Serviced the ‘18 today. A few notes.

[RammerJam]

I always go through the top, I've done it so many times in the last 575,000 miles that I could almost do it with my eyes closed.
Your '18 Aisin truck has a HUGE opening in the inner fender liner compared to my '15 68RFE truck, and the trans cooler lines are not in the way anywhere near as much either.
I tried pulling the filter on mine once through the fenderwell and said to hell with that!!!

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[SnoKing]

I made my own like that back in the 1980's.

 

[SnoKing]

#ad

Sum of us are tall enoght to reach over the fender.

 

[kthaxton]

I made my own like that back in the 1980's.

Is the picture from the 80's too?

 

[SnoKing]

Is the picture from the 80's too?

Our eyes have just lost focus in 40 years.

 

[Rob S]

What's the correct size low profile socket for the front fuel filter?

The 29mm I have works but it feels loose.

1 1/8 or 28mm

 

[Ltngdrvr]

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Nah, don't use one of those, bought one of these instead, on sale for $20. One of the best things I ever bought at Harbor Freight, use it all the time for all kinds of chores.
https://www.harborfreight.com/step-stool-working-platform-66911.html?_br_psugg_q=step+stool

 

[Ltngdrvr]

A basic and easy oil change along with a front drive shaft greasing.

Not to start a debate, but the “through the fender wheel well” method works quick and easy for me. The Geno’s oil filter cap makes this pretty easy and clean. The only downside is I prefer to change the oil hot, therefore the filter is hot and full of oil. So I spill a few drops that make it out to the rim of the filter before the cap is spun on. Even then, it’s a pretty minor deal.

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The Geno’s oil funnel screws right into the valve cover and makes pouring oil in and leaving a jug draining again super easy.

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For those who want to know, I use used lawn mower oil as my preferred fill. I figure if it worked in a cheap push mower, it ought to work good enough in an $80k truck.

Seriously, I use Rotella T6. (Let the oil wars begin.... )

I’ve use Fumoto drain valves for many many years. I really like them and never had an issue. It makes draining the oil easy and mess free.

View attachment 126373

I did notice I used a full 12 quarts/3 gallons on this change. In the past (on a 12v) I always seemed to use about 11 quarts. Does that seem normal to y’all? I still have some jugs laying around from the last oil change and that seems to agree. One had an extra quart. Hmmmm. I was parked behind the garage which isn’t perfectly level, but I can’t see it off kilter enough to cause the dipstick to read a quart off. That’d be a pretty big lean.

I then greased the front drive shaft. It was easy to find the zerk as it was marked by a spot of orange paint. I assume from the factory as I didn’t do this. It’s still relatively easy to spot.

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Anyway, I’d rate this job as a 1 Barley Pop Job. Easy peasy, nice and easy.

On another channel, the have the beard rating. This job would rate as 2 day scruff, not even a decent outline of a beard.

What's the correct size low profile socket for the front fuel filter?

The 29mm I have works but it feels loose.

i used 1 1/8 socket last time on my 18. worked fine. i believe some people choose a 28 mm also....cheers comrade!

1 1/8 or 28mm

28MM is best, closest fit
I bought a 28mm shallow socket from autozone that has a red stripe around the base, makes it easy to find in my toolbox.

 

[AH64ID]

I bought the dogbone from Geno's. It's a great tool for the 13-18 Cummins trucks.

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

 

[Cummins12V98]

Honest question. How do you pre fill with one quart push filter thru opening then remove cap THEN with one hand lift the filter and screw it on? All without spilling.

 

[kthaxton]

Skill?
It's not hard.

 

[dieselshadow]

Honest question. How do you pre fill with one quart push filter thru opening then remove cap THEN with one hand lift the filter and screw it on? All without spilling.

You have to be one with the oil. If you don’t have a good working relationship with it, you could be in for a bad time.

 

[HPSimpson]

What's the correct size low profile socket for the front fuel filter?

The 29mm I have works but it feels loose.

The socket I use is 28mm nice an tight.

 

[RammerJam]

Honest question. How do you pre fill with one quart push filter thru opening then remove cap THEN with one hand lift the filter and screw it on? All without spilling.

For one thing, you don't put a whole quart of in it. Just enough for the paper element to absorb it and have just a touch (1/2 - 1") still on the bottom of the filter. How much is up to you. I do it to where you'd have to turn it almost 90 degrees for an appreciable amount to come out.

When removing the filter through the fenderwell, let it drop down just enough so you can pull it back up, rightside up, while tilting it toward you and through the hole. Installation is the reverse.

You might get a little bit spill out but that's why God invented brake cleaner

 

[RammerJam]

Sum of us are tall enoght to reach over the fender.

View attachment 126394

So you let your wife do the oil and filter changes, too.

 

[Wiredawg]

Nah, don't use one of those, bought one of these instead, on sale for $20. One of the best things I ever bought at Harbor Freight, use it all the time for all kinds of chores.
https://www.harborfreight.com/step-stool-working-platform-66911.html?_br_psugg_q=step+stool

I have that step and it's longer cousin... I'm without an ankle and with bad back, top creeper is super for me changing front fuel filter with my 28mm socket. Never had filter cover fail on any 2nd Gen to current 4th gen. Finesse.

As @gsbrockman states, the superior cab and chassis allows straight down drop and easy access from the below super easy. Had Fumato oil drain valves and never heard of a single failure or taken out high centering.

Everyone has THEIR best tools and processes.

Che-ers, Ron

 

[Cummins12V98]

Still not seeing how to reach in and down and then lift and screw into place. "Pre fill" IMHO is at least one quart otherwise why do it.

 

[Cummins12V98]

1-1/8" six point works perfectly fine.

 

[kthaxton]

Still not seeing how to reach in and down and then lift and screw into place.

Sheesh, you think we're lying? Do you want one of us to film it?

Seriously, it's not that hard, if it was, we wouldn't do it.

 

[dieselshadow]

Still not seeing how to reach in and down and then lift and screw into place. "Pre fill" IMHO is at least one quart otherwise why do it.

Try it sometime. Then you’ll see. It’s not difficult, really.

I prefill my filter to about 1/2” from completely full. Then the cap goes on. Once in the fender well and standing upright, unscrew the cap. The hardest part of the whole thing, and this isn’t really hard, is walking the full filter up with one hand. You can tilt it about quite a ways, the oil won’t spill out. Once up, screw it on.

Easy peasy, nice and easy. But as Ron stated and was stated in my first post, not trying to start a debate or war. Do whatever you like. It’s your truck and most importantly, your beer.