Adillo303
*****
I posted this on the diesel site that I frequent. The editor of the magazine asked permission to publish it. I thought that Y'all might enjoy it. I edited out all the "Diesel trukey stuff"
Andy
How to change the oil on your pickup
Disclaimer
This may not be the best way, it is certainly not the only way. It is my way and it has worked through two pickups.
Background
I am not technically where some of the “Greats” in the magazine and on the web are. I do very much enjoy my truck. I want it to last and I want to take care of it. The rest of my life intercedes and I do not always have the ideal conditions to work under.
Please take this as it is intended. A bit of tongue in cheek intermixed with some good technical information.
Set the stage.
It is the first warm day of the spring and conveniently enough, my truck is due an oil change. A quick look in the garage finds an oil filter or six. I guess we are ready to go.
Needed parts
Procedure
Andy
How to change the oil on your pickup
Disclaimer
This may not be the best way, it is certainly not the only way. It is my way and it has worked through two pickups.
Background
I am not technically where some of the “Greats” in the magazine and on the web are. I do very much enjoy my truck. I want it to last and I want to take care of it. The rest of my life intercedes and I do not always have the ideal conditions to work under.
Please take this as it is intended. A bit of tongue in cheek intermixed with some good technical information.
Set the stage.
It is the first warm day of the spring and conveniently enough, my truck is due an oil change. A quick look in the garage finds an oil filter or six. I guess we are ready to go.
Needed parts
- Oil – Three gallons. Your choice as to what you think is best. No oil war here.
- Filter – Fortunately, I have one on hand.
- Strap wrench.
- Half in drive 6” Extension bar.
- Half inch Breaker bar.
- Half to 3/8” adapter.
- Torque wrench.
- Gallon Zip lock bag
- Garage towels. I use the Scott paper ones.
- Bear & Liam, my two labs. Nothing happens without their direct supervision.
Procedure
- As I noted before, I was out of oil, so I had to go get some. Load Bear & Liam into the truck and head for the auto parts store. Get to the store and buy oil. While I am there, I pick up one of those handy spouts that screws to the top of the oil bottles. It could make the job easier.
- Put everything in the back of the truck so that it won’t be damaged by my passengers.
- Clean up the shredded plastic bag that used to contain dog treats that they opened and ate while I was in the parts store.
- On the way back, decide that a Quiznos would be nice for lunch and pick one up for the wife and me. Put it under two tightly packed jackets on the rear floor to keep it warm and toasty..
- On the way home, when glancing in my rear view mirror, I noted a Quiznos wrapper walking across the back seat attached to a Labrador. Stop the truck, clean up what is left of the Quizno’s and vow to put future sandwiches in the box as well.
- Arrive home and back in the truck. Unload dogs, oil and remains of lunch. Salvage what we can and eat while the truck cools down a bit.
- Go outside and get the drain pan. Put it under the truck. Get the rest of the tools, put them in appropriate easy to reach places.
- Chase down Liam and take the drain pan back from him.
- Crawl under the truck. Loosen the drain plug reach for the shop rags to be ready.
- Tighten the drain plug and go get more rags, as Bear has eaten the ones that you set out before.
- Crawl back under the truck. Get a thorough two dog face washing when you lay down.
- Take the drain plug loose let it drain.
- Put the strap wrench around the filter and take it loose.
- Tighten it back up and get out and get another zip lock. While washing faces Liam stole the one that I had and shredded it.
- Get back under the truck and loosen the oil filter.
- Put the bag around it so that you can take it down without a mess.
- I like to mark the bottom of the filter with the mileage installed and the mileage to be removed. I also mark the bottom in quarters, so that I can tell just how tight I am installing it.
- Put the filter up and tighten to three quarters to one turn after contact.
- Get out from under the truck and chase Liam down for the filter and the bag. It’s my lucky day. I got it before it got shredded.
- Get back under the truck and replace the drain plug and torque it to specs.
- While down there, wipe off any oil, look for any leaks or anything else that might be out of order.
- I am finally all done underneath.
- Go up top. Open the oil filler and put in the funnel from the garage that I used last time. The handy spout has disappeared to parts unknown and Bear & Liam aren’t talking.
- Put in the oil. Wipe up any spills.
- Start the truck and listen for anything funny and watch the oil gage.
- Let it run and check for leaks.
