Loudsam

Hope someone can help. I have a '96 1ton dually that I hardly ever drive. I have had the oil changed in the past at a shop. I decided to do an oil/filter change myself at home and was stopped in my tracks when I saw that the drain plug apparently needs a Torx wrench to take it out. I don't know what size wrench it needs and I don't want to have to buy an entire set of Torx Wrenches. Anyone know what size wrench I need.

Thanks in advance,
Doug

OutlawStorm

If its a torx then its not original,, my both my trucks use the same plug and its just a 3/8 in square,, all i do is use my 3/8 ratchet on my plug. DO NOT over tighten them, as they will bend and crack the drain plug. I believe the right torq is 40 pounds.

Loudsam

I talked to a guy at Napa auto parts and he said a friend of his has talked about having to use a Torx wrench to take out drain plugs in Dodge Diesel trucks. He tried to call him to find out the size but couldn't get ahold of him. I also did a search on this forum and found only one other guy,(Jarhead), looking for the size of the Torx wrench needed for the Oil Pan Drain Plug. Nobody knew, because nobody else has one. I PM'd Jarhead to see if he could tell me the size.

Doug

West Coast

My plug on my 97 looks like a torx but actually is square. I used a 3/8 ratchet to take mine out....

SoTexRattler

Get under there and REALLY eyeball it, up close and personal...
Cummins puts a 3/8" square drive plug in all these engines from the factory.

I admit, it's not a very deep 3/8", but a 3/8" square drive nonetheless.

I use a 3/8" sq drive, right angle gear drive ratchet with a T-bar on the bottom of the handle. It is called a "Sidewinder" and I use it to remove and re-install the plug without getting any hot oil on me.
Picked it up from Harbor Freight. (darned thing is made in USA too!!!)

Loudsam

OK! I will take a better look at it. As I was writing this thread, I was thinking to myself how unlikely it would be that my totally stock '96 Dodge Truck would have a aftermarket oil drain plug when the rest of the truck is completely stock.

I'll get going on it this morning and let you know how it turns out. I have changed the oil in literally dozens of personal vehicles and never been stumped before. But, maybe I just give up easier now in my old age.

Thanks for the answers!

Doug

gorms

If you have a decent set of SAE and metric allens, you might have a good chance at having one that fits.

Tate

I was gonna suggest this as well. Took all the bolts out of my bed in my ranger using an allen wrench, they were good size torx. T60 or something in that range.

Hodge

You don't have a buddy with an assortment of tools?
I am probably sounding harsh, but you own an expensive-to-maintain truck. A set of torx sockets aren't that much, and you will sooner or later need them for something else. Buy some and have what you need.

Loudsam

No, I don't have any friends because I'm a "cheap skate"!

Hodge

Sometimes, it doesn't pay to be a cheapskate...

catnfool

no, he has an old 12v cummins; they are perfect for cheapskates like him and I...

I'm probably considered cheap because I use 70% recycled motor oil as fuel too, aren't I