First Oil change Miramar V10
I have a little over 2000 miles on our new Miramar. I have a short 100 mile round trip scheduled next week but then next month have a 1000 mile round trip. I would like to get the oil changed before...
Forum Discussion
I've always changed the oil myself in our V10 Class A, just 'cause its soo much easier to do that one myself in the driveway than to drive it somewhere and have it done. I've found that even though its on a Ford chassis, many Ford dealers do not want to work on it. Neither do many other shops. Its just too big, they don't have the space for it, or a lift capable of raising it up.
I typically change it and the generator engine oil at the beginning of every season, usually in February. We never put enough miles on it (or hours on generator) to warrant any more frequent changes than that.
Anyway, most of the advice you've got so far here is spot on, except, as already said, 5 quarts will not be enough. Mine uses more like 7 and a half.
Yep, the oil pours right over that suspension I beam. Easy to work around that, though. And, getting 7.5 quarts back in it is slow going and can be a little annoying, because of how they have the fill tube positioned. You will want/need a funnel and a good long hose attached to it. If you don't have either, you might still be able to do it by just carefully pouring each 1 quart container in one at a time, but be prepared to clean up some spillage if you have to do it that way. If you get the oil in a big 5 quart container, you will have a very difficult time getting that large contain in place to pour in the filler tube, unless you have the funnel and long hose. Much easier with a funnel and tube.
As far as concerns about oil filter being torqued on real tight at the factory: I've dealt with those. Get you the right size oil filter wrench to fit it, the 'socket' type that will go on a ratchet/wrench, and you should be able to get it off. There's plenty of room down there to work the wrench. Worst case, there's always the old 'hammer a screw driver in the side and use it for leverage' trick.
Really, changing the oil on a V10 in these things is not that much different than changing it in any other vehicle, so I'd just go ahead and do it yourself. Especially if you're used to changing the oil yourself on your other vehicles.
I typically change it and the generator engine oil at the beginning of every season, usually in February. We never put enough miles on it (or hours on generator) to warrant any more frequent changes than that.
Anyway, most of the advice you've got so far here is spot on, except, as already said, 5 quarts will not be enough. Mine uses more like 7 and a half.
Yep, the oil pours right over that suspension I beam. Easy to work around that, though. And, getting 7.5 quarts back in it is slow going and can be a little annoying, because of how they have the fill tube positioned. You will want/need a funnel and a good long hose attached to it. If you don't have either, you might still be able to do it by just carefully pouring each 1 quart container in one at a time, but be prepared to clean up some spillage if you have to do it that way. If you get the oil in a big 5 quart container, you will have a very difficult time getting that large contain in place to pour in the filler tube, unless you have the funnel and long hose. Much easier with a funnel and tube.
As far as concerns about oil filter being torqued on real tight at the factory: I've dealt with those. Get you the right size oil filter wrench to fit it, the 'socket' type that will go on a ratchet/wrench, and you should be able to get it off. There's plenty of room down there to work the wrench. Worst case, there's always the old 'hammer a screw driver in the side and use it for leverage' trick.
Really, changing the oil on a V10 in these things is not that much different than changing it in any other vehicle, so I'd just go ahead and do it yourself. Especially if you're used to changing the oil yourself on your other vehicles.
