Well guys, I just changed the oil for the first time in my 2006 dodge dakota, 3.7L and that was the crankiest damn oil change ever!! It ended up taking me about 3 hours and 3 trips to the parts store, what a hassle. Dont get me wrong, I am a pretty good mechanic, but this was not my day. First, I went to drain the oil and I think it is so dumb how they did the drain plug because it is right above the crossmember so the oil just drips onto that. After that, I went about taking off the oil filter, and I couldnt get my good filter wrench up there (not enough space) so I used my swivel walmart one and ended up bending all to hell. So then I did what I usually do if I cant get it off and stabbed a screwdrive through it. The only thing this did was tear the metal of the filter when I tried to turn it. So then I went to the parts store and got a good swivel wrench, but this one was too big for the spot and I couldnt get a good amount of leverage. Finally after working with channel locks on it for about half an hour I finally broke it loose. Now heres the kicker: I proceded to put on the new filter, and guess what? The damn thing was defective (bad threads.) SO by this time, autozone (where I got the oil and filter) was closed and advanced was open so i just got a new one there and I will take the other one back. Has anyone else had this big of a problem changing the oil in their dakota or is just me? I felt the angle of the filter and the space with the belt and the fan was not sufficient. Just wondering if anyone else had this problem. THANKS!!

Also I forgot to add that I know it wont be as hard next time because of the filter wont be on as tight as factory, Does anyone else feel they put them on way tighter than hand tight?

 

ya, they cranked it down, I always use the giant socket looking filter wrenches and never have a problem, I hooked it to my stock filter and had to hook an adapter to use the 1/2' rachet to it for leverage then almost twisted the filter in half, right before it split it let lose.

 

Only problem Ihad when I changed mine, was it got all over my new shirt. :-(

And was realllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllly hot.

 

lol, I ware my coveralls or mechanics shirts just for that reason lol

 

You're also a midget nerd, who can't get hit by the oil!!!!!!

pwn3d!!!!

 

lol, im 5'10' lol

 

next time buy the k&n oil filter, it has a 1' on the bottom, easy to get off with a wrench or socket

 

Can't wait for my first oil change, up to 1750 miles now, its coming!!!!!

 

BAnders got it right.Go with the K&N. JrMechanic's post about the originalfactory installed filter is correct. I have been doing my own oil/filter changes for a long time, and this was the absolute worst. It took me a good hour before I got the filter to even start to turn. What worked for me was a plumber's strap type wrench, and even that took time. I was really getting worried about stripped threads(not on the filter but on the engine)once I got it off butwere ok.

 

I too went Thur hell 4.7 V8. The filter was way to tight, oil splashed all over the place from the filter and the **** poor design of the drain plug. I built a so called ramp over the x member but it failed made a big mess. I filled the engine oil apparently to fast and it over flowed out the bottom side of the funnel. A great big oil slick on the garage floor. I don't think I will change my oil again. I will go to the shop. It just isn't worth the aggravation and mess. The factory morons win!