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Changing Oil Dakota

I own a 1999 Dodge Dakota 4x4 with the 5.2 Liter V-8 engine. I have not changed the oil myself yet on this truck and I would like to do it. If I remember correctly when I first bought the truck five years ago I put it up on ramps and checked out how difficult a job it would be to change the filter and oil. If I remember correctly it looked difficult due to the location and accessibility of the oil filter and the fact that there was a protective steel plate installed to protect the oil pan from rocks and so forth. It also appeared that if I placed the truck on ramps the oil would run down from the drain plug on to the protective plate. I think I can possibly remove the oil filter by turning the front wheels as I can see the oil filter on the passenger side. There isn't too much clearance to reach into the wheel well and remove the filter. Any information would be appreciated. I used to change all my own oil and filters for many years and I still do on the Camry we own which is very easy to do. This is my first post on this NG and I hope I am doing it correctly.l

Reply to
Jake
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Yes, doing it with the front end on ramps is almost guaranteed to cause a mess. Even with the truck level, you'll probably make a mess. A funnel helps, but not a hole lot. To completely prevent a spill, remove the skid plate.

Get one of these

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Reply to
.boB

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Got a 98 Dakota with the 3.9L. The oil filter is in a very hard to get location. When I change the oil filter i have to get in a position where i get one hand on it and can get a good grip to turn it and pray that it turns. Theres no easy way to do it that i know of. When i drain the oil I do it level on the ground and it don't make a to big of a mess, but i don't know exactly how different the 3.9 is form the

5.2L. Good luck! Brian

98 Dakota 3.9L

92 Ram 150 5.2L 93 Ram 350 CTD
Reply to
Diesel Head

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Thanks Brian and Bob for the input. I am going to put the Dakota up on the ramps and see if I can remove the skid plate. I do zero off road driving and it shouldn't be a problem. I also will take a look before I remove the skid plate at the location of the drain plug and I will also consider using the Fram drain unit if I can install it without removing the skid plate. I checked and found that the drain plug is 1/2-20 and hopfully I will be able to pick up the Fram adapter unit locally if I decide to use it. I will also check out the location of the oil filter and determine the feasibility of removing it. When all is said and done I just might take the truck down to my service guy to change the oil and install a new filter like I have done in the past.

Reply to
Jake

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