PADZZ

I’ve never changed oil on a Diesel. I regularly change it on my ATV’s and motorcycle. What do I need to look out for; or is the process the same? The dealer wants 60 bucks and I’d rather do it myself…I’m fairly mechanically inclined. <br>What’s too much to pay for a quart of oil?<br>Do the oil filters off the 2nd Gen fit the 3rd Gen?<br>Is 2500 miles too early for synthetic?<br>Any help/hints are greatly appreciated by this Diesel newbee (ex-SeaBee).<br>

TEDHRS

Hi and welcome to the forum. If you change your oil you should go with Rotella T, a lot of guys up here use as I do. Filters are a toss up between Fleetguard, Cummins and Mopar <br>Filters. I use the Mopar one only cause i get a good deal on them. Cummins does not recommend using sythentics until after 10,000 miles, which would be the engine break in time period. I am not sure what the 2003 engines have as far as a Crankcase Breather bottle, but it has to be emptied ever once in awhile, it's a little bottle on the front of the engine, black and has holes in it. As far as quarts of oil, you'd be better off buying it by the gallon. I buy mine for 6.69 a gallon. It should take a total of 10.5 quarts, 1 in the oil filter and 9.5 in the engine. When taking off the filter, make sure that you are turning it the right way, since you have to come from the top a lot of people get confused, if you use a filter wrench and remove the air cleaner hose to the turbo it makes it a lot easier. Once you put the new filter on, hand tighten it. Thats about it.

pwabbott

Cummins owns Fleetguard. the 2003 takes a different filter than 2002. Top of the line Fleetguard Stratapore-Fleetguard # LF16035 sells for 8.95 at Geno's Garage. I ordered 2 and with 4.95 shipping/handling total came to $22.85. http://www.genosgarage.com/ <br>Order Line: 1-800-755-1715<br>Product Questions: 770-886-2500<br>E-mail Product Questions To: info@GenosGarage.com<br><br>Oil can be purchased by the gallon from &quot;Wally World&quot; aka Wal-Mart. Be sure meets the CI-4 standard and is 15w-40. They carry Mobil, Chevron, Shell. These sell $6.00-$6.50 per gallon, buy three.<br><br>Owners manual states 2003 engine Oil Capacity is 12.0 quarts with filter change. The capacity increased from 2002 models. There are other threads on this forum which deal with this subject. If you have any trouble come back and ask questions at that point.

alabat

I got a email from Cummins on the oil filters. The 2003's have a fluted shell at the request of DC. The internals are the same. Fleetguard makes the filters for DC. The new fleetguard numbers for the filters are:<br>LF3972 - this is whats on the trucks when new<br>LF16035 - Stratapore filter is the upgrade<br><br>These numbers are for the 2003's<br>Go with Rotella-T 15w40 for now, till you get it broken in. Also I would change it before you get more than 500 miles on it

PADZZ

Thanks! Well, too late for the 500 miles change as I already have 2600 miles w/ some pretty hefty towing..Oil stilll looks clean and is full..don't know anything about testing it, however.