When I change the oil in the Duramax it seems that the skid plate for the front transmission (4X4) always catches the oil stream after it slows down to a trickle . This allows the oil to pool on the skid plate and drain out the hole in the skid plate away from the drip pan. The only way I have found to help this problem is to jack the front of the truck up and let the oil drain back to the edge of the skid plate and drop into the drip pan. Anyone else have a better idea other than using a long funnel.:help2:

"Fumoto Valve" http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

It's a sure cure for what ails ya.

Thats why I let the dealer do my oil changes...too messy. I am in and out in an hour.


LATER

Fumoto Valve???

Fumoto Valve???
You betcha. Go here (http://www.fumotovalve.com) to see it, or you can get one through one of the vendors on this forum. I swear by mine. Don't even really need the drain pan except for removing the filter - otherwise I can drain directly into empty gallon jugs.

Thanks coriolis1 that looks like it might work better than newspapers all over the concrete floor.

Thanks coriolis1 that looks like it might work better than newspapers all over the concrete floor.
Yeah, tell me about it. Did that twice before I figured there had to be a much better way. I like being able to push a little length of hose on to it so I can control exactly where it goes.

Fumoto will make your life easier. You may even buy another truck so you can change oil so easily twice as often

Sold over 2000 fumoto valves last year. They work!.

Greg

i dropped my skid plate and went to the band saw and just trimmed the corner off a little. cant notice it unless i tell ya. simple fix for me at least

I also have skid plates. I bought the Fumoto valve with the nipple. I got a piece of fuel line about 6 inches long and attached it to the Fumoto with a small hose clamp. I put a tie wrap tie in a handy location near the drain valve, and use it to support the hose up and out of the way.

When I want to drain oil, I slip the hose out of the tie wrap and direct it into the drain pan. No drips, no spills.

before installing my fumoto drain valve, I used to use a piece of alum foil shaped like 1/2 funnel. no mess to speak of but I sure like the drain valve with the nipple more !

I just made a half funnel from part of a coffee can and it works great. No mess, no spills no errors. "Course, I'm a tight wad!!!!

I actually always make a trough out of the box the new oil filter came in. Cheap. Quick. Easy.

Thanks to all of y'all for the info. Keep the ideas coming. You never know when someone will come up with a patent idea.

Anyone know what the proper torque spec is for the oil drain plug on 2003 duramax? I have recently developed a seep from the drain plug. I have tried changing the seal washer, but no luck. I am afraid to over tighen and strip the drain pan.

Sold over 2000 fumoto valves last year. They work!.

Greg I'm one of the 2000 happy customers.

The numbers that Greg posted speak for themselves.. Thats simply the best option IMO and many others

The Fumoto is great. The only oil change I had that was a mess was the first. I put the Fumoto on then and it is simple now. Just put a vinyl tub on teh valve and into a plastic milk jug and open the valve. Close the valve when its full, put the tube into the next jug and open again. The only drawbacks I can see is no magnet and it drains kind of slow.

Is this fumoto valve the same thing that FRAM (I think that's what I saw) is selling in the stores now? It's about $16.

I like Femco, check it out under:

http://www.drainplug.com/

Well made and worth the money IMHO

The best bang for he buck IMHO is the Fumoto. The quality of this valve is far superior to the Fram Sure Drain or the Femco. They have been around for more years than the other two combined.

Greg

I tell ya guys, I went to the forest to cut down Christmas trees in the snow last year (first time 4-wheeling) and I Scratched and draged my almost polished skid plate all over the place. So having anything like that hanging down I think is a bad idea. I cut my skid plate off like Moss did then I use newspaper ta make the the oil run the way I want.

My Fumoto doesn't hang down below the level of my skid plate - the angle of the valve just diverts oil beyond the edge of it.

Besides, with as often as a lot of us change the oil in these trucks, I'd much rather go the valve route than fumbling around with a hot oily drain plug, which may eventually weaken it and get to the point to where you have to either replace it, or torque it too much trying to get it to stop leaking. I like not having to cut the truck or fashion some sort of a funnel or do nothing and get oil everywhere. One install, one torque. Lots of control. It's a no-brainer to me.

