oil pressure doesn't take as long to build up on first start up. and make sure you oil up the gasket on the new oil filter prior to installation)


Set aside 45 minutes to an hour to do everything, while letting the oil drain out most of this time. For those using the fumoto drain plug, once every 3 or so oil changes you should remove it to insure there is no crud building up next to it, and to get a complete drain. I used it for a while then decided I liked the insurance of having the magnetic drain plug stopping some of the metal shavings.


This is a very easy job even for the beginner, however; don't try to rush it. The oil comes out only so fast. I believe there are 11 grease fittings on our trucks. make sure you get to all of them. Do not over grease them. putting 3 or 4 full squirts in to each fitting is enough.


Before destroying the old oil filter, make sure the new one you bought is the correct one.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif A good strap wrench is a must.


I hope this helps!

Any problem switching from syn to dino and back throughout the life of the engine? No! that is not a problem at all. However, it is good practice to stick to one brand and type for the life of the engine.

Where can you get this Fumoto drain valve at?

Where can you get this Fumoto drain valve?


Greg Landuyt


www.lubespecialist.com (http://www.lubespecialist.com)


or John Kennedy


www.kennedydiesel.com (http://www.kennedydiesel.com)


OR


www.fumotovalve.com (http://www.fumotovalve.com)


$25


Edited by: Idle_Chatter

OK -- so here's how it went...

everything went well until... I started lubing...

there were a few spots I couldn't get to, but those I could were difficult to fit the grease nozzle onto the zerk. It would snap on ok but was very difficult to get off. On one in particular, I couldn't get it off for the life of me! so I thought there was some kind of pressure thingy involved and that somehow I needed to release the pressure in the grease gun. Well, you guessed it, I started fiddling around with the screw at the top of the gun (Walmart special) and POP! All the grease shot out like, well, you get the picture! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif All over the driveway.

So, like anyone, I left it there until I was done with the rest of the job. Bad ideahttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif I didn't mind getting some of it on my arms when I was putting the skid plate back on, but I did kind of object to dropping the back of my head smack dab into the center of the gooey, greasy mess! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif

I had to wash my hair about 15 times with dish detergent (sp) interspersed with regular shampoo. I even tried rubbing alchol (sp again)--major mistake! I couldn't breath becase the fumes were so strong! Nearly choked!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif

Anyway, finally finished the job, my "lovely wife" was rather quick to point out that I should have done this last weekend when I had more time (SHUT UP!!!!).

Hope your experiences are a little smoother...

later! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

I apologize for leaving out the info about the skid plate. I don't have the skid plate.