How to chang my oil in my 2004 C7 Cat 330

OP, do yourself a big favor and take a ride to the nearest Speedco, get a complete chassis lube, oil and oil filter change, fuel filter(s) changed, coolant checked, generator oil and filter change, genny air and fuel filter change plus an oil analysis for less money than the oil and filters will cost you.

Speedco will use Fleetguard filters , but the CAT filters are available from Speedco with an upcharge.

Also some Speedco's will check your tire tread depths and give you a full report at no extra charge.

Your engine fluids will be nice and hot thus ensuring a complete fluid change.

I don't know why but the filters on the C7 really takes some muscle to get it started to turn off. I generally use a big chain strap tool that gives you more leverage. Rather than oil I try to use grease on the new filter. I really don't think it's that important to fill the new filter with oil as oil pump from the engine will fill it instantly. I buy Cat filters as they are less expensive than what some of the parts houses charge. Refill it accordingly to what your Cat book recommends with changing the filter. Don't use you dip stick as a lot of them are off. My C7 stick shows the oil at the add mark when I precisely measure out the proper amount of oil. For a oil pan I cut the bottom off of a 30 gallon plastic drum to the height of the oil pan. Good luck and you can save a quite a bit of money because a lot of shops charge a lot for diesel oil changes because some larger diesel engines take 30 quarts or more of oil. While the C7 with the shallow pan only take 19.8 quarts.;)

SCVJeff wrote:
Cept allot of DP's can't fit that big ol' bucket under the pan :(

Yup, I use a Rubbermade tub-- same volume, but not as tall. Line it with two layers of black trash bags to keep it clean.

Cept allot of DP's can't fit that big ol' bucket under the pan :(

Filters from Napa just give them your engine info. Go to a local bakery and ask for or buy a 5 gallon bucket with lid. Drain the pan, remove the filter. Replace with new be sure to lube the contact point with oil or light grease. Refill with oil as to mfrg. Specks as to capacity. Don't depend on the dipstick. Please take the used oil back to the store or dispose of properly.

The oil filter is on the driver's side of the engine-- as suggested VERY hard to miss.

And Caterpillar does not recommend pre-filling oil filters. The couple of second delay in filling the filter when the engine is started is preferable to risking contaminants in the oil (yes, even in brand new oil-- ask any petroleum engineer).

If you must fill, fill the outer, small holes (the inlets) not the large center hold (outlet).

Best to change it hot-- after at least 25 highway miles. Remove the drain plug, then let it cool down before removing the oil filter. Make sure you have an oil filter wrench large enough for the filter.

I strongly recommend a Caterpillar oil filter, not some other brand. They are generally no more expensive and of consistently high quality. Get the filter from any Caterpillar dealer.

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The filter on the CAT C/7 is under the engine and really hard to miss, but at least it's verticle so you don't bathe the engine, street, etc. when removing it. Just unscrew and keep verticle.

I use a Fumoto valve with a short hose and empty the engine one gallon at a time directly into jugs. While it's possible to make a mess, you really need to make an effort to do so. Once the engine is drained, I spin off the filter and put it in the oil change basin I use for the cars and let it drain. I literally spilled ONE drop last time.

Thanks Ron I sure did lern a lot.

It's not difficult. But you need to have (of course) all the oil and filters required prior to starting. I purchased all of mine at "filterbarn.com". And a container than can handle 19 quarts of used oil. You may want to think about getting a Fumoto valve to replace the drain plug....with it, draining the oil is much easier and less messy.

Some diesels (my Safari did) have a protective cage under the engine that has to be removed first (four bolts). Then you will find the oil filter on the driver's side of the engine and usually is on really tight. My CAT had two fuel filters, one with an fuel/water separator and another without. Both of my fuel filters were accessible through the compartment door that houses the AC radiator (it pivots out of the way).

When installing the oil filter, I filled the new filter with fresh oil and put a light coating on the oil filter gasket. Make sure the mating surface is free of dirt and old gasket. Did the same with both fuel filters only use fresh diesel fuel to fill and light coating of fresh oil on the gasket. I then would only tighten each filter as tight as I could using only my hands.

You should also have a hydraulic filter that needs to be changed, large air filter, and possibly the dryer filter.

Then every three or four years you need to change out the trans filters (2) and install new Transynd fluid.

Don't forget that the generator also needs oil/filter maintenance too!

Hope this helps

Ron