Another I did the first oil change post

[Shelby Griggs]

Yes, I know this has been pretty well discussed in the past, but for other new(er) owners I thought I would pass along my first experience. First off, I modeled my efforts after dmurdock's instructions on his web page.
http://home.austin.rr.com/murdocks/oil.htm

It was still a bear to budge the filter, but I am quite certain that the back ordered oil filter pliers that I did not get in time, would have been a failure. That order will be canceled tomorrow. That strap wrench set up is sweet, and did the trick, but not before crushing the filter can. Then after it started moving, I still had to apply a bunch of torque for the first 1/2 turn or so.

Prior to removing the filter I removed the airbox to turbo hose, helps a bunch. I covered the turbo inlet with plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band. Placed a piece of cardboard over the RH battery so I could lean over without being on the battery. Also if you are short and have a 4 X 4, a step stool of some sort is in order. I have a two stepper from Wal Mart about $8. 00.

Lets see, fixes from dumb mistakes department. I leaned to hard on the airbox, causing the outboard rubber mounting post to unattach. Fought that for a while, figured out that it is not easy to remove the post, as the backside is between the fender and the fender liner. A shot of silicon spay lube a little pressure and it shot right back on there.

Found the OEM plug to be barely torqued at all, I am surprised it wasn't dripping.

Installed a Fleetguard filter (pre-filled of course) and added the finger touch drain valve and then topped it up with 10 more quarts of Valvoline PB 15-40.

Decided to remove and clean the breather tube and bottle. What a mess that thing is creating. See my tirade about this in my "What is it that smells in engine oil?" post in the Products forum.

No leaks, just lots of stink now in the cab, whereas I had none before the change.

Shelby


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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH (Built 09-10-00), DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 3873 miles as of 01-04-01. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Good job, Shelby. That first oil filter turned into an all day nightmare for me. #ad
I felt like I had passed some kind of initiation after I finally got that project done. It's funny how so many have the oil smell problem. I've never had it - I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm on my second oil change now. #3 will be soon.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

 

[Frank J. Lloyd]

Originally posted by Fireman Dave:
Good job, Shelby. That first oil filter turned into an all day nightmare for me. #ad
I felt like I had passed some kind of initiation after I finally got that project done. It's funny how so many have the oil smell problem. I've never had it - I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I'm on my second oil change now. #3 will be soon.

I've done 3 oil changes now, I liked the filter pliers myself and I have the same oil smell for the first few days after every oil change. I think it has something to do with the new oil breathing into the little catch/breather thing.



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2001 3500 4x4 H. O. 6 speed 4. 10, SLT, Cab and Chassis, 163" wheelbase western hauler stake bed 3" straight pipe, silencer ring AWOL, boost pyro gauge, K&N, Geno's one touch oil valve, Cobra 29,
ready to bomb
Big Red is ready to roll!

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Originally posted by Fireman Dave:
Good job, Shelby. That first oil filter turned into an all day nightmare for me. #ad

Dave,

Even knowing what to expect, it was tough, and as the filter began to crush, I was having nightmares. But I finally persuaded it to start turning, but not before I was sweating in freezing weather, both from the exertion and panic starting to set in on a Saturday evening. If I had of failed to get that off, I would have been in big trouble until Monday when I could get help.

Shelby

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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH (Built 09-10-00), DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 3873 miles as of 01-04-01. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

[Happy Camper]

KNOCK ON WOOD! On my first oil change, everything went like clock work. I had expected the worst, so I tried the filter first before I drained the oil just incase I wanted the dealer to have some experience #ad
: I used the standard oil filter Wrench. It came off easily, but was slow for aprox 1 and 1/2 turns.
THEY NEED TO PUT SOME GOOD SMELLING LOTION IN THE OIL FOR THE FIRST 200 MILES AFTER CHANGING. #ad
#ad


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Bert
2001. 5,3500 QC 4x4, HO/6spd,limited slip,BD brake,60 gal Aero tank.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I know that feeling, Shelby!

 

[tlippy]

Shelby - that was the easy stuff! I just finished with the auto tran, fuel filter, and rear end - for the first time. Truck was indisposed for a total of three days. Today I had to buy 50# of cat litter and hopefully it's enuf to pick up the quart of A/T fluid and the half quart of rear end oil that I spilled.
No mishap with the fuel filter - except for a bit of diesel on the concrete.
I bought a 12V siphon from JC Whitney and got 2 quarts of A/T fluid out before I dropped the pan - it wasn't enough! Still spilled a quart. Then I decided to use the siphon gizmo to fill the transmission. The outlet hose popped off and shot a cup of A/T all over the engine before I figured out how to stop the flow. Then I added what I thought was the same amount I took out. Drove to Redmond today and the tran didn't act quite right - it wasn't right! Had to buy 2 quarts of A/T fluid and one of those long neck funnels. Added the juice in a snow storm.
The rear end wasn't TOO bad. The old oil emptied out around the edge of the drain pan. And it stinks! I found Red Line 80w140 Synthetic in Sisters. I didn't take the guys advice and buy the thing to get the new fluid out of the bottle and into the rear end. It took me a half hour to get the 4 quarts in the rear end. Glad it's over. Tomorrow I hope the cat litter has soaked up all the oil. I'll do better next time.


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99' Quad 4x4 A/T LB 3. 54 30K Miles.
26' Terry w/slide 7500GVWR
"KISS your truck and it will be forever faithful"

 

[Evan A. Beck]

I have never had the oil smell problem in either of my two 24V Rams. I have always used Valvoline Premium Blue 15W40.

I know what you guys mean when you talk about the challenge of changing the filter for the first time. I didn't have a strap wrench when I did mine, and I ended up using a monkey wrench to get that ******* offa there. The filter on my 98 was easy to get off the first time for some reason.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Evan,

Is your grunge tube still in the stock location, or do you relocate it? The PB has a noticeable odor on mine and I had no smell on the factory fill.

Tlippy,

Great story on your 3 day ordeal. I did not give all of my details, because of timing (poor on my part), I started Saturday night, mine was finished Sunday afternoon. I got to tell you that those Costco dishwasher soap buckets look like about a 3 gallon capacity, but they are about 8 or 9 quarts instead, LOL. Fortunately I had the foresight to envision they might not be big enough, so did not spill any oil as I had a controlled drain with the plug in. The last quart was drained about 3 hours after the first 9. Got me a brand spanking new 17 qt pan today. I will be draining the next change in style.

Shelby

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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH (Built 09-10-00), DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 3873 miles as of 01-04-01. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Shelby,

My grunge tube is in the factory location, same on the '98. Some trucks make the "stink" while others don't. I did an oil change on an 8. 3 the other day, and the small was pretty bad. I used PB for that change.

Something else I saw the other day that was interesting, was a '99 Ram that had NO grunge tube. There was just a blank cover in the spot where the tube normally connects. What is even more interesting, was it still had factory clear coat on it--meaning it came this way. I thought it might be some sort of mod the guy did, but it was all stock... #ad