Here's all you need for your first oil change.

1.) A suitable pan for holding 7 quarts of oil. You can get them for less than $10.

2.) 7 quarts of your favorite oil. The manual calls out for 6.5 quarts of 5w30.

3.) Oil filter. Stock or after market it's all up to you.

4.) Get a strap wrench for your first change. After that if you'll follow the recommendations on the filter when you install it you should never have to use a wrench on the filter ever again and you'll have a nifty little tool.


5.) You'll need a 14mm wrench for the drain plug on the oil pan and a 10mm for the skid plate on a non Off road/Big Tow truck. (Torque wrench for the drain plug)

And that's it.

Here's how I get the job done

1.) I warm up the truck and then shut her down and pop the hood. I reach over and loosen the filler cap but leave it on so bugs and leaves can't fall into the engine.

2.) I then grab my drain pan and 14mm wrench and go over to the passenger side of the truck and crawl underneath. I place the pan under the drain plug remove the drain plug (making sure to not drop it in the drain pan) and then crawl back out from under the truck and wrap the drain plug in a paper towel so it doesn't get dirty and put it somewhere safe.

3.) While the oil is draining I now go to the front of the truck with my 10 mm wrench crawl underneath and just loosen the back two bolts on the skid plate and then remove the 2 fender support bolts and the other 2 bolts on the front of the skid plate being sure not to drop the skid plate on my face. Set the plate and 4 bolts aside.

4.) About this time I go in the house and check this site for a while.

5.) After getting up to date I venture outside to check the drain progress. When it's gotten to the point that it's just dripping about a drop every 30 seconds I go find the wrapped drain plug and reinstall it. ( Torque to 22 to 29 FT-Lbs) (Not really I just snug it up)

6.) I now go to the front of the truck and crawl underneath it. I pull the drain pan under the oil filter. Remove the oil filter and set it in the pan to drain.

7.) I now crawl out from under the truck and get the new oil filter. I place some clean oil on the gasket and the threads, crawl under the front of the truck and screw the oil filter on. When the gasket touches the metal of the engine I STOP! (I now rotate the filter 1/2 a revolution and STOP!)

Resist the temptation to turn it just a little more, it's fine and will come off by hand the next time you change the oil.

8.) I now crawl out from under the truck and go get the oil. I put 6 and half quarts in. When that's done I put the filler cap back on and start the truck. I run the truck for a while, then shut it off and go retrieve the drain pan. (I use old ERA bottles to pour my used motor oil in to take to the local parts dealer for disposal. I also put the oil filter in a zip-lock bag and give that to them also for disposal. (Depends on your state)
9.) The last and final step. After a half hour I check the oil level again and add oil if necessary and check for leaks at the filter and drain plug. If none are found (There never is) I reinstall the skid plate and I'm done.

Method #2

1. Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00.

2. Stop by 7 - 11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20.00, drive home.

3. Open a beer and drink it.

4. Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands.

5. Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.

6. In frustration, open another beer and drink it.

7. Place drain pan under engine.

8. Look for 9/16 box end wrench.

9. Give up and use crescent wrench.

10. Unscrew drain plug.

11. Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process. Cuss.

12. Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.

13. Have another beer while watching oil drain.

14. Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.

15. Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.

16. Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. Drink a beer.

17. Buddy shows up; finish case of beer with him. Decide to finish oil change tomorrow so you can go see his new garage door opener.

18. Sunday: Skip church because, "I gotta finish the oil change." Drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car. Cleverly dump oil in hole in back yard instead of taking it back to O'Reilly to recycle.

19. Throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18.

20. Beer? No, drank it all yesterday.

21. Walk to 7-11; buy beer.

22. Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.

23. Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.

24. Remember drain plug from step 11.

25. Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.

26. Remember that the used oil is buried in a hole in the back yard, along with drain plug.

27. Drink beer.

28. Shovel out hole and sift oily mud for drain plug. Re-shovel oily dirt into hole. Steal sand from kids sandbox to cleverly cover oily patch of ground and avoid environmental penalties. Wash drain plug in lawnmower gas.

29. Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.

30. Drink beer.

31. Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame.

32. Bang head on floorboards in reaction to step 31.

33. Begin cussing fit.

34. Throw stupid crescent wrench.

35. Cuss for additional 10 minutes because wrench hit Miss December (1992) in the left boob.

36. Beer.

37. Clean up hands and forehead and bandage as required to stop blood flow.

38. Beer.

39. Beer.

40. Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.

41. Beer.

42. Lower car from jack stands.

43. Accidentally crush remaining case of new motor oil.

44. Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during steps 23 - 43.

45. Beer.

46. Test drive car.

47. Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.

48. Car gets impounded.

49. Call loving wife, make bail.

50. 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.


Money Spent

Parts $50.00
DUI $2500.00
Impound fee $75.00
Bail $1500.00
Beer $40.00

Total $4165.00 -- But you know the job was done right!