Questions and Answers

Chevy Duramax Diesel Oil Change Q. Sir, I would like to start changing the oil on my Duramax myself. Could you recommend a book or magazine that is illustrated or written in simple terms? I need all the info on changing the filters, how to, where at, tools. I need the info explained to me like I am a six year old, if possible. Thank you. Sincerely, JB

A. A factory service manual would be a good source of info on just about anything that could go wrong on your truck. Some dealers have a day where they will allow you to go into the shop and watch while they actually do work on a car so you can see how to maintain it and where all the necessary things to check are like oil, transmission fluid, coolant etc.

As for actual tools, you need to know the size of the drain plug and buy a wrench that size. Buy a new oil filter and then go to a tool store or auto parts store and ask for a filter wrench for that particular size filter making sure you can get the tool on the filter while it's still mounted on the engine, check the clearance.

Start the engine and let it get warm. Shut off and remove the key so you can't start it up until the oil is put back in. Remove the drain plug and let drain, make sure the pan you catch the old oil in is big enough to hold the amount that will come out.

Remove the old filter. Get the new filter and put some fresh clean oil on the filter rubber gasket. Make sure the old filter gasket came off with the filter! If not, kame sure you peel it off. Two gaskets, one on top of the other will not be good. Just my little secret here, if the filter screws up to engine with the open end up, you can fill the new filter with oil so the engine won't run without oil for the couple of seconds that it takes to prime it.

Tighten the filter HAND TIGHT. Maybe a quarter turn with the wrench but that's it. Fill the crankcase up with the required amount of new oil, start it up check for leaks.