Oil change

[filup01]

I know there’s been other oil change posts before and this isn’t a shopping list or anything list that. Instead, I’m just expressing my feelings towards the engineers and why I hope they die.
I really don’t know why engineers don’t make performing maintenance a little easier. I would venture to say that most (65%+) truck owners do their own minor maintenance (oil changes, air filters, and etc.). I suppose it’s because they put the engine back as far as possible and use the same engine in multiple vehicles so it’s all but impossible to make it just right in all variations but still, a remote oil filter on the really ****ty ones isn’t too much to ask I don’t think. The Ram 1500 is one of those that I’d put in the “really ****ty ones” category as far as oil filter placement. I thought my 2017 Ram 2500 Cummins was bad but this is worse. I’d gladly pay for a remote oil filter from the factory as I’m sure we all would.
Ram should fix this. We live in 2019 now. Why did we engineer stuff to be more difficult as we “progressed”? A lift should not be required to do maintenance either. If an oil change can’t be done cleanly in 15 minutes while laying in your driveway, it should be fixed (driving up in ramps is acceptable of course). I love the truck but as for this, I do not consider “progress”.

 

[MrHankbot]

But! BUT! If it was too easy people might be tempted to do their own maintenance! The HORROR!

 

[MTRHEAD]

I haven't done it yet but just watched a you tube video. Yeah, it's up in a hole but does not look that bad if you have ramps. Only thing i would add to the video is once you loosen the filter put a baggie around it to catch the oil so not to make so much of a mess.

 

[filup01]

I haven't done it yet but just watched a you tube video. Yeah, it's up in a hole but does not look that bad if you have ramps. Only thing i would add to the video is once you loosen the filter put a baggie around it to catch the oil so not to make so much of a mess.

I did that and still had a mess although some of the mess is due to inexperience (this was the first oil change for the truck). The filter was as usual from the factory put on by a gorilla. Even with using a appropriately sized oil filter wrench and then having to switch to large pliers, it made a hole in the filter. Of course, I subscribe to the zip lock bag method too so thought, “no big deal”. Well, once you wrestle with it and figure out the best way to get it out of its poorly placed position, you will want to also avoid any sharp edges or sharp cable tie ends (there’s a few down there), my bag still spilled. Of course, if the filter was in a better position in the first place, I wouldn’t be whining like I am now. Either way, it doesn’t change my feelings today.