With the popularity of diesel engines in cars, trucks and other equipment, comes the frequent occasion for the backyard mechanic to change the oil in a diesel engine--and thankfully this isn't very hard. These engines are in everything from small yard tractors to huge tractor trailers, but most non-professionals will see them in 3/4- and 1-ton pickup trucks. The basic procedure for changing oil is generally uniform, however.
Place a large capacity drain pan under the oil pan drain. Just one example of the size pan required is the Ford 7.3-liter diesel engine, which has a capacity of 15 quarts of oil. Very large trucks can approach 50 quarts.
Remove the oil filter. Ford 6.0- and 6.4-liter engines, and some others, have top-mounted oil filters. Removal of this filter before draining the engine oil pan opens a valve, allowing the high pressure oil system reserve tank to drain.
Remove the oil pan drain plug. Wear disposable gloves while doing this, as used diesel engine oil stains skin and can be irritating.
Replace the drain plug when the oil is finished draining. Examine and replace the drain plug gasket if any signs of damage are noted.
Replace the engine oil filter with an original equipment filter. Aftermarket filters are available but may not be an exact match for physical characteristics or filtering rate. Skimping here can ultimately be very expensive in terms of shortened engine life. Before installing filters, apply a thin film of clean oil to the gasket.
Refill the oil pan with oil that meets the factory specifications for your engine. Check your owner's manual for the capacity of your engine. Do not overfill the engine.
Start the engine and check for leaks.
