i now have 3780 miles on my 600 cummins, I am getting ready to change the oil for the first time, had truck since june o4, have I waited too long, I have noticed since its got cold that the engine is running rougher than usual, as I see the towing mirrors shaking a little, and I can feel it is a little more rough, is this normal? Or is it a sign the oil needs changing?

 

My first oil change was a 7500 miles.

 

wooo, glad to hear that! I thought I may had waited too long!

 

Nope. Lots of folks change it earlier, but if you're going by the manual then you don't have to change it until you hit 7500.

 

I have decided on a 5K oil change myself. Already changed it once and now have about 6500 miles on it.

I bought the 4-2-1 package from Genos and will change the oil every 5k miles, fuel filter every other oil change (10k) and then all the filters at 20k. Then it will be time to buy another 4-2-1 package from Genos and start all over again.

I think it keeps everything in nice, easy-to-remember numbers. And at my age, that is always a nice thing.

 

Changing your oil is OVERATTED. I don't change mine at all.
Oh, I guess that's because I'm using the AMSOIL Tri-Gard system and only take a sample and change out theoil & or By-Pass filter and add make up oil at the time

 

While your at it, change the fuel filter also. Their cheap enough and it might help with the rough idle.

 

I just changed mine this evening for the first time @ 3820 miles.
The oil filter is IMO a PITA!
There appears to be two ways to remove it, either the top or the bottom but you will still have to remove somthing. I chose the bottom and had to disconnect the wiring harness to the A/C compressor to allow the filter to come straight down.
If you choose the top you need to remove the intake tube.
I used one of those oil filter sockets to remove it, there wasn't much room for a strap wrench.
My new filter is a K&N, it has a 1" nut welded on to the bottom to make easier next time.

Use a BIG UNCOVERED pan and not one of those BLITZ pans with a cover and a small drain hole or it WILL run over and make a mess.
The Cummins has a huge drain plug it seemed like all 12 quarts dumped in no time flat!

 

REALLY??!, i do it from underneath and i have no problems at all. I take a 1 gallon size ziploc bag, and use it to take the filter off with. as soon as it is free, i zip it up no mess. I use the GENO`s 6 in 1 filter wrench....works like a charm.

As far as draining the oil. I bought the Geno`s drain plug with the valve. I get under her with some empty bottles. ! gallon size preferably. It slowly drains into each one, then i turn off the valve. I put another bottle under there.......you get the idea. Never use a pan, and with the 4x4, i never use ramps.plenty of room under there. I change everything between 7,500 and 10,000 miles. fuel, oil, and air. Takes about 15 minutes, maybe 20.

 

You must have some really small hands then. I've tried that bag over the filter trick. Don't work. The placement of that filter mount is about the worst I've seen. Just another point that the truck was built around the engine, why put the filter mount near the top of the side of the engine and then go and put ac pumps, hoses, wires, and other crap and corruption in the way? I guess I'm just used to changing the oil in something where the oil filter hangs off the bottom side of the block with nothing else is in the way and only takes a couple of minutes to swap the filter. I just need to get used to the fact that it takes 15/20 minutes just to remove and install the filter.

 

negative on the small hands. either your wearing boxing gloves or they changed something from 2003, to 2004.5.

Not many ppl complaining about the placement. If your using a strap type wrench, you need the socket style. with an extension or 2 on the ratchet she comes right ourt

 

The procedure that works best for me is:

1. Drain the engine while the oil is hot. Make sure the drain pan vent is open or it'll overflow.

2. After things have cooled down a bit, loosen the oil filter. If I can't get it loose by hand then I use a band-type wrench. I don't like strap wrenches.

3. Get a couple of the plastic grocery bags and slip them up over the cool & slightly loosened filter. As it comes free, any oil that spills is caught in the bags. Keep the filter upright until it can be inverted over the drain pan.

4. Fill a new filter to about 3/4 full of oil and tighten it by hand. I use rubber gloves to get a better grip for tightening.

 

I have some pretty big mitts and I just drop the filter straight down with no problems on my 03. Plenty of room, unless like DD361 said, the location changed?
-Steve

 

I doubt the location has changed from the 03's to the 04's. Have any of you changed the oil on a PSD? You don't have to fish around in the dark behind the ac pump, no extensions needed, don't need any special wrenchs, don't have to mess around with plastic bags. No hocas pocas, mumbo jumbo, black magic BS just to drop the oil filter. Just throw any kind of tool onto the filter and turn. I guess I just got spoiled.

 

i have a steel stamped socket made by KD or something like that that fits the fluted filter perfectally and i use that with a 12" long extension and it comes out from under the truck with no problems