6.7L Cummins Forum

I wasn't around yesterday because that morning on my nightly drive my little annunciator on my Aircraft carrier told me it was time to change the oil (2567 miles). So on my way home I stopped by Wally World just for giggles and lo and behold they actually carry Castrol Diesel oil and even had the required 12 quarts needed for the 6.7L, Yippee!

So I got up bright and early yesterday (1:30 PM) for me, and went out jumped in the truck and drove the 30 miles to the Dodge Dealership to get an oil filter, that's right only a Mopar filter for my $6000 diesel, $10.99...................hmmmmmm, may have to look into a bypass system at that price. Anyway, drove back to the house ready to tackle the first oil change.

Now this isn't my first oil change nor is it the first oil change I've ever done on a new vehicle so I was prepared to spend a little time at it.

Well................the first thing I discovered was I didn't have a pan that would hold 12 quarts, Doh! So I jump back into the Truck for a 60 mile round trip to find one. A hour later I'm under the 3500 with the oil flowing into the pan, Yippee! I'm only two hours into it.

Now for the Oil filter.

The first thing I try is the cap type that fits onto the end of the filter and you use a ratchet to remove the filter. Crap! it starts to spin on the filter. (I sometimes think they put these on real tight to persuade people to take it to the shop but I will not be intimidated. )

The second thing I try is a pair of filter pliers which forced me to remove the fender liner but unfortunately I'm unable to get enough umph on the pliers to keep them from slipping and not enough room for the strap wrench's I have.............Now I'm miffed. Granted, I'm not a big strapping guy but at 6'2" and 190LBS I'm also no weakling but this thing is on there big time and I'm starting to get desperate.

So I'm now 3 hours into the oil change so I jump into the Titan for another 30 mile drive to the big city of Wichita and start hitting Parts stores looking for a filter removal tool I don't own and at the 4th store, an Autozone, I find this wicked looking oil filter removal tool that looks more like something a biker would bring to a fight and while I'm at it I pick up this huge pair of channel locks just in case, and head back home.

We're now over 5 hours into the oil change.

So I break out the drop light since the sun is starting to go down, take a deep breathe and after fiddling around with my new tool and a little bit of swearing I finally get the stupid thing off. The funny thing is is that after the first oil change I no longer need the tools because if you lube the gasket and only turn the filter 3/4 of a turn after the the gasket contacts metal they'll come off by hand.

Time spent :7 hours
Miles drove: 180+
Oil 12 QTS: $27
Filter: $10.86
15 QT Oil Pan: $7
Tool to get the stupid filter off: $5.99

I hate first oil changes!

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

CJ-4 right?

I get mine done at a local dealer for $50.00 including the oil. They will take samples for you as well. I've been changing oil in rigs for 30 years and really don't care to do my own any more. Besides they said they would check for updates when I take back to them, they actually have found updates without being asked.

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07.5 3500 Quad, SRW, 4X4, Laramie, Leathered, Dark Metallic Gray, 6.7, 68RFE, 20K Reese, Ride Rite's, 2 Viair air compressors, Bully steps, Kleinn Locomotive air horns (5 in all), Billet polished locking fuel door, 'A' pillar mount Auto Meter Pryo, PML X-deep trans pan
06 Durango 285 RL 5'er Lifted by KZ

Now this is just me, but on all my new vehicles, I have the dealer do the service on them just incase a question comes up about the oil or filter doing some damage to something, I can say, hey the dealer did all the service.
Just a little piece of mind on my part.
Plus I work at night and really don't feel like getting up in 20º weather and changing oil.

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http://www.frappr.com/iboats
"JUST KEEP ON, KEEPING ON"
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

For me it's a 100 mile round trip to go to the dealership so it's easier to do it at home.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

Wow, 100 miles. Where do you live??

i work at a quick lube and whenever i work on any dodge diesels or my own i use the tool on the attached picture. This tool with 18 inches of extension and a 3/8 ratchet, the filter comes off very easily and you can lower the filter without dripping any oil.

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Cool, what's it called and where can I get one?

Thanks

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

Hey Squid, did you have problems with the oil overflowing your new drain pan? I have one just like it and the first time I changed the oil on my 5.9 the oil was coming out of the motor quicker then the pan could take it in, after I was done with that oil change I got a hole saw out and made about a 3" hole in the center, haven't had a problem since. Oh and I was down the same road with an oil filter on the 5.9 after the dealer serviced it while it was in for other things. I ended up putting a screw driver thru it to get it off, no filter wrench I had would work and I had no way of going to get anything else at the time. I know why they put them on so tight though, two times after doing my own oil changes on the 5.9 I had the filter work loose enough to leak a little oil by tightening them to the method you described, it usually occurred several thousand miles after the oil change, which tells me they slowly work their way loose.

LOL oh yeah, that was the first thing I discovered.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10