Newbe to Diesels

[Miner-72]

First, this is a great forum, lots of good info. I lurk whenever time allows.

Second, had a '98 Chev 1500, draging a boat around South Louisiana, smoked the transmission. Needed some more room w/kids and fishin' buddies, so I looked, and looked more and found a '04 F-250 psd, crew cab w/6000 mi. Needless to say couldn't pass it up. Have some buddies w/the same truck and love'em. Must say am impressed w/the truck, nice quiet ride, comfortable, but most of all drags my boat very well.

So I'm up for an oil change...read the manual on the oil specs and couldn't find that stuff to save my life. Ended up at the "stealership" and left w/four gals. oil, oil filter, fuel filter(s) and $135 lighter... This has got to give. I guess it's the oil filter that's so expensive, or is it the fuel filter kit w/the one on top of the engine and the separater filter on the frame rail? Where do all y'all get your oil, filters, etc.? Tried NAPA, Advance Auto, AutoZone, WalMart, and anywhere else along my daily path.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advise.

Dave

[Banshee34]

First off.... WELCOME!!!!!!!!

Someone here should be able to give you more info regarding your questions.

However, I myself, have my oil changed at a respectable dealership/quick lube (not a stealership) here in town for a round $50.00. Includes topping off all fluids too, a run through the wash and they vacuum out the inside.

My lil bro changes his by himself (he has more time on his hands) and says it runs him around $60.00 for everthing.

Check Costco for the oil.

[Deeno]

Welcome Miner 72. Just about anything you get for these PSD's are going to cost more as compared to a gasoline engine. Costs me around $45.00 to change my oil and filter and that is buying them at Wal Mart and doing it myself Ahh but they are well worth it.

[Rodslinger]

Welcome and congrats on your new rig!
I'm with Deeno - I change my own and pick everything up from Wal-Mart.

[mschn99]

these guys have good info on the costs...but a warning...make sure that on your fuel and oil filters to run either a Motorcraft or another very well know respectable filter....not fram, STP.....or such.....basically WIX or Motorcraft....because the 6.0 filters vary GREATLY in quality.....you can get Motorcraft at Wallie world (wall mart).....although some dont carry as many filters and some might not be stocking 6.0 ones yet.........Marc

[wesjones]

welcome...i can't belive you can't find 15w40 at any of those places you mentioned...they all have it near me...even the walmart...anyway...happy trucking!

wes

[99Smokin73Stroker]

Hey Miner, welcome to the forum! First off - 135 bucks? Wow...bend over!! I just did mine this weekend, filter is about 6 bucks I think and each gallon of rotella is about 8 bucks. I already had almost a full gallon at home, so I just bought 3 gallons and used the rest...so do that math, roughly 40 after tax. It's easy to do yourself, at least on the 7.3 i'm sure the 6.0 is much the same. You should be able to find the Shell Rotella 15-40 at any auto parts store. And the filter should be there too, motorcraft FL-1995 for the 7.3 and 6.0 right Marc???

[Deeno]

Originally Posted by 99Smokin73Stroker

Hey Miner, welcome to the forum! First off - 135 bucks? Wow...bend over!! I just did mine this weekend, filter is about 6 bucks I think and each gallon of rotella is about 8 bucks. I already had almost a full gallon at home, so I just bought 3 gallons and used the rest...so do that math, roughly 40 after tax. It's easy to do yourself, at least on the 7.3 i'm sure the 6.0 is much the same. You should be able to find the Shell Rotella 15-40 at any auto parts store. And the filter should be there too, motorcraft FL-1995 for the 7.3 and 6.0 right Marc???

Speaking of filters, has anybody been able to find fuel filters for these things below $20.00? I serviced my rig last weekend and it was time to change the fuel filter. Picked one up from Advance(Purolator), they didn't have a Motorcraft one, freaken thing cost me $24.00 and some change after taxes Got home, opened the box, and discovered that it came with the plastic cap already on top of the filter. Can you buy just the cartridge itself or is this the only way you can buy them?

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by Deeno

Speaking of filters, has anybody been able to find fuel filters for these things below $20.00? I serviced my rig last weekend and it was time to change the fuel filter. Picked one up from Advance(Purolator), they didn't have a Motorcraft one, freaken thing cost me $24.00 and some change after taxes Got home, opened the box, and discovered that it came with the plastic cap already on top of the filter. Can you buy just the cartridge itself or is this the only way you can buy them?

its a marketing stratagy deeno.....they sell you the one with the cap already on it hoping you will lose your cap and then have to buy aftermarkets cause now facory ones wont work unless you buy a new factory cap.....Marc

[Miner-72]

Thanks for all the replys. Did the deal today. Changing filters and oil wasn't bad, just a whole lot of oil, especially when you're use to just 5-qts. Still looking for the oil, somebody's got to have it. Just need to find who.

Yeah, I'm all about using quality oil and filters, and new going into this deal that "diesel" would cost more. It's alot like "marine"...it just costs more. So I'll do my part to keep the economy going.

Guess I could get the dealer to change it w/o all the trouble, but since my time is precious, I've found that its more of a hastle to get to the dealer and wait, then it is to "get'er done" myself.

Also, noticed that I've got a little oil at the end of the pan just before the tranny. I've had some Ford's w/rear main issues, please tell me that rear mains aren't issues w/ the 6.0! Tell me its a oil pan gasket! Its under warranty, but still, 8,000 miles and a rear main? Any ideas?