I just hit 7500 on my '05 3500 and I'm doing my first oil change. My service manual CD hasn't arrived from Daimler Chrylser yet. I'm assuming the big plug with the square drive hole in the middle of the pan is the drain plug. What should I torque it to when I reinstall it? Where is the filter located? Is there more than one oil filter? (I haven't been under the truck yet). Is hand tightened good enough for the filter? Any gotchas I should be aware of? Thanks.

 

you should put this in your 3rd gen section and yes that is the drain plug and ya aint gotta torque it down, just get it tight. then on the filter, get it good and snug and then just a little bit more

 

Do it outside so you won't have to worry too much about the oil all over the place when you have to practically dismantle the factory filter to get it off of there.

 

One of the best tips I've read on this board is to put a gallon zip-lock bag around your oil filter before removing, this catches all the oil for a clean oil change. Try it, it works.

 

Get one of those oil cap wrenches (i think size C) that fit on the end of your socket wrench extensions. They make loosening your oil filter a breeze. After it is loose, you can spin it off by hand into your zip lock baggie.

I like the Fumotovalve w/nipple for draining the oil. You can get it at Geno's garage for about $25.00 or so and it makes draining the oil so much easier because you can control the flow. The 12 gallons of oil in the pan cames out real fast just taking out the stock plug.

 

You are correct in locating the oil pan drain plug that should be reinstalled with 37 ft.- lbs/50 N-m torque. There is only one engine oil filter that is located on the truck's top front right side of the engine block. Like someone already advised, the factory filter is easily loosened from under the truck with a rachet and cup wrench on an extension. I then put the still mounted loosened filter in a plastic bag (suggested on this web site previously), partially secured the plastic bag around the top rim of the filter, went below and unscrewed the filter by hand and lowered it. I had let the filter cool off overnight before removing it, so it was not hot to handle. The oil in the filter had also condensed somewhat, thus lowering the oil level inside the filter so it did not spill out over the top as easily during handling. When a new filter is installed it should be tightened one complete turn after the rubber filter gasket first makes contact. The tightening instructions are usually on the side of the filter case.

 

Be sure to use a quality zip-loc bag. I had an imitation and it ripped and leaked all over the driveway and my wife's dog that was helping!!