15K mile fluid and filter service

[AH64ID]

Well I hit 15K miles today and had some time to get it done today so the 15K mile service is done.

Fuel filters were the only thing required, but I've always been a fan of an early fluid change to get break in metals/particles out.

I will say that I don't recall seeing the engine mounted canister filter so clean on my 05 after 15K miles and I was running a BF1212 before the OE filter. The dogbone filter tool from Geno's was a big help.

There is no doubting the reports that the OE gear lube isn't great. The rear fluid felt thin and was VERY dirty.. no you can't always judge fluid by it color but compared to the front there was no comparison. It was also a little gritty. If you have more than 15K miles on your truck and haven't changed the gear lube you should!

The front diff and xcase looked about how I expected, lightly used but not bad.

The trans fluid looked brand new... likely this change was the least required, but I was already doing a service. 7.2-7.3 quarts, just as expected.


Not trying to get into an oil discussion.. but the EZ Pack's from Amsoil are AMAZING!! Easiest xcase and diff fluid filling I've ever done.


All in all not a bad afternoon in the shop with a fire going and a beer open.

 

[SAP2018]

Good times friend! I enjoy doing maintenance on my Cummins as well.

Gear oil is next on my agenda.

 

[SAP2018]

I also enjoy doing maintenance on my Cummins my friend.

Gear oil is next on my agenda. A little late at 37k. I’m bummed I let it get that far but I work out of town and it’s hard to find time.

 

[nukegm]

comrade - not a whole lot more satisfying than some quality wrench time with a vehicle. the fire and beer only add to that.
if i may ask, where did you get the amsoil for the diffs and approx. cost? i did factory fluid change at 24,000. rear diff was filthy. the wait at the parts counter. ( 1/2 hour ) plus the drive there and back. i live way up in the mountains.... my time is valuable the older i get. cheers!

 

[AH64ID]

comrade - not a whole lot more satisfying than some quality wrench time with a vehicle. the fire and beer only add to that.
if i may ask, where did you get the amsoil for the diffs and approx. cost? i did factory fluid change at 24,000. rear diff was filthy. the wait at the parts counter. ( 1/2 hour ) plus the drive there and back. i live way up in the mountains.... my time is valuable the older i get. cheers!

I am an Amsoil Dealer so I get it from my local direct jobber, who happens to live less than a mile from me.

 

[Cummins12V98]

You guys really need to look at diff maintenance intervals. I think some go wayyy tooo looong.

Good call on the AMZ/OIL. The squeeze bottles make filling diff and transfer case a breeze.

Report your diff fluid condition at 15k.

My Son is a dealer so I pay cost.

 

[Tuesdak]

Edit double post.

 

[Tuesdak]

What filters are you using on your 2018? Air filter and cabin air filter still good?

Break in wear and debris aside: I thought you were way early on the axle oil change till I RTFM. Ok just a little early. HD (Police Taxi Fleet) service including frequent trailer towing is 20K oil changes on axles! (Interesting the 2 year 30K life limit on the air filter.)

Do they have a oil drain plug on the diffs or is it still pop the covers?

Anyone got a pic of the AMZ/OIL squeeze bottles?

I had to look up the Geno's tool for the fuel filter. That's a proven useful design esp. coming from the Duramax world and using a like tool for their filter.

https://www.genosgarage.com/product...rench-water-in-fuel-sensor-wrench-ggdb1/tools

 

[AH64ID]

What filters are you using on your 2018? Air filter and cabin air filter still good?

I'm using a MOPAR primary fuel filter and a Racor secondary fuel filter. Both bought from Geno's.

Oil is a Donaldson ELF7349.

Air filter and cabin filter are both OE, but I'll likely go with MOPAR on at least the air filter.

Break in wear and debris aside: I thought you were way early on the axle oil change till I RTFM. Ok just a little early. HD (Police Taxi Fleet) service including frequent trailer towing is 20K oil changes on axles! (Interesting the 2 year 30K life limit on the air filter.)

We had a couple more road trips this year than normal so my towing %age was down, but still at 30%. So not too early. With the Amsoil I am not sure it will need changed as often as the OE stuff, but time will tell with what I do. I went 50K miles on the 05, but it had 2x the capacity with the MH cover.

30K miles seems about right for an air filter.

Do they have a oil drain plug on the diffs or is it still pop the covers?

It's still pop the covers. The magnets were very clean for gear break in.

Anyone got a pic of the AMZ/OIL squeeze bottles?

I'll go take one. I kept a gear lube and an ATF bottle for future use.

I had to look up the Geno's tool for the fuel filter. That's a proven useful design esp. coming from the Duramax world and using a like tool for their filter.

https://www.genosgarage.com/product...rench-water-in-fuel-sensor-wrench-ggdb1/tools

It's very solid, and very useful.

 

[Newsa]

I thought you were way early till I RTFM. Frequent towing (is a 20,000 mile oil change on the axles. So just a little early.

Is there a drain plug on the diffs? Any build up on the magnets if you popped the cover off?

And how about a pic of the squeeze bottles!!!

No drain plug on the diffs that i know of. Just remove the diff cover, wipe it out and take a look. A little torque goes a long way when reinstalling the cover. Take the fill plug out before removing the cover just to make sure it can be removed. Leave it out if you want until you are ready to refill.

 

[AH64ID]

They were a little bigger than I was expecting.

 

[gsbrockman]

@AH64ID
Hack apart that rear separator filter sometime, and you’ll soon see why the underhood filter looks so great. It takes a huge amount of the hit filtering fuel.

Maybe you’ve read this thread on TDR
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...a-mopar-fuel-separator-p-n-68197867aa.247585/

 

[sag2]

OK Ron, I drank the Kool Aid. I ordered 8 quarts of the diff fluid and 2 quarts of the trans fluid for the transfer case. Ordered direct from Amsoil for $159 including tax. About 40% less than it was on Amazon.
I have 19k so I will change it before we tow again later this month.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Right on!

 

[nukegm]

OK Ron, I drank the Kool Aid. I ordered 8 quarts of the diff fluid and 2 quarts of the trans fluid for the transfer case. Ordered direct from Amsoil for $159 including tax. About 40% less than it was on Amazon.
I have 19k so I will change it before we tow again later this month.

comrade sag - had no idea you could order amsoil direct. i will do the same as you for my 2nd fluid change. the factory fluid is a pain for me to get given where i live. appreciate the info in your post. cheers!

 

[gsbrockman]

Right on!

#ad

 

[Cummins12V98]

Just think all the $ you could save.

 

[Newsa]

#ad

Group hug! Amsoil Brotherhood. Count me in! I have amsoil Dominator 20w 50 in the sump right now and an Amsoil bypass filter. Recently renewed my preferred cust acct.

 

[JohnM45]

I had a similar saturday afternoon - garage heat cranked; Waylon on the stereo; a Fat Tire cracked open and my first fuel filter swap.

I'm curious about this tool on geno's - the dogbone thing. What am I missing? I ended up unplugging the connector for the WIF sensor and just pulling the whole filter. Then, swapped out the sensor to the new filter while it was on the bench vise. I felt like it was just easier to deal with at the work bench instead of laying on my back.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The sensor wrench is really NOT needed if you have a vise or another way to RnR. I have the Lisle wrench that fits the sensor, I use it to bust the sensor loose while filter is still on truck.

Biggest thing is to properly drain the filter so you don't get a bath.

I open sensor to drain with a poly tube attached into a container. When a bit if fuel has came out i bust the filter loose and then dirt really drains. Close sensor drain and remove the filter, no mess!