Since the drian plug is not in the absolute bottom of the pan, how much oil is left in the pan due to the fumoto, fram, or femco having a smaller diameter than the drain hole? I know on heavy duty trucks that hold 10 gallons, you can get about 1-1.5 extra quarts out of the pan by removing the valve rather than just opening the valve.
It's true, a drain valve is quick and handy, but I've seen on more than one occasion on heavy trucks where a bolt has come loose or broken off and fallen into the oil pan(broken heads off of main bolts, and stiffener plate bolts especially). The parts will flow out with the oil if you pull the plug, but when equipped with a valve, you don't have enough flow rate or big enough diameter to get these parts out. You'll have to pull the pan anyway if you find something like that, but the only way to find it is by pulling the plug. Although this is rather rare, I feel better pulling the plug every time "just in case". Just some food for thought.

i dropped my skid plate and went to the band saw and just trimmed the corner off a little. cant notice it unless i tell ya. simple fix for me at least
Ditto

It was free, aluminum cuts easy. And it gets the job done.

Don't they make a clip to keep the Fumoto locked closed? I've got one here for the next oil change, but I'm afraid that thing is gonna get bumped and come open.

Fumoto valves have a locking position. The clip is add safety.

Greg

I got the Fram Sure drain, I dont think I could go with the Fumoto because I drive my truck offroad alot. If something hits that little lever my oil could drain everywhere. I know Fram is a low-end brand but ive had this thing on my truck now for 15,000 miles and have had no problems. Plus it costs only about half what the Fumoto does.

I have the Fumoto and drive my truck over Mesquite and Weesatch (sp) on at least a weekly basis. The skid plate protects it. Never had a problem. as far as I'm concerned, the Fumoto is the way to go.

I have the Fumoto and drive my truck over Mesquite and Weesatch (sp) on at least a weekly basis. The skid plate protects it. Never had a problem. as far as I'm concerned, the Fumoto is the way to go.
Shoot - driving over mesquite I'd think you'd have to worry about flats more than Fumotos, anyway! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I have lived in Alaska for several years and have had the fumoto on my truck for a while now. I originally cut my skid plate because I hated the mess. Then I ran into a problem where my drain plug was put on so tight I could not get it off. This was done at the dealership when they worked on the truck, for some reason they had to change my oil, I was a little upset because I had just put in the Delvac 1 and they put a cheap oil in. Anyway, I let them break it loose and replace the plug. Then I found the Fumoto. Anyone that has gone hunting in Alaska with a 4-wheeler knows the terrain, and I have put my truck through just as much wear as I have my 4-wheelers and never had any problems. Another added bonus on the Fumoto, is it works wonders when taking oil samples with those little bottles. I burn an oil sample every 5k miles and if I had to quickly take off the plug, fill the bottle and get the plug back on it would be nearly 2 quarts wasted. As with the Fumoto I can control the amount of oil I want to come out. Just my .02 cents..
Jeff

Shoot - driving over mesquite I'd think you'd have to worry about flats more than Fumotos, anyway! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gifThe 16" 10-ply BFG MT's are the best I've ever had against thorns! FWIW, I've never had a flat from a thorn with 16" tires. When my father was still alive I tried to talk him into a 3/4 ton truck mainly for the 16" tires. He was forever having flats with his 1//2 ton 15" tires. The only time I have had a flat with 16" tires is when they were near the end of their life and I was hauling a$$ on a gravel road and had a rock poke through!!!!



Gary

coriolis1---BTW: I only live about 1.5 hours from you (South). I got my truck used from Henna in Austin. Do you use them?

coriolis1---BTW: I only live about 1.5 hours from you (South). I got my truck used from Henna in Austin. Do you use them?
Not personally, but we've bought a couple of trucks and a couple of Suburbans from them over the years. Guy that was their shop foreman for many many years is a good friend of the family. Bought mine used last June from Sue Harton out in Burnet, and have had decent luck with Champion for warranty service - chose them because they're close to my job.

How much is a fumoto valve? Interested in one.

About two and a half sawbucks.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif

Just about any one of the vendors here on the forum can hook you up!