First oil change tonight...WHY GM, WHY???

[CMNTMXR81]

WHY on all V8 powered, 4x4 GM full size trucks does GM insist on putting the oil filter at the back, driver's side of the engine...Just above the U-joint on the front driveshaft and RIGHT next to the flange between the header and the Y-Pipe????

 

WHY???  This is such a PITA!!!  The Tahoe is like this and now this truck is like this.  The one benefit in the Tahoe (even though the area to do it in is even tighter) is that the filter is on an angle and therefore drains once loosened.

 

Couldn't they make it a remote filter like the 4.3's?

[raventai]

my guess for the location for the filter is because the oil pump on chevys is directy below the distributer (common shatf) or where yours would be if it had one, the back of the motor it is the same on the small block chevy sience a far back a I know (this is my first big block so I have little acual knolege here)

 

remote would be sweet but costs $ if GM can save $10 on every truck x a bunch of trucks = a lot of money  

 

unfortunatly if u want to install a remote oil filter it will caost  lot more than $10

[CMNTMXR81]

Yea, I know, I just got so used to the remote filter on all my 4.3's that I didn't have to worry about getting it all over everything....until I got the Tahoe and now this one.

[Pantera]

Hey there!  

 

The filter has always been located there since the early 90's.  Small blocks RULE!!!!  Hope your punching a small hole in the bottom of your filter before draining it.  This help in realeaving the oil that will leak all over you and the floor when changing the filter.  Do the filter first then the crankcase (not punch a hole in the crankcase) drain the crankcase.  On the refill do Royal Purple 10W-30 and save yourself several thousand miles of repair cost and enjoy the extra gas milage you will definitely get.  Engine runs cooler with it too!

 

Good luck and try not to complain.  Rather push a Chevy than drive a FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Pantera

[FIRECAT]

CMNTMXR81,

I know this is off topic, but have you had any problems with the transmission on your Tahoe??  I had the same truck til the tranny blew at 40,000 miles.  After that it wasn't right so I got rid of it.  Just curious that's all.  Really miss that truck.

[CMNTMXR81]

Quote from Pantera, posted on Oct. 27 2001,10:09

Hey there!  

 

The filter has always been located there since the early 90's.  Small blocks RULE!!!!  Hope your punching a small hole in the bottom of your filter before draining it.  This help in realeaving the oil that will leak all over you and the floor when changing the filter.  Do the filter first then the crankcase (not punch a hole in the crankcase) drain the crankcase.  On the refill do Royal Purple 10W-30 and save yourself several thousand miles of repair cost and enjoy the extra gas milage you will definitely get.  Engine runs cooler with it too!

 

Good luck and try not to complain.  Rather push a Chevy than drive a FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Pantera

 

Yea, I see that.  Most Inconvenient!

 

However, I won't be using Royal Purple.  It is best to break a new motor in with Dino oil, in which case I use Valvoline and then betwen 6,000 and 10,000 miles I'll switch to Mobil1.

 

This is what I did on my LS1 and when I pulled it at 8,000 miles to be built, the engine builder was shocked to know that I had 8k on the clock as it looked so perfect.  

[CMNTMXR81]

Firecat, no transmission problems to speak of, front suspension is another story.  

 

Keep in mind though, mine is just about to hit the 55k mark.

[FIRECAT]

Take it from someone who experienced it firsthand, make sure you service that tranny more often that what GM recommends.  Mine went big-time with no warning and about 10k miles before the scheduled service.  Not to mention that I got stuck paying for some of it b/c it was over the 36,000 miles.  Never had a problem with the suspension - go figure!

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

[CMNTMXR81]

Since I tow often I make it a point to change my fluid more often than most and I know I've done it on that one at least twice.  

 

But for some reason, I had to pretty much rebuild the entire front suspension as it had all worn out.  It was so bad that in order to keep the truck straight on the road, I had the wheel turned to dang near the 2 O' Clock position.

[Heavy Cruiser]

Oil filter has always been in the same location since '55, regardless of CID.

 

Earlier years, 55-67, it was an oil cannister, remove a cannister, pull out the oil filter element, replace with clean element, replace square sealing ring in block, re-install cannister.

 

Very messy, to say the least.

:notice:

[TxDoc]

Two things that my or may not help your situation.

1.On my 350, you literally had to remove the front driveshaft to remove the filter. I added an angled adapter and that made it much easier.

2.Just for draining the oil in a controlled manner, the Fumoto valve is nice. You can get one configuration that will accept a hose to drain it to a can or bottle. http://www.lubespecialist.com/fumoto/main.htm

Hope that helps.

[CMNTMXR81]

I really don't have an access problem on either the 350 or the 496, it's more a mess situation.  

 

Thx TxDoc, I will check that out.

[Z71Adrenaline]

i have a little secret for ya'll...take it down to the wal-mart and let them worry about getting to the drain holes!!!  

[hdmax]

Does the new style GM`s still use the itty bitty oil filter on the 4x4`s? That is one of the most stupid designs GM engineers ever came up with ???

[Quaaluder]

Yeah, I had to check the book 4 times at Autozone before actually buying the filter since the recommended one was like 3" x 3"!!   Hell, I had a little Alfa Romeo one time with a 2.0 Liter 4 cylinder engine---held 8 quarts of oil and the filter was 3 times the size of the one on the truck.  GM needs to understand that OIL IS GOOD, OIL IS GOOOOOOOOOD, and FILTERING AND COOLING IT IS REAL GOOD!

 

 

Ben

 

'02 2500HD 6.0 Ext. Cab LWB 4x4 4.10 Lock Diff. Victory Red

'02 2500HD 6.0 Ext. Cab LWB 4x4 4.10 Lock Diff. Indigo Blue