OT?-truck maint

[RobertProv]

We have three Ford Powerstrokes, two '07's, 6.0 and a 7.3 all have been extremely reliable but in all honesty I am convinced that either the Cummins or Duramax are 'better' engines.

Oil changes are done by us, every 4k using full synthetic and this also has served us very very well, the reports consistently come back with extremely low wear metals-very very low wear metals.

Went to