Hello all! I'm new to this site because I searched the forums and found nothing on what bothers me most about my new (purchased in Dec) 2009 Ram 4x4 with the Hemi. My problem is this:

I've changed the oil in my truck twice already, and everytime I do, I am covered in oil by the time I'm done! No, I don't lie down directly underneath the drain plug and unexpectedly get drenched with oil when I remove the plug. In fact, I can remove and drain as much oil as possible without getting a drop on me. The problem comes when I remove the oil filter. I don't know what kind of idiot designed this feature, but the oil filter is inserted vertically with the threads on top. What this means is that oil cannot drain from the filter and, in fact, traps oil in the pipe directly above it. Thus, when I start unscrewing the filter and break the seal, the oil trapped above starts spewing out of the filter, down my arm, drips all over anything beneath it, and into my clothes. Both times I changed my oil, I have cursed the bone-headed engineer who has never changed his own oil in his life before that dreamed up this design, and I believe I will continue to curse him every 6,000 miles.

Anyway, my question to you is this: am I doing something wrong? Is there some kind of trick to this that I don't get? I don't know what that darn engineer was smoking, but it must have been pretty good to screw over so many people.

Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

The same thing happens to me. A few times I've been lucky enough for it to pour somewhere else but it usually goes down my arm. It doesn't feel too good when the oil is HOT

 

You've never encountered this type of genius engineering before? You are lucky my friend. (Still beats my ex-wife's Miata though. That's a whole other nightmare though.) Sadly I've never found a way around it. I just bask in the joy of shade tree mechanicism while I bathe in the oil. But that's just me. The only suggestion I can think of is a remote filter kit. But, I'd be willing to be a pretty penny some bone head at the dealer would tell you it voids your warranty.

 

Some engineers are idiots, yes, but most likely the scenario that played out was that upper management saw an opportunity to save $$$ by having it designed this way and over-ruled the engineer(s) who fought to spend a little more $$$ to keep the customers happy. I've worked in the auto biz and know first hand its usually the engineers that are fighting for the customer and its their management thinking with their bonus checks in mind.

 

I, too, hate it when car designers make it difficult to remove the oil filter. It CAN'T be that hard to have the filter oriented better.

One guess as to how you might avoid the issue: Before trying to remove it take a screwdriver and poke a hole in the bottom of the filter. That should allow some (most?) oil to drain out in a controlled manner. This would only work if there isn't something else under the filter to get in the way of the flow. I don't have my Ram yet so I don't know for sure. Maybe it is a stupid idea - I don't know.

Rob

 

So how much of the old oil stays in the truck? Like an ounce?

 

I don't know about you guys, but I've only seen one vehicle, ... ever, that did not have this same thing happen when you change the oil filter. I thought this was "normal" until I changed the oil for the first time on my 6.1 Hemi powered Grand Cherokee. The oil filter on that Jeep is mounted sideways, and right above a plastic catch funnel piece that directs the oil into another plastic channel so that it comes out right in front of the front suspension a-arm mount. Just put your catch basin at the bottom of the plastic channel, and you don't spill one single drop of oil. When I saw that I was like, "oh my god, who thought this up"?

Don't feel too bad about the vertical mounted oil filter on your Ram / Hemi though. I owned a 2009 Ram with the Hemi last year, and at least the oil filter is smaller and there is less oil that isn't as black and filthy as the oil from my Ram / Cummins. It has an even bigger vertically mounted filter, so I can really make a big mess with that truck.

 

I put plastic bag over the suspension parts and rack boots.

 

hah...you obviously haven't changed the oil in a 4 banger cavalier...by the time you get the filter off your fingers are burnt from touching the exhaust manifold cuz the filter is tucked in tight to the manifold and only sticks out about a half inch from the manifold.

 

I'm glad I still have 9 free oil changes from the dealer.