Another 1/2-Ton Bites the Dust :)

otrfun wrote:

IdaD wrote:
I have to admit that's a great looking truck. In the interest of full disclosure, it looks just like mine. :B

One cosmetic thing I did that I think makes it look a lot better is I removed all the badges from the front doors. The only thing I left on the sides of the truck are the C badges on the fenders, and I really like the way it looks that way - much cleaner. They did a nice job with the lines on this generation of HD Rams, imo.

On the oil filter, it's not tricky. Get an oil filter wrench that attaches to a ratchet and fits over the end of the filter. They're a few bucks online. You can slip that into the hole in the finder and loosen the filter, and then keeping it upright drop it into a ziploc bag. Close the bag and you can pull the filter through the hole without spilling a drop. Spin the new filter on, tighten up with the wrench and you're set. Only takes a minute and no need to remove the intake or anything else.

Thanks!

IMO those Ram x500 badges are big and gaudy. Ram has that "black" package for the 2500/3500's that leave the badges off. Very clean looking. How did you remove them?

I'm hoping my oil filter experience goes as smoothly as yours. Measured the distance between those aluminum transmission lines and it looks like there's about 1/2" of clearance to get the filter through--gonna be close. Some folks said they had trouble using the end-cap type of oil filter wrench (with a ratchet), so they used the strap or band type. Probably gonna buy both just to be safe. What kind of oil do you use? Did you remove the front passenger tire to get better access?

Get on youtube and run a search for Debadge Ram. It probably took me an hour, and that included a run to Lowes to pick up the thinner he suggests using. I can't recall the name of it off the top of my head. It really improves the look of the truck, imo. You use fishing line to get the badges off and then work the adhesive stuff off with your fingers, then use the cleaner.

I did not remove the tire or anything else to get to the filter. I got the end wrench on it to loosen it, opened up a freezer bag and worked it in the fender around the filter and just unscrewed it till it fell into the bag. Seal up the bag and pull it through the hole. Harder to explain it than it was to do it.

I am running full synthetic on mine, using Rotella T6. I find that it's a couple of bucks cheaper per gallon than Walmart if I buy from subscribe and save on Amazon. A full synthetic oil change including the upgraded Fleetguard filter (LF16035) runs a bit under $70, which isn't bad at all. I did have to modify a five gallon bucket to catch the used oil cause I didn't have a big enough catch pan.