Oil Drain Plug Location - 1996 Trooper

Climb under and take a look...should be pretty obvious...look for the rounded hanging part in the middle and you'll see the plug to the left or right side of it. I can't remember 100% exactly what it looks like, but you can't miss it.

I've got close to 150k on our 94 Trooper...thought about switching to synthetic, but still nervous to try doing so at high mileage. And then lately it seems to be drinking more oil than ever...don't like that thought... But, I guess if it drinks enough, I can skip oil changes and just change out the filter every so often. ;-)

Wesley

I changed the oil in our 94 today... Climb under and you'll see a low-hanging rounded-off box unit...about 4-5 inches front to back, and 8-10 side to side. The oil plug is the big one to the left and pointing down on that unit as you look from the front laying on your belly.

There's also a skid plate under the oil filter that comes off easily with 2 bolts that makes changing the filter much easier!

And don't forget, it's a 6-quart oil change (unless they changed something from 94 to 96 in the 3.2 v6).

Wesley

Our 94 Trooper is flipping out...check trans light coming on, etc...recalled that being caused by a faulty alternator. Did some digging in the archives, sure enough it is. Since then I've noticed it several times jumping up close to 16v on the gauge (and all lights getting very bright at night). So...it's waiting to go to the shop for an alternator.

The other problem that has cropped up since this started, and I'm not sure if it's related or a coincidence, is that the hi-beam headlights won't work. Lo-beam is fine, but when you switch to high, they just turn off. Marker and cornering lights stay on just fine. I checked fuses and swapped around the only possibly suspect-looking relay, but no go. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Wesley

Thanks Wesley. I peeked under and I see it. Thanks for the tip on the oil filter skid plate. I'm going to do the oil changes from here on out. I'd like to use something other than the standard dino oil that the quick change places offer. If you ask for a blend, or high mileage oil, that's there cue to really jack up the prices.

Probably Mobil 1 High Mileage with some syn tossed in for extra cleaning. I have a few leaks and going all syn may make that worse - quicker than I want to be replacing the seals...

Thx again.

Wesley wrote:

You're welcome! I've been debating changing our 94 over to synthetic...but at 142k I'm reluctant... Just put in another dose of Havoline 10w30. I changed over our 2002 Trooper to Mobil 1 10w30 synthetic at around 24k...got right at 30k on it now.

If you haven't learned by now, you'll quickly learn that the Isuzu 3.2 v6 will use oil. That's just the way it is... I would wonder too if it might increase oil consumption. Synthetic would probably help that tick the 3.2's are famous for... I've heard the 3.5 use oil too, but oil usage on our 2002 has been very random...won't use any for a while, then the next thing you know, it's eaten a 1/2 quart. Not a sure bet like the 94/3.2 is. But...I digress...

Wesley

check that the power steering pump is not leaking fluid onto/into the alternator. sometimes the roller goes bad causing a leak from the pump. if the alternator has any oil inside it can be cleaned and dryed out but if you don't know how-to, it will likely cause a failed alternator.

As a followup - turns out both headlight bulbs were blown. Apparently this happens more than you'd think; the repair place wasn't too surprised. They checked for and couldn't find a leak in the power steering pump, so it's waiting for an alternator now.

Wesley

etc...recalled