Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

[Cofe]

Just acquired a 2006 Dodge 3500 with the Cummins 6.7 turbo diesel. I was wondering, when oil is changed. Do I just fill the new oil filter with fresh oil and install? I have noticed that the top of the oil filter housing has a bleed plug. Do I need to bleed the remaining air out of the filter? Or is unnecessary since I pre filled the filter. Are there any problem areas that I need to keep an eye on for this motor?

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Just fill it like any other engine. I have a 5.9 cummins, and it takes 3 gallons of oil. Calls for 11qts but with the big oil filter it takes 12, or 3 gallons. Don't forget your fuel filter too, I change mine at every oil change.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Better to prefill the filter, but not mandatory. Change it like every other vehicle. The oil is pumping via the engine running, it's not dependent on the filter being full. Besides, you could run that Cummins for 30 minutes at speed without oil and probable not damage anything!

 

[Cofe]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Thanks for the replies.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Just acquired a 2006 Dodge 3500 with the Cummins 6.7 turbo diesel. I was wondering, when oil is changed. Do I just fill the new oil filter with fresh oil and install? I have noticed that the top of the oil filter housing has a bleed plug. Do I need to bleed the remaining air out of the filter? Or is unnecessary since I pre filled the filter. Are there any problem areas that I need to keep an eye on for this motor?

The 6.7 replaced the 5.9, mid model year 2007. Enjoy your truck

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

I'll disagree with that. I have 175K miles on my Cummins and always fill the filter. I do not leave any foil on, and any particles(which I've never seen) do not harm the mighty Cummins, nor any of the other vehicles I have pre-filled the filters on over the past 30 years.

So no, it's not "wrong wrong wrong wrong" just because it doesn't jibe with your opinion.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

I'm not getting into the middle of this one but I do not now nor have I ever filled my oil filters, I change my oil with a hot motor, synthetic oil and have never had an issue, my 2000 7.3L Power Stroke has 320,000 miles on it and my 2006 Cummins 5.9L has 220,000 miles on it so there is my 2 cents, your routine may be different and thats cool with me! I don't have anything against it I just don't do it, so long as the motor is hot which means its been run recently the motor cannot run out of oil anyway.

Fuel Filter is a whole different animal...

 

[QC]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Caterpillar (my professional experience) recommends oil filters installed dry for the same reason that KRS notes. This is the CLEAN side of the filter. This is not opinion.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Thanks everyone for your advise. This is my first diesel truck motor, and all opinions have helped to me to debate my options. I was unaware of the problems that were documented about oil container foil......foiling.....the motor. I will start to change the oil filter clean and dry. Rotella oil does not have a foil on the jug, but just has a tamper ring on the cap. Anyhow,,,,knowing about the contaminates that could be introduced, has swayed my opinion. I have changed many a filter on tractor and semi motors, and have always prefilled the filter without any problems. It is nice to know that the informative people here at iboats can help with about any problem. Thank you all for being part of this iboat community. Next I would like to find out the "right" way to change the fuel filter on this motor, but that is another topic. Thanks Again!! Cofe

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Lots of cases of failure, it's not just my opinion. The number of miles on your truck (mine has 206k) isn't relevant. It's the one-time something gets in that matters. So avoid it.

KRS

Many more cases of non-failure, and the only cases of failure I find is using low quality filters like fram.
So no, I will keep doing it my way, the right way.
Also, the owner's manual AND the factory service manual says to pre-fill the filter, guess they are wrong too? Come ON!

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Thanks everyone for your advise. This is my first diesel truck motor, and all opinions have helped to me to debate my options. I was unaware of the problems that were documented about oil container foil......foiling.....the motor. I will start to change the oil filter clean and dry. Rotella oil does not have a foil on the jug, but just has a tamper ring on the cap. Anyhow,,,,knowing about the contaminates that could be introduced, has swayed my opinion. I have changed many a filter on tractor and semi motors, and have always prefilled the filter without any problems. It is nice to know that the informative people here at iboats can help with about any problem. Thank you all for being part of this iboat community. Next I would like to find out the "right" way to change the fuel filter on this motor, but that is another topic. Thanks Again!! Cofe

Think about this, if you take the advice to not pre-fill, your filter will be subjected to a hydraulic shock load. Nice dry filter all of a sudden hit with high pressure oil. AND if the filter is dry, that air has to be blown through the system, possibly blowing the oil film off of bearing surfaces.

There's a reason the owners and factory service manual state to pre-fill the oil filter. Go to any truck shop and see what their shop policy is.

As to the fuel filter, I think my older Cummins has a different filter. I install the fuel filter dry, as out truck have a self bleeding system.

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Caterpillar (my professional experience) recommends oil filters installed dry for the same reason that KRS notes. This is the CLEAN side of the filter. This is not opinion.

REALLY? Not saying I don't believe you, but can you provide proof of this?

*edit* I did just find where cat recommends dry filters, and Cummins recommends pre-filled. I guess this is a matter of choice AND opinion. I will always pre-fill.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

I just called a friend who is a diesel service tech. He does literally "everything" according to service manuals and bulletins. He advised that Cummins recommends prefilling the oil filter (which he does). I mentioned the issues that were brought up here and he said he has never had a problem.

I have never seen plastic particulates at the bottom of an oil jug and I go thru 4-5 gallons of oil per year. And seriously, how tough is it to remove the foil capping?

 

[QC]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

*edit* I did just find where cat recommends dry filters, and Cummins recommends pre-filled. I guess this is a matter of choice AND opinion. I will always pre-fill.

You have a unique way of pizzing people off that's for sure . . . my opinion comment was regarding Cat's recommendations and the fact that the inside of the filter is the clean side.

Your hydraulic shock theory is neither fact, nor opinion, it is false. The filter flows, it does not shock, there are ports in and out. Where's the shock? The ultimate solution to this age old debate is a pre-lube pump, but you don't see that on mobile equipment of this size. But in your world the ultimate solution is personal experience, I have installed my filters dry on everything from a VW to a 15 liter truck engine and I've never had a failure. Does that make my experience more valid? And how the heck do you pre-fill an upside down filter on my 6.2 Mercruiser? Oh, but that's a gasoline engine and somehow I am sure that it is not relevant despite exactly the same design. And then I suppose you'll say diesel rod bearings need more lube and sooner due to compression or cylinder pressure. And then I will say ALL of that speculation is indeed opinion . . .

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

You have a unique way of pizzing people off that's for sure . . . my opinion comment was regarding Cat's recommendations and the fact that the inside of the filter is the clean side.

Your hydraulic shock theory is neither fact, nor opinion, it is false. The filter flows, it does not shock, there are ports in and out. Where's the shock? The ultimate solution to this age old debate is a pre-lube pump, but you don't see that on mobile equipment of this size. But in your world the ultimate solution is personal experience, I have installed my filters dry on everything from a VW to a 15 liter truck engine and I've never had a failure. Does that make my experience more valid? And how the heck do you pre-fill an upside down filter on my 6.2 Mercruiser? Oh, but that's a gasoline engine and somehow I am sure that it is not relevant despite exactly the same design. And then I suppose you'll say diesel rod bearings need more lube and sooner due to compression or cylinder pressure. And then I will say ALL of that speculation is indeed opinion . . .

No need to get pizzed off, I did say we should basically all just do it the way we feel comfortable with, I'll go with what MY FSM and owner's manual says. I've been doing it with my vehicles for almost 30 years now.

I've prefilled on every one of my vehicles, and never had a failure, but in your world...ahhh, never mind LOL. And hydraulic shock is a FACT. At least on startup with a dry filter. I'd say more but oh noes, I don't want you to get all "pizzed"off at me or anything.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Gas or diesel unless you crank the engine (without starting) until the guage moves or the light goes out, the engine is basically running without oil pressure until the filter fills. To me this does far more harm then not pre-filling the filter due to the slight chance of debris. But I would also follow the factory service manual. If Cummins says to install dry I would be sure to crank engine until it has good oil pressure before starting.

2 cents from a life long auto tech.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

I always fill the filter on my 2002 Ford 7.3 PSD before installing it. The oil flow to the crank, cam and turbo bearings comes out of the oil filter. I don't know how long it takes to fill a dry filter when the engine is started, but I don't want to wait that long to have oil start flowing to the bearings.

Oil flow might be different on your Cummins 6.7, but why take the chance.

 

[skargo]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Gas or diesel unless you crank the engine (without starting) until the guage moves or the light goes out, the engine is basically running without oil pressure until the filter fills. To me this does far more harm then not pre-filling the filter due to the slight chance of debris. But I would also follow the factory service manual. If Cummins says to install dry I would be sure to crank engine until it has good oil pressure before starting.

2 cents from a life long auto tech.

Cummins says to prefill in their FSM...

 

[guy74]

Re: Oil change question...Cummins 6.7

Sorry to disagree, but wrong wrong wrong wrong. Don't prefill the oil filter.

The cummins diesels use piston skirt cooling jets for the oil; the tiniest bit of foil (from the oil container) can easily plug them. It's better to not fill the filter on these engines than to risk burning up a piston.

It's a well documented issue. Search cummins piston nozzle clogged, and lots of people will relate their stories of rebuilding an engine to find foil (or sometimes rubber) in their piston cooling nozzle.

Anything you pour into the center of the oil filter goes directly into the engine; the center of the filter should contain filtered oil, but when you pour in there, it contains un-filtered oil. Don't get me wrong, I know it's "new" oil from a new container.... but you ever turned a new plastic container upside down? Almost always little pieces of plastic drop out from the manufacturing process.

My two-cents, never pre-fill.

KRS

Couldn't one get around this problem by pouring the oil into the "dirty" side of the filter? The only problem I have ever had with prefilling the filter is on some equipment, the oil pump won't prime right if the filter is full, Ford tractor engines are bad about this if left drained for more than an hour or so.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Oil change question Cummins 6.7 ... UPDATE!

Re: Oil change question Cummins 6.7 ... UPDATE!

Ok changed the oil yesterday, and this time I left the oil filter dry. When the motor was started, I definitely heard a Whopppp! when the oil filter filled with oil. I did not like the sound of this at all, so..... It looks like I will pre-fill oil filters on this motor when changing oil. Thanks for the debate, and I believe you are right Skargo.