Do It Yourself [DIY] Oil Change - Cummins Diesel 275 - Monaco Cayman

[bikeryder]

I’m looking for advice on performing  DIY oil change on 2003 Monaco Cayman - Cummins Diesel 275 HP. My concern is the oil filler w/cap is so high, straight up against the upper top side of engine enclosure.

Is there a special DIY hose kit, or some such thingy, which will enable a novice like myself to refill the Diesel engine oil without making a mess, spilling oil everywhere but where it belongs [in the oil fill pipe]?

It is the uppermost filler pipe w/cap[see pics]. Why are such things placed in the most inaccessible locations [rhetorical]?

Thanks in advance for any tips as I have never done this before.

Eddie

[desertdeals69]

The  filler pulls out about 3 inches which helps.  I use a funnel with a 1 foot hose on the end of it hook it to the louver on the door. 

[abyrd]

Not sure what kind of access from the bedroom,  but on my coach you just remove the floor hatch next to the bed and fill cap in the valve cover is right there.  I never have tried to use the on from the outside.

Jim

[bikeryder]

Thanks Jim, I’ll definitely check that floor access panel on Saturday morning. I just assumed that floor panel was for access to the Allison Transmission. I guess it’s true, what some say you become, whenever it is you ASSume. I appreciate very much the advice. 👍

Eddie

[bikeryder]

Desertdeals69, 

As far as I am aware, my fill tube is fixed [doesn’t pull up or out]. But I will look closer at this on Saturday morning.

Thanks, 👍

Eddie

[Lenp]

My ISL has the dip stick like yours but also has a fill point mounted on the side of the engine.

Lenp

[bikeryder]

Lenp,

Thanks for pointing that out. Saturday morning I will go exploring, searching for additional engine oil fill points.

Eddie

[wildebill308]

Just a caution when adding the oil, go slow because it has a long hose to drain down and it may need to burp some air. If the engine oil one will pull out a little it would be good. A funnel with a hose is what I use.

Bill

[manholt]

Eddie.

Look in your engine manual for how many quarts of oil your engine holds.  Don't go by the dip stick, unless it's been calibrated.  After you have changed the oil, pull the dip stick and check level.  If your above or below full mark, mark that spot so you can use it to check if your losing oil as you drive!

[jleamont]

Eddie, I have a similar situation as you, I fill from my valve cover not the gear housing fill, I've tried that and the oil goes in too fast and makes a mess. You can see from the photos where the gear housing fill is located. Also I use a 7 quart oil jug to fill ours, the down side is its weight, maybe prop it up on a ladder, unlock the lever to release the oil as it doesn't go in to fast for the main fill, but its to fast for the gear housing fill.

The gear housing fill is right next to the Hydraulic reservoir and under the V belt. 

[wildebill308]

You side radiator guys like to brag.

Bill

[hermanmullins]

"You side radiator guys like to brag."

Bill

And top of the coach air intake. 

How are you doing these days? Going to Perry?

 

Herman

 

[elkhartjim]

17 minutes ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

You side radiator guys like to brag.

Bill

Is it bragging or rubbing our noses in it, Bill? 

[wildebill308]

Won't be able to make Perry. Hope to be able to go some ware this summer.

Bill

[wildebill308]

19 minutes ago, elkhartjim said:

Is it bragging or rubbing our noses in it, Bill? 

You would think with that much access he would detail it a little better.

Bill

[jleamont]

45 minutes ago, WILDEBILL308 said:

You would think with that much access he would detail it a little better.

It usually is, that's the down side of a side radiator, its aggressive! A little dirt on the roadway looks like a crop duster just passed by   and the coach looks like its never been washed!

[wildebill308]

I did see a neat item on a coach. It had a built in pressure washer. So you could wash the coach any time it got dirty. OOPs for when you are changing your oil and have a spill. See I am still on subject.

Bill

[wildebill308]

20 hours ago, bikeryder said:

Desertdeals69, 

As far as I am aware, my fill tube is fixed [doesn’t pull up or out]. But I will look closer at this on Saturday morning.

Thanks, 👍

Eddie

I am wondering how hard it would be to re rout the dipstick tube. Maybe make it longer so it is easier to fill. You can always re calibrate the markings when you are done.

Bill

[bikeryder]

On 2/28/2018 at 4:13 AM, jleamont said:

"I fill from my valve cover not the gear housing fill"

"The gear housing fill is right next to the Hydraulic reservoir and under the V belt." 

jleamont, your gear housing fill point appears to be a "dream" for very easy access to fill the clean engine oil.

Saturday morning will become my day of Cummins engine exploration, hopefully ending with a discovery of a much better engine oil fill point on my Cayman's Cummins diesel.

[jleamont]

How about an offset funnel? Something like this;

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lisle-Right-Angle-Funnel-LIS17232/207003306?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|google|&mid=sBW7BiWnK|dc_mtid_8903tb925190_pcrid_195274179091_pkw__pmt__product_207003306_slid_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp-3R9ILM2QIVhkwNCh3V-whJEAQYAiABEgI48PD_BwE

It will take bit longer to get the oil in but you wont have to go hunting to find an alternative.

I don't use the gear housing fill point, they always back up quickly and overflow. I use that jug with the valve above a few posts, 7 quarts at a time with patience . They also make 12v oil pumps for boats, like this;

https://www.walmart.com/ip/ABN-12V-5A-60W-Fluid-Oil-Diesel-Extractor-Pump-w-Tubes-for-Truck-RV-Boat-ATV/118674412?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=550&adid=22222222227040562711&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=99650585314&wl4=pla-235727066914&wl5=1025392&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112354493&wl11=online&wl12=118674412&wl13=&veh=sem

Do yourself a favor, pull the dip stick out while filling it to allow the air to escape from the crankcase up the dipstick tube, otherwise you might get it to burp back at you, that's no fun!