I Just Can't Help It....

[RJOL]

Changed the oil and filter, for the first time, on my 2005. I had just under 4300 miles on the clock but I just couldn't force myself to wait until the 7500 recommended in the manual. Would never have waited this long on my 2001, and I know that Dodge has lengthened the intervals on the 3rd gens, but I just couldn't help myself.



Having changed the first filter on my 2001, I knew I could be in for a special treat trying to get the OEM filter off. On my 2001, I had to finally end up driving a big screw driver thru the filter housing and twisting it off. Couldn't get it with a wrench, or using a screw driver to "chisel" along the top.



The 2005 was just about as much fun. This time I had the custom "Hardwick" filter wrench, and was able to convince it to come off with a 1/2" drive and extension, coming at it from underneath the truck.



Put 12 quarts in it, like the manual says, but it still appears to be a little low (at the bottom of the "safe" range). I'll drive it a few days and take another look. Is 12 quarts what you guys are seeing, or does it take a little more?



Anyway... Now I can sit back and see if I can wait another 7500 miles or get tempted to do it early again...

 

[john3976]

The owners manual says to idle the engine and then to shut it down, wait five minutes and then check the oil level, it should be right at the full mark at that point with 12 quarts of oil.



If you check it right after shut down it may read low.

 

[RJOL]

The owners manual says to idle the engine and then to shut it down, wait five minutes and then check the oil level, it should be right at the full mark at that point with 12 quarts of oil.



If you check it right after shut down it may read low.

I'll check that, tomorrow... Thanks...

 

[Big_H316]

At 3 1/2 gals (12. 5 qts) mine reads perfectly at the full mark on the dipstick. I do however fill the filter before installing it and after the 3. 5 gals total is put in, it reads perfect.

 

[RJOL]

Re-checked the level, today, and it is just above the full mark (put in just over 12 quarts, including pre-filling the filter before putting it on. I don't know where all the oil hides. My 2001 took 11 quarts, and I never had to wait to check it...

 

[JHardwick]

At 3 1/2 gals (12. 5 qts) mine reads perfectly at the full mark on the dipstick. I do however fill the filter before installing it and after the 3. 5 gals total is put in, it reads perfect.

do you mean ... .



3 1/2 gals

12. 5 qts

3. 5 gals



3. 5 gallons is actually 14 quarts ... ... ... ... if you fill the motor with 3. 5 gals and then add 1 qt to the filter you have 15 qts in that motor

 

[Elite1]

Mine takes exactly 12 Qts. (3 gallons). I love the "Hardwick" oil filter tool as well!

 

[nickleinonen]

with the gallon [or 4 liter bottles... may be packaged as one, but contain the other amount???]...



i crack a bottle open, fill the filter and install it... then dump the remains of it, plus 2 more in the sump and i am done with it... don't think about the oil or check it for like 3000km. .

 

[JCrockett]

If I am not mistaken Schedule A in the manuel reccomends every 7500 miles and Scheduel B reccommends every 3000 miles for an oil change. Schedule B is what I use. Sch. A is more like the "ideal" driving conditions. Sch. B is for towing, off road, stop and go, dusting, etc. conditions. I thought it was 7500 as well, then my dad pulled out the manuel on our trip to AK and Sch B said 3000, so I had to get it changed in Grand Praire... ... . $95 Bucks :--)

The Canadians know how to make money that is for sure. My buddy owns a lube shop so I am used to getting a full service at cost about $38

 

[RJOL]

... If I am not mistaken Schedule A in the manuel reccomends every 7500 miles and Scheduel B reccommends every 3000 miles for an oil change. Schedule B is what I use. Sch. A is more like the "ideal" driving conditions. Sch. B is for towing, off road, stop and go, dusting, etc. conditions. I thought it was 7500 as well, then my dad pulled out the manuel on our trip to AK and Sch B said 3000...

I don't know what manual you're looking at, but it isn't for a 2005 CTD. Mine says "Sched A: 15000 / Sched B: 7500. " The longer change intervals came with the new 3rd gen engine...

 

[JCleary]

I change my oil every 5k.



I took it in once to a Lithia dealer...



They put in 15 qts of 10-30...



I made them do it again and use Delo. They still used 15 qts. I went home and drained the excess 3 quarts.



Now I change my fluids myself. I know it gets done correctly.



I use 3 gallons of Delo, and it's perfect. The truck just needs to sit long enough for the oil to read right on the dipstick.



Best time to check the oil is before you start in the morning.

 

[Fast 1]

every 3 thousand miles is to soon. 7500 is to late. I don't care what the manuall says. It's every 5000 miles for me. It goes like this 5000, 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... it's easy.



Verlyn

 

[AGrubbs]

Since I don't pull a trailer very often. . (twice in 30K miles, for less than 500 miles) I change every 10K miles. Thats shorter than the 15K miles the manual recommends, but its easyer

for me to remember to change it when the ODO clicks over to xx0,000 miles, and I like to error on the side of being conservitive.



I drive easy on my un-modded truck, so there is not much soot loading like some of the BOMBer's have, but I still change it 5000 miles short of what the manual says, and I use a good diesel rated synthetic 5w-40. The oil is only slightly darker than the

fresh oil. I can easly able to read the print on the stick at 10K mile changes.



My VW TDI on the other hand is 'BOMBed' and at 10K mile changes (the manual's recomendation) it is very black. The TDI is supposed to have 49 cetane fuel, and

of course does not get it with the crappy cetane fuel we get around here, so I am

not supprized that it is VERY black. On top of that, in the VW I am pushing about

1/2 the HP that I get out of my '03 cummins out of an engine less than 1/3 of size...

so I change the oil about every 5K miles, using the recomended synth. diesel oil. It

only needs just over 1 Gal.



My oil analisis's have shown that in my truck I would probably be good to go at least 20K on the oil, but this way I change my oil at 10K before it even starts to think about wear out, and the manual spec's are satisfied early too. .



3 Gal. every 10K is only like $40. 00 for oil, plus the cost of a new filter every time.

Engine doesn't seem to use any oil in 10K miles either. . Very nice!