i would like to meet the engineer that designed the placement of the oil filter and/or the crap all around it. i had to remove the wheel well liner to be able to get enough torque on the strap wrench to remove the filter. BTW thanks to this site for the idea of putting the filter in a glad bag before trying to remove it otherwise a huge mess would have been made. i foresee an oil filter relocation in its future.

when i replaced the fuel filter i drained the fuel and put in the new filter. wiped down the inside, closed up the top, cycled the key several times to fill the filter and tried to start. it ran for a few seconds then died. oh no what did i do??? oh yeah dummy close the drain valve... closed it and it started fine. from the size of the puddle on the ground, the pump is working good... it's never dull around here

live and learn

 

Next time go from underneath with an extension, rachet and filter wrench, loosen the filter, put a freezer bag on the filter and 99.9% of your oil will drip inside the bag as you unscrew the filter.

 

tried the rachet and extension trick. i could not get the filter socket on tight enough. it just kept slipping. maybe next time i'll try to find another one that fits better. thank goodness that "next time" will be some time down the road.

 

Yep, exactly what I've done on both my 3rd gens 1st oil changes.

 

Out of curiosity, how many miles did you guys have on your truck when you did your first change? I have just over 3500 miles on mine and I'm tempted to change the oil now just to get rid of any break-in stuff.

Is that recommended or should I wait until 7500?

Thanks,
Neil

 

right under 7500. just by looking at the condition of the oil i think i will do it earlier next time, it looked kind of thin. BTW this being my first diesel, how do i go about getting an oil analysis? who do i contact, how do i get the oil to them, what do they need from me, cost, etc? nearest cummins place is 45 miles away.

 

Ya'll are gonig to hate me but my dealership gave me free oil changes for life, every 3750 miles for my diesel and every 3000 for our van.

 

What size wrench do you use on the filter? Just bought 3 gallons of Valv Prem Blue today and plan on changing mine next week going from underneath with a long extension. Are the stratapore and regular filters the same diameter (i.e., use the same wrench)?

Karl

 

I did my first at 600 miles... Next will be at 2000 miles, then 5000 miles and every 3000 afterthat... I know, I know, I'm wasting oil.... Just my opinion, but I believe the first few are the most important due to that "flashing, castings, and just stuff breaking off and breaking in...

 

The way I read the book is ... the first at 3750 ... the second at 7500 ... then at 7500 intervals

 

The factory is notorious for putting the oil filter on too tight. If you didn't crank the new one on, you'll be fine changing the oil next time from below w/ an extention. I use a steel SK filter socket and have never had a problem. The ziploc bag trick is cool, but I don't think I have ever had more than a couple of drops hit the ground without the baggie. But I feel your pain, cause I thought the filter would never loosen up on my first change. -Steve

 

yeah,,the first oil change was a trip! didn"t know about the rachet extention, didn"t have the right size strap,,i acualy tried for an hour to get it off buy hand then asked a neighbor if he had a large strap,,he gave me the filter cap instead,,onlly took me about a 1/2 hr. to figuire out to put a rachet extention in it,,that was at 600 miles, the second change was at 2100 miles after a 1400 tow,,it was easier!!!!! I"ll change it agaian at 5000 again at 7500 and follow the manual after that.
it"s an expensive motor,,why not pamper it till it"s broke in,,,,,,
wish i had found this forum sooner!

 

This a good wrench, $3 from Wal-Mart. The way it fits, it will deform the flutes on the filter before it will slip, it is also rated for 140lbs of torque.

 

I've got a Lisle filter cap wrench, 92 mm 16 flute I think, was 5.95 at the local parts house. Did my first oil change at 1200, 2nd at 3800, didn't have trouble getting the filter off either time. Works sweet with an 18" extension and swivel head ratchet, ratchet works on the drain plug with no extension or busted knuckles on the pan.