The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Oil Change -- Lesson Learned

Never use expensive (synthetic) oil with a cartridge filter.

Changed the oil twice on the fire truck today...

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

John

John,

Does this mean you didn't get the canister back on properly and all the oil poured out.

Stuart

Hi John, I put a synthetic blend in our old truck and have driven it ,it seem's ok but how could i tell for sure? Thanks Chad

Stuart -- That's precisely what that meant

Chad -- I don't really know. I'm using synthetic because I can (I have easy access to it and all my other vehicles are using it) and I only plan on changing the oil once a year. Other than that, just check your dipstick and see if it stays cleaner longer?

Regards,
John

The second car I owned was a '67 Chevelle with a 283, it had a canister type. The very first time that I changed the oil, the rubber seal slipped down before I got the canister tightened up to it. You should have seen the mess.
It's been about 30 years since that happened, but if I remember correctly, after that incident I think I would put 3 dabs of grease on the seal to hold it in place.
No better way to learn than the hard way, right John? I bet you never do that again.

John

John,
Judging from past experience, I believe I am quite capable of doing it again...

The grease is a good idea. One of the old timers here told me to put some wheel bearing grease on it (probably same as you). Worked pretty well.

The other trick was making sure the cannister didn't get canted. Now this may all sound elementary to you guys but ole John is just figuring out some of this stuff for himself -- apparently there is a spring in the bottom of the cannister that keeps the filter tight against the engine to make a tight seal? Well that darn spring makes it hard to hold the cannister firmly and squarely --- and if you just let it hang by the bolt and tighten it up, it gets canted or knocks the ring out at the top.

And there wasn't exactly a whole lot of room to work under there, either. Which surprised me.

And who's idea was it to run the exhaust pipe two inches from the oil filter??? I thought one of the jobs of the oil was to help with cooling? Kinda defeats the purpose having the exhaust line pumping heat into the oil filter housing (the side of the cannister facing the exhaust line doesn't have any paint on it from the heat...)

GMC a superior truck?? So far I am not impressed.

:p
John

Enjoyed a laugh at your expense John. My dad taught me how to do that job 50+years ago. :p

Thank's John ,I checked it after putting a good weekend of driving on it and it seem's a.o.k.Not to plug anything but a friend turned me on to being a prefered customer to amsoil.It is the only oil that i have found that let's you go 25,ooo mile's between oil changes.Everything i own with a motor has synthetic.About 12,5oo i put on a new filter and a fresh quart of oil.So far with the cold weather in IOWA it saves on the batteries and starters.With the synthetic blend i used in the old truck it sure seem's to purr right down the road.Have a good summer and thank's again,Chad.

Gaz -- My work here is done

Chad -- that Preferred Customer stuff is the way to go! I run Amsoil in everything I have -- Pumps to Stovebolts to modern drivers.

Regards,
John