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Dan
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2002
15:23:25
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 Subject: Oil change question
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I have a 2002 4x4 club-cab Dakota with the 4.7L engine & tire & handling package. Overall I have high praise for the vehicle. My last vehicle was a 4 cyl. car, and this truck is a big change; about everything better, except for the MPG, but it's a v8 so I don't expect much in that area.
I've owned it a little over a month and recently had to change the oil for the first time. I have to say this was a pretty negative experience for me. It was particularly difficult to remove the oil filter from the bottom of the engine. Also, although I did my best to be neat throughout the whole oil change, I managed to get several drips / small puddles of oil in the driveway, mostly from the oil filter.
My question is this: does anyone have any suggestions for the do-it-yourself'er to make changing his/her oil a little easier (without resorting to a trip to Jiffy Lube)?
I have been thinking about modifying the connections on the plastic "shroud" between the frame & front bumper so it could be removed whenever I needed to acces the oil filter. I would like to know what others have tried to make the oil change process a little less trying.
Thanks.
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kevster
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2002
15:58:16
|  RE: Oil change question
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Dan the Man, I had the same problem,It sucked but no more for I. I cut the area out around the remove plug so it is bigger for me to get up there and see whats going on, works for me. I used a small hand saw did it by hand plastic cuts well, I drew the lines and cut,Be Carefull of the wire loom up on the frame edge.. some people use a 1 LITTER plastic pop jug, they loosen the filter enough to finish by hand and with the bottom cut off of the plastic container they put it over filter and loosen rest by hand the filter and oil drop in plastic bottle. Take your pick, I like mine better. looks fine and is effective.
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scat pack
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2002
17:18:44
| RE: Oil change question
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Mine's a 2K RC 4.7 4x4 but I think it's pretty similar. Plow subframe makes lower access impossible for me but it's easy to pull the front wheel and get access from there. I use a synthetic oil so I don't feel like I have to do it every 3000 and then rotate the tires while I'm at it.
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Teamfast
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2002
17:23:10
|  RE: Oil change question
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Message:
Get a Fumoto valve installed on your truck. Ill
let you look at it your self at fumotovalve.com
This is the best thing to happen to oil changes
since heated garages...
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Anthony
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2002
17:59:19
| RE: Oil change question
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I always hated changing the oil filter on my 4.7 4X4 with that tight access panel. No matter what I did during my oil changes, to keep the oil from spilling out nothing worked. I always made a mess.
I did my oil change last weekend, and didn't spill a drop from the filter. I cut a 2L plastic coke bottle in half, just enough that the plastic bottle would fit over the filter when twisting off. All the oil that comes out gets collected in the bottle nothing spills, it's perfect.
It's so much easier now, no more cleaning the driveway and frame from spilled oil.
Later,
Anthony
www.geocities.com/intense79/
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Bill in NY
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2002
21:02:18
| RE: Oil change question
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I use the 2 liter plastic soda bottle and it works great. Leave cap on an empty 2 liter plastic soda bottle and then with say a razor cut about 3 inches off the bottom of the bottle. Use your filter wrench and loosen up the oil filter and then slip the open end of the soda bottle up through the access whole and onto/over the oil filter. Squeeze the soda bottle and turn until the filter is loose and falls into the bottle. Lower the soda container with the filter down and out of the access whole. Can tell you filter is pretty hot so I use a pair of latex gloves on my working hand to insulate from the heat. Also..
I recommend one of these:
http://www.fumotovalve.com/merchant.cfm?id=18&step=2
F106N (w/Nipple): size 14mm - 1.5 -Dodge 4.7L
3/8" O.D. hose size to nipple
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JE
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2002
00:33:27
| RE: Oil change question
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I had the same problem on a new 2002, tried the Coke bottle deal which works fine but I still like being able to see what I'm doing... I removed the plastic "air dam" across the bottom of front end and tapped out the (7) holes with a 7/16" fine thread tap and replaced the plastic rivets with bolts and washers. Now just remove the "air dam" and you have the whole ball game right in front of your eyeball !!! It's a really simple deal to do.
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BlackDak02
GenIII
1/29/2002
10:50:32
| RE: Oil change question
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Message:
Thanks for the info JE, sounds like an excellent idea!
I went with the Coke bottle deal and even though it worked great I also don't like "working in the dark", so to say. Now I'm wondering if I can tap it out & go with some quick-release fastners to make it even easier to get at.
2002 Black CC SLT 4x4
4.7L 45RFE 3.55LSRD
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