Hoss

I'm getting ready to do my first oil change this weekend. Got a good nylon strap wrench ready to get that tight filter off, a gallon size ziploc bag to catch the filter and it's oil in, a big drain pan, the replacement Fleetguard Stratopore filter and three gallons of Rotella.

I've changed the oil many times so it's nothing really new to me, but never on a diesel. I assume it will be the same but with a larger quantity of oil.

Anyway...my question is, does the '03 take 11 quarts or 12 quarts? The manual says 11 quarts, but I don't know if that includes the quart in the filter or not.

L. D. Bryant

Hoss
11 quarts +1 in the filter in my book. I broke my strap wrench the first time. They put them on with the strength of ten men.
You can get a regular wrench on it easily if you take the hose off the turbo. Don't forget to fill the new filter before replacing.
Lloyd

majora

Hoss

Bone of contention. The shop manual says 11 quarts and the owners manual says 12. The service manager where I got my truck says 12. I put 12 in and the stick says 1 quart over. Note: I fill the filter before instaling it. After the truck was run for a while and then let set for 15 minutes the oil was at the full mark. Your guess is as good as mine. Didn't have this trouble with the 96.

Gordon

Hoss

[quote author=majora link=board=20;threadid=18649;start=0#msg174903 date=1061387642]
Hoss

Bone of contention. The shop manual says 11 quarts and the owners manual says 12. The service manager where I got my truck says 12. I put 12 in and the stick says 1 quart over. Note: I fill the filter before instaling it. After the truck was run for a while and then let set for 15 minutes the oil was at the full mark. Your guess is as good as mine. Didn't have this trouble with the 96.

Gordon
[/quote]

Just to clarify, did you fill the filter and THEN add 12, or did you add 12 INCLUDING the quart in the filter?

If I recall correctly my owner's manual says 11 quarts...but I don't know if that includes the filter or not. Does it hurt anything if you're a quart high? If not then I'd rather just put in 12 quarts either way since I'm buying it by the gallon. Don't want to waste a quart.

bulabula

I use all three gallon jugs when I change mine. I prefill the filter (easy because its vertical and nothing spills out), then start pouring the rest of the oil into the crankcase. The oil level goes right up to the full line on the dipstick.

First time I changed mine, I found that my strap oil wrench didn't work worth a darn, and ended up using my old standby oil filter wrench.

majora

Hoss

Page O-5 in the service manual under fluid capacities says
"Engine oil with filter 10.4L (11qts)"

Owners manual page 295 says "The engine capacity is 11qts in the crankcase and 1qt in the lubricating oil filter"

These are direct quotes from the manuals. As I said, your choice. I would put in 11 with filter and run it then let it sit for 15 min and check it. Fill as necessary.

Gordon

erics76

I'd put 11 in, run it and check it. It's easier to add one quart if it's low than to take one out if it's high.

dodgedude361

i did my first not too long ago, filled the filter , and the remainder of 3 gallons of DELLO in the crankcase.reeds full on the dipstick, not over. i got a feeling it wouldn`t be hard to hide an extra quart of oil in that huge oil pan.

BTW, i used the 6 in 1 oil filter wrench from geno`s,after alot of cussing, she came loose.

my 0.02 cents

Al396

12 quarts of Rotella with one of those in the filter and it's on full. For the filter I bought a filter wrench that slips on the bottom and uses a 3/8 rachet and had no problems taking mine off for the first time. If you use a strap wrench it's gonna be a lot more difficult.

Cat Cracker

I've changed mine 3 times now, and it's much easier from the bottom, since the filters are fluted on the bottom, all you need is the tool from Geno's, (or wherever) 3/8 ratchet, and a long extension. Mines a 4x4, so I just crawl under the front to get to it. You can use a strap or band wrench, but its more difficult, and the busted knuckle probability increases by 200%

Cat Cracker

Nevada

I was robbed of the first oil change experience on mine. :- Every other Dodge/Cummins I have owned came from the factory with the oil filter installed with an impact wrench. You almost had to weld the filter to something and rotate the truck around it to get it off. My '03 filter came off pretty easy. Anyway Hoss, if you haven't got it already, it is 12 quarts grand total, eleven in the crankcase and one in the filter.

XTOAK

I just did my second oil change and it amazes me how much easier it is to get the oil filter off than on the pre-03 models. I used to take the airbox top and hose off of the turbo and take it out from the top but on the '03 it's much easier to get to from the bottom...especially if you're using the filters with the fluted bottoms.

Filled it with 12 quarts Valvoline PB 15W40...one quart in the filter and 11 in from the top.

Hoss

[quote author=Al396 link=board=20;threadid=18649;start=0#msg175102 date=1061434231]
12 quarts of Rotella with one of those in the filter and it's on full. For the filter I bought a filter wrench that slips on the bottom and uses a 3/8 rachet and had no problems taking mine off for the first time. If you use a strap wrench it's gonna be a lot more difficult.
[/quote]

Well...I don't have the little filter wrench and I doubt Auto Zone carries them, so I'll have to try it with the strap wrench. The one I have is one of those that you put a socket drive in and turn it, and as it turns it also tightens around the filter. The harder you turn the more it tightens. I'm not talking about one of those worthless metal band strap wrenches....