Miserable oil change!

[JLovas]

Hey Guys...



Well, I've got a total of 3500 miles on the clock so I changed oil tonight so I would be ready for next week (I've got a lot of spraying to do so I'll be plenty busy). I have never killed so much time on one oil change in my life!!! I couldn't get the oil filter off for the life of me, ended up taking out the front right wheel well liner thingy to get a clear shot at the filter and get both arms on the oil filter wrench. She was TIGHT! After I loosened it about 1 revolution, she got loose quickly and squeeked a little. So besides Cummins putting the filter on WAY too tight, they didn't oil the gasket on the filter either.



But oh well, got her off, new one on and the the jobs done.



And by the way, how about I throw a question out for all of you... what is you preferred method of changing oil? Warm engine or cold engine? One of our hired hands (former shop forman for a local Case IH dealer) insists cold engine, to allow all the dirty oil to drain down into the pan and out the plug. Others argue that its best to do it on a warm engine because the pistons, cams, etc are still coated with oil, and can retain that oil upon start up after the engine oil change. What are your thoughts?

 

[Jim Porco]

To make the oil filter change easier , order the 6 in 1 filter wrench cup from Genos Garage for the fluted filters. Fits right on end of filter and use extender to get it off. Part No. Lc54780 . 5. 25.

This part is made of steel vs plastic.

 

[bighammer]

I do it cold. The contact points will still have oil on them and you have more oil and junk) in the pan if it hasn't been run in a while.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I do it warm because the bottom oil drains out more and faster. But hot oil burns fingers if you get it on you.

 

[bmoeller]

I normally drop it warm.

 

[HOCummins04]

I have always understood that as hot as possible was best, as all the oil would be stirred up and any (or as much as possible) "particulate stuff" in the pan would be suspended in the oil as opposed to settling out and would then remain in the bottom of the oil pan after the change. When you start the engine up afterwards, the new oil would get dirty sooner by picking this stuff up after the engine warmed up.



I suspect that if you are conservative on your change intervals, it matters less in the long run.



My . 02

 

[Slow Six]

I drop it hot, usually after a long trip. I've always been told that all the impurities, dirt ,etc. is in suspension and leaves the crankcase in the oil. I,ve been doing it this way for over 40 years so it would be hard to switch. I use the strap type of filter tool. There has not been a filter yet that I could not get off with them The best strap tool in my opinion is from Snap On.

 

[TBrennan]

I usually do it slightly warm if possible. Get the JHardwick filter wrench and you'll twist the filter in half before the wrench will slip on the filter.

 

[GerryDrake]

I've always done my oil changes with the oil hot, or nearly so, due to the particulate suspension mentioned above.



In order, I make sure the filter will come off (only rotate about 1/4 turn) then I drain the pan, come back about 20 minutes later, punch a hole in the bottom of the filter and let it drain, come back 20 minutes later, spin off the now empty and no longer hot filter. Lube the o-ring on the new one, replace the plug, fill the filter, spin it on, fill the truck. . It is so nice to handle an empty filter that is cool to the touch. But my time is my own, so if it takes me an hour, no biggee...

 

[PJ]

Im too lazy to change it myself. My local dealer charges $40 and I dont get my hands dirty. Actually, Im getting too old, I just dont want to admit it

 

[Chipstien]

Warm here, reason listed above.



BTW JLovas, I and many others too have fought through the longest oil change in history while changine the oil for the first time. Apparently Dodge is still putting them on with wrenches. I had to end up driving a screw driver THROUGH the filter to get the thing off. Do not worry though... ... the rest will go easier.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I always do mine good and hot, for draining reasons and also because I take my oil samples then and believe they'll be most accurate doing it that way. . . with the contaminants suspended in the oil.



Vaughn

 

[MCornwell]

HOT

As hot as possible for me, for the same reasons. 1 Quart in the



Stratapore Filter, 11 in the Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine... can't



you just smell it now.



-Mitch- hehe

 

[Okey0]

I loosen the filter slightly before start up (heat expands things), then drain the oil when hot. It flows out the drain hole better when hot, plus the reasons listed above.

 

[DPKetchum]

All engines hot!

 

[Dean Upson]

Hot. I let it drain for a long while (I have even let it drain overnight). I also use Jeff Hardwick's filter wrench and saw it in Geno's catalog. Sure is better than the plastic crap. I also put a plastic bag around the old filter when removing it. I am a firm believer in priming the new filter, many do not, but to each his own and old habits, good and bad are hard to break.



Dean

 

[jungledave]

Just remember that there is always about a 1/2 a quart left in the bottom of the pan hot or cold because the drain plug hole threads go up above the bottom of the pan. So I guess that a mixed up warm oil solution would most likely get more of the contaminants than a cold change. I change mine warm after about 30 minutes when the oil is still warm and all the oil has had a chance to drain from the top end. My 02s' first filter was a bear to get off the first change. My o4 was much easier to change overall with the propper wrench; I bought one at NAPA for about $6. There will always be a thin film of oil left on moving parts no matter how long you wait so don't worry about that. I also wouldn't be the least bit worried about changing it cold either. Be VERY careful not to get any of the plastic out of the bottle in the filter when you fill the filter. I read it somewhere that this is the number one cause of engine damage on owner, oil changed trucks. Maybe it was here or on another site.

 

[Wiredawg]

Hot and remove filter from bottom

Hot: I drain the oil hot and let her cool before changing the filter. I change the filter from the bottom (plenty of clearance on a 4X4). I bought a upper tune up Kit from Cummins ($34) a few years ago that has an oil wrench I could never use on my 2d Gen but works great on the 3d Gen.



Wiredawg.

 

[bombero]

One of the tips that I picked up awhile ago is to loosen the filter then put a ziploc plastic freezer bag around it. This will catch any oil spilled out of the filter as you remove it. Works like a champ!!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I always take my filter out from above, removing the turbo intake hose and using a strap wrench. It gives me a chance to make sure my air filter is doing its job by checking the cleanliness of the intake hose while replacing the oil filter.



I always use the '98-'02 version of the Stratapore filter, without the indentations, because that's what they carry at the local truck shop.



Vaughn