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How To Change The Oil On Your Diesel Truck Yourself
Experts agree that it’s best to change the oil on your diesel truck every 7,500 miles. Oil is what lubricates the various components of your engine. Diesel engines use large volumes of highly compressed air and fuel to generate mechanical power. The oil protects the injectors and pistons from excess pressure to keep your engine going strong. You run the risk of damaging your engine when cruising around with the same tank of oil for miles on end.
All diesel truck drivers should know how to change their oil in case of an emergency. You can easily hit the 7,500-mile threshold driving across the country and back, and you might not have a chance to visit a diesel mechanic in between. Use this guide to learn how to change the oil on your diesel truck when you have no one else to depend on but yourself.
Gather Your Materials
Make sure you have everything you need to complete the job before you start the process. You’ll need to buy a set of diesel oil filters, including a primary and secondary filter, as well as a fresh can of oil if you don’t have some already. You’ll also need a bin or tray for collecting the dirty oil, a clean rag and a wrench that will fit onto the drain plug — 3/8-inch, 0.9 centimeter. These are the same tools you would need to change the oil on a gas-powered car, so you or someone you know should have them lying around.
Get the Truck into Position
Start by turning the engine on. Let it warm up for up to 60 seconds when changing the oil in cold conditions. The engine should reach normal operating temperature, so the oil reaches the proper viscosity. Engage the parking brake and block the tires to stop the vehicle from moving.
Remove the Oil Drain
Once you have the vehicle secured, pop the hood and loosen the oil filter cap. Put your bin or tray underneath the oil drain located on the bottom of your vehicle. Check the owner’s manual to locate the drain if you can’t find it or you could end up with a garage full of sticky oil. With the bin in place, use your wrench to twist off the oil drain plug. Oil will start to leak out the sides and into the drain. Remove the plug once it’s loose and wait for all the oil drain out.
There will be oil all over the plug, so now’s the time to grab your rag. Clean off the plug and drain as needed before reinstalling the plug with your wrench. Make sure the plug is on tight to avoid leaking oil. You can also use gloves to protect your hands from oil. It should wash off with soap and warm water, but the gloves give you a reinforced grip, so you don’t lose control of the wrench.
Replace the Oil Filter
Take off the air filter cover on the engine. You may need to use a screwdriver to loosen the band clamps. Once the filter is loose, use a clean cloth to gently remove it from under the hood and set it aside.
Use your wrench to unscrew the oil filter. Carefully remove it to avoid spilling oil over the engine. Find your new oil filter and lubricate the seal with some grease to stop it from cracking. Install the new oil filter using the wrench. With the new filter in place, reinstall the air filter cover.
Add New Oil
Pour in the preferred oil according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Fill the tank until the dipstick shows it is three-quarters full.
Let your truck run for several seconds to let the new oil circulate throughout the engine. Check the pressure of your engine oil to make sure it is reaching all the necessary parts and components and make sure there isn’t any oil leaking on the floor. Check the dipstick again to see if the level has changed. If the pressure of the oil is off, there may be a problem with the high-pressure oil pump (HPOP), which regulates oil pressure. If you continue to lose oil faster than normal, consider replacing your HPOP to keep your engine lubricated.
Once everything looks right, put the oil filter cap back on and close the hood. Dispose of the dirty oil by bringing it to a hazardous waste collection site or local auto shop that collects used oil. Always recycle your oil instead of polluting the environment. The used oil from one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of water, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Make your new oil last by adding a diesel oil cooler — a separate radiator that reduces the temperature of the oil to improve engine efficiency.
Keep everything you need to change the oil yourself on hand in case you run into a sticky situation. You can rest easy knowing you can take care of the problem yourself if anything goes wrong.