Oil changes en-route with camper on truck?

[bighatnohorse]

Currently in need of an diesel oil change while en-route. Some service centers can't handle the weight of the truck with camper on.
They need the camper dis-mounted from the truck.
Any recommendations on getting a good reliable service company to do and oil change without having to dis-mount the camper would be appreciated.

[TxGearhead]

I take my Ram back to the dealer. $10 labor. I buy my own Cummins filter and Rotella T6. I stand there and watch them.

[Kayteg1]

I put 3 gallons in my 6.7 Powerstroke and it makes it 1/2 the dipstick scale.
Engine doesn't use the oil to require addition on 8-10k miles intervals.
In older days I used to carry spare fuel filter and belt in all vehicles (as well as CPS on early digital engines), but lately all gas stations have double-wall tanks and those things tend to last for 20 years before need for replacement

[jimh406]

Do you guy really have only 8-10 quarts in your diesels?

As far as Walmart goes, they usually also have Motorcraft filters although one I bought had been opened and the wrong one put in. If I was going to go on a trip, I’d probably bring my own stock of Ford/Motorcraft filters.

[Kayteg1]

chiefneon wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
Get Fumoto valve and you will smile each time you drain the oil.

Howdy!

Those are great if you change your oil yourself. I had one in my truck when we first started fulltiming and had places refuse to do the work with it installed are I’ed go back to using one.

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

I never used any chain oil changers, but read enough horror stories to think that Fumoto valve require higher skills to open and that was the reason for refusal 😉
Trucks have huge plugs, but on fellow Mercedes forum, you will read how "Speedylube" strips the threads and lately, they cut hole in belly cover as they could not figure out how to remove 6 holding screws.
Anyway, I made 8,000 miles trip this summer and still have some oil life left (Scangauge has X gauge to monitor that).
But all I need to do oil change are couple of wood planks to drive front wheels on and I fit under RWD truck just fine.
Couple of milk bottles to catch oil from pan and the only problem is bottom-mounted filter who splash some oil, but on the road a big garbage bag should catch the couple of oz.
Finding the place (in the woods?) where nobody would bother you might be the hardest part.

[Grit_dog]

Still speculating the earl change big hat? It's ok, both you and your truck will survive this seemingly stressful experience.....

[JimK-NY]

Fortunately my 2018 Ram CTD has a 15,000 mile oil change interval. I was able to take a 4 month cross country trip and return just before a change was needed.

[bighatnohorse]

akaPedro wrote:
Was it done via a pit....or a lift ?

They have lifts - no pits. I did not stay to watch. The lifts look wimpy - I suspect that they did it the old fashion way and slid under the truck.

NRailer: Thanks. Good information.
The truck is at max: 14,000 pounds and the tow vehicle is 5,500 pounds.
Ambient temperatures have been mild but it's run a lot of mountains. Severe duty is my guess.

Walmart offers your choice of oils. Rotella was one of them and recommended by the mechanic. They used a Fram oil filter which I will remove as soon as possible.

[jimh406]

chiefneon wrote:
Those are great if you change your oil yourself. I had one in my truck when we first started fulltiming and had places refuse to do the work with it installed are I’ed go back to using one.

Too easy for them? 😄

Seriously though, I had a dealer and my mechanic do changes a couple of times over the past 13 years I’ve used one, but I usually do my own.

[chiefneon]

Grit dog wrote:

chiefneon wrote:
Howdy!

Just had mine done at Walmart. Shell Rotella T6, filter and lube $80.00. In and out in about 30 minutes.

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

They put $75 worth of juice and parts (on sale) into your truck for $80? I’ll take everything I own there!

Howdy!

Actually I was very surprised when I got the bill to pay them. They sale Rotella T6 for $9.14 a quart and $19.97 a gallon. My 2018 Chevorlet 3500 takes 10 quarts at and oil change. So yea I’m happy with that

[chiefneon]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Get Fumoto valve and you will smile each time you drain the oil.

Howdy!

Those are great if you change your oil yourself. I had one in my truck when we first started fulltiming and had places refuse to do the work with it installed are I’ed go back to using one.

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

[jimh406]

Well, I use the fumoto on both of my diesels. I add a small length of hose. I really like being able to start/stop the stream and fill gallon jugs.

Not sure how you can do that with any other system.

[NRALIFR]

I’m not a fan of the Fumoto valve design.

I’ve got one of these to install in my drain pan on the next oil change. The drain plug is on the side of the pan on the 6.7, and the oil always tends to shoot out farther than I expect it to when I remove it. This should make it less messy, and it appears to be well made and foolproof (famous last words :W )



Stahlbus Oil Drain Valve Plug

:):)

[Kayteg1]

Get Fumoto valve and you will smile each time you drain the oil.

[JRscooby]

ajriding wrote:
Those quickie oil change shops use doggie doody low grade oil that I would never put in my engine. Especially if you have a diesel do not ever let a quickle place change your oil, they often even use a suction tube stuck down your dip stick to suck a lot of oil out, not nearly all, and put the poor quality oil in.

Bring your own oil with you, and filter.

Call and find a operator owned place who is willing to use an oil pan and crawl under to drain the oil. The big trucks like these are quite easy to crawl under.

He will spend 90 seconds pulling out the drain plug, go back and do something else while it drains, then spend 30 seconds putting it back in, another 20 seconds pulling the full oil out, and 1-2 mins pouring the oil into the barrel and putting his pan and wrench back. Then 2-3 mins putting the new oil in and just a few mins to put on the filter, before adding oil hopefully.. He will probably spend more time talking to you about it all than it takes him to do it, so leave him alone.

Depends on the "Quicky change" place. For example Speedco hauls Rotalla in tanker. And part of the job is check levels in trans and diff. And most times I have been their they asked me to squat where I could watch him torque the plugs.
And the oil drain plug? I prefer to screw in the hole finger tight, and wait a few minutes before torquing it. Want to tighten when plug and pan same temp...

[ajriding]

Those quickie oil change shops use doggie doody low grade oil that I would never put in my engine. Especially if you have a diesel do not ever let a quickle place change your oil, they often even use a suction tube stuck down your dip stick to suck a lot of oil out, not nearly all, and put the poor quality oil in.

Bring your own oil with you, and filter.

Call and find a operator owned place who is willing to use an oil pan and crawl under to drain the oil. The big trucks like these are quite easy to crawl under.

He will spend 90 seconds pulling out the drain plug, go back and do something else while it drains, then spend 30 seconds putting it back in, another 20 seconds pulling the full oil out, and 1-2 mins pouring the oil into the barrel and putting his pan and wrench back. Then 2-3 mins putting the new oil in and just a few mins to put on the filter, before adding oil hopefully.. He will probably spend more time talking to you about it all than it takes him to do it, so leave him alone.