Need help changing oil on DT 466

josetann · 05-22-2009, 04:59 PM

Ok, I'm trying to prep our RV for a 5,000+ mile one-way trip. After a few trips to the store to get supplies, I've gotten the oil drained out of the engine and the generator (actually the generator is draining at a trickle, so it may be tomorrow before it's done). Went to remove the oil filter on the engine and...no idea what to do. The filter is completely round/smooth, there's nowhere for an oil wrench to grab onto (plus the filter is so huge, the oil wrench I have won't even fit).

Not a problem I thought. I had quite an adventure changing a spin-on fuel filter on my 85 Mercedes diesel car. Turned out you were supposed to take a bolt off from the top, NOT break numerous filter wrenches, punch a hole in the filter with a screwdriver to get more leverage, etc. So I started to clean all around the top assembly that the filter goes into. Then a plastic piece breaks off in my hand. I decided to stop, get some pics, and post here before proceeding any further.

Ok, the plastic piece that broke off was extremely brittle, and really doesn't seem to do anything. Here's a picture where you can see where the end broke off (it's the small piece on the right side that's been cleaned off; there's one on the other side that's still crusted in gunk).

Help?

josetann · 05-22-2009, 06:59 PM

Just to clarify a couple quick things.

This is a bus, I'm just used to calling it an RV. Specifically it's a 1995 International 3800 (that's what's on the title).

The two main questions are: 1). Does the filter simply spin off, or do I have to remove something else to get it off (if it spins off, I guess I'll try to find a really big strap wrench)? 2). The piece that broke off, is it vital? Did I screw everything up? Do I just leave it alone because it goes nowhere? Put some plastic weld glue in there to seal it off?

That's all for now, thanks!

paul iossi · 05-22-2009, 08:01 PM

it's a regular spin on filter, get a strap wrench and wrap it around the filter at the very bottom so that the bottom of the filter helps to keep you from crushing the can and making life more difficult, next oil/filter change break the filter loose before you drain the oil, if it's stuck breaking the filter loose with the engine running helps, the oil pressure helps ot get the filter and gasket moving. WARNING ONLY BREAK THE FILTER LOOSE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, DO NOT SPIN OT OFF UNTIL THE ENGINE IS OFF! be prepaired to catch the filter with an empty bucket it holds about a gallon of oil and is hard to hang ontowhen it's covered with oil.
lube the gasket on the new filter with a little oil and spin it on, half a turn past gasket contact should be tight enuf.
if you want to prime the filter, use a small screwdriver in the row of holes around the center return hole to open the check valve and fill the filter thru the row of holes around the return hole.

josetann · 05-22-2009, 10:10 PM

Ok, so it is supposed to just spin off. I just don't assume anymore, after the fiasco with that one spin-on filter (which didn't spin).

So...the piece that broke off...important? Not important? No one knows what it does?

lapeer20m · 05-23-2009, 09:18 AM

you need a filter wrench that looks like this

sometimes i've been able to get a big enough pipe wrench on the filter as well....but the strap wrench is only a few dollars.

josetann · 05-23-2009, 01:27 PM

Here's the broken piece circled so everyone knows what I'm talking about:

josetann · 05-23-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyaustintx

Start it up and rev it for a while and see if there are any leaks if not don't worry but run it a while to be sure.

If worse comes to worse that's what I'll end up doing. But if I screwed up something major, I need to go ahead and get it fixed now before we head out. Either fix it myself, get someone to come out to fix it, or have it towed somewhere to be fixed. I have about a week to get it ready, then it's going to be go-go-go to Alaska (with a stopover back home, but no time to work on the RV).

wmah · 05-23-2009, 09:22 PM

I have used a big Channel lock pliers when a strap type wrench doesn't take them filters off.

nearhomeless · 05-24-2009, 02:13 AM

Try sandpaper... get some rough grit and doulbe it back so sand is on both sides then wrap it around the filter, and then the wrench around it. This helps prevent the wrench from slipping around the greasy filter giving it bite. If it works you owe me a cookie.

josetann · 05-29-2009, 06:20 PM

Couldn't find a strap wrench that I wanted, but found one that's just a piece of nylon on a metal tube which connects to a ratchet. Barely fit, and even though it started to crush the filter, it did finally get it off. A little oil came out (enough to make things messy), but I was able to lower the filter without spilling it. While walking back with the new one, I heard it fall over. Doh! Needless to say I was covered in oil after putting the new one back on (and yes, I did fill it up with oil first). Started it up, and no leaks. Still wish I knew what that tube that broke was for.

Of course I did make one other big mistake. I started to top off the oil in the generator using the old oil, which had some water mixed in (had to leave it draining overnight and it rained in the drain pan some). Since it wasn't much, I'm thinking of just draining a bit out in the morning once everything's settled. I figure since oil floats, the water will be at the bottom next to the drain. Does this sound like a plan, or should I just drain out the $20 worth of oil I poured in and try again?

Thanks again.

the_experience03 · 05-29-2009, 07:41 PM

That piece that broke off looks like it could be a capillary line (or capped off capillary line) for an oil pressure gauge. Just an idea. When you fire it up make sure it's not squirting out of there anyway.

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