First Oil Change at 1098 miles

[User_33319]

Both the gorilla at the factory that tightened my oil filter and the design engineer that located the filter on the 4x4 models needs to be shot. Not near enough space to get any kind of strap wrench or any kind of wrench on that small filter. It’s hard enough to get your hand on the filter much less turn it when some Amazon used the strength of Zeus to put it on. A few unholy words and two hours later I was able to get it off but only after trying five different types of strap wrenches and socket cups to finally loosen it. This is my fourth Dodge/Ram truck and I have never had this much trouble removing a filter. I almost resorted to driving a spike through it to turn it. I am a do it yourself person but this makes me wonder why sometimes. Regardless I love the rest of the truck.

 

[DennisY]

Agreed. Probably put on by an assembly line machine but it's way too tight. And the location is extremely poor.

 

[Scram1500]

A relocation kit is needed bad. At least it's not upside down or horizontal

 

[MayhemMOORE]

I plan on doing my first change this weekend, and after all the stories I see of the filter, I’m envisioning being drawn into some epic battle under the truck for hours. I’ve got an assortment of strap wrenches and cup wrenches, and if all else fails, I’ll hammer the trusty ‘ol screwdriver through it if I have to.

 

[Nibis]

I had to use my big channel locks

 

[User_33319]

I plan on doing my first change this weekend, and after all the stories I see of the filter, I’m envisioning being drawn into some epic battle under the truck for hours. I’ve got an assortment of strap wrenches and cup wrenches, and if all else fails, I’ll hammer the trusty ‘ol screwdriver through it if I have to.

If you don’t have a 4x4 with off road group it should be easier. The problem is that the gorilla or machine that installs the factory filter installs it way too tight. There is very little room to get a wrench on the filter or to try and stab it with a screw driver. What worked for me was an oil filter 76 mm 14 flute cup socket, a 3/8 inch drive universal adapter, and a 10inch 3/8inch drive extension. Just take your time, it will come off.

 

[MayhemMOORE]

If you don’t have a 4x4 with off road group it should be easier. The problem is that the gorilla or machine that installs the factory filter installs it way too tight. There is very little room to get a wrench on the filter or to try and stab it with a screw driver. What worked for me was an oil filter 76 mm 14 flute cup socket, a 3/8 inch drive universal adapter, and a 10inch 3/8inch drive extension. Just take your time, it will come off.

I've got a 4x4 but not the off-road group, and it definitely looks like cramped quarters to work in. I've got a 76mm cup socket, so hopefully I can get it loose without too much of a fight.

 

[airgas1998]

it's the worse vehicle location wise I've ever dealt with for sure....just wait when the oil spills all over the ps assy and other various components. I for the life of me still cant get a zip lock bag to work right...

 

[Nibis]

I'm trying to remember which car it was, I think 2004 honda civic, oil filter was on the back of the engine, basically working blind to R & R with a messy clean up. I will say it was a bit worse than our Ram

 

[jdefoe0424]

Anyone who had a 2nd gen Dakota with the 3.9 knows that it could certainly be worse. Trying not to burn your hands on the exhaust manifold while trying to not dump oil all over the place while snaking the filter up between the frame rail and the manifold....that's a mess.

Back to my Ram, on my first filter change I think I just reached up with some channel locks and twisted it off. That'll probably continue happening until I finally get the filter socket for it

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[Boston]

Anyone who had a 2nd gen Dakota with the 3.9 knows that it could certainly be worse. Trying not to burn your hands on the exhaust manifold while trying to not dump oil all over the place while snaking the filter up between the frame rail and the manifold....that's a mess.

Back to my Ram, on my first filter change I think I just reached up with some channel locks and twisted it off. That'll probably continue happening until I finally get the filter socket for it

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

And when you do get a oil filter cup socket, you'll wonder why you did messed with anything else for so long

 

[MayhemMOORE]

First oil change complete. I was expecting to engage in quite the battle with the filter, but in all honesty, if it had been positioned to where I could get a good two-handed grip on it, I likely wouldn’t have even needed a wrench. Once it was free I put a gallon bag around it and unscrewed it the rest of the way which contained nearly all of the mess...except what came gushing out of the drain bolt that was still off as soon as the seal on the filter was broken loose, since thought I was being smart by sliding the drain pan up under the filter to catch any unexpected mess. Aside from the filter location being terrible, and making a giant mess, all in all, it went better than expected. I installed the fumoto drain valve which will make things easier on that end next time, and before then I’ll hopefully devise a way of containing all of the oil filter mess as well.

 

[stevj]

4x4 is worse because the front axle blocks access and makes putting a plastic bag around the filter difficult.
I finally got tired of spilling oil on stuff and did this.


Steve

 

[Nails]

^^^ well crap, I’ve seen this on 4th gen. Never 5th... talk to me lol

 

[Nibis]

4x4 is worse because the front axle blocks access and makes putting a plastic bag around the filter difficult.
I finally got tired of spilling oil on stuff and did this.
View attachment 55473

Steve

Can you post the parts you used?

 

[ny2az]

4x4 is worse because the front axle blocks access and makes putting a plastic bag around the filter difficult.
I finally got tired of spilling oil on stuff and did this.
View attachment 55473

Steve

How much extra oil is needed to fill this bad boy now with added lines and double filtering ...

 

[stevj]

Can you post the parts you used?

See this post. I used mostly the parts he listed, but substituted a dual-filter unit for his single, and spring type hose clamps, because I had them already.

Steve

 

[stevj]

How much extra oil is needed to fill this bad boy now with added lines and double filtering ...

Considering each filter has at least double the oil capacity (and filtering ability) of the puny OEM filter, that oil fill was about 8.5 quarts when the dipstick indicated full after an engine idle period to purge the air in the lines. The filters were pre-filled before screwing them on.
I have even larger filters standing by (WIX 51714) for the next oil change.
The goal was no more oil spills on my fwd axle and steering rack: mission accomplished.

Steve

 

[Nibis]

I was looking into Hamburgers billit kit, expensive, but nice. I might call them to inquire

 

[Nails]

Interesting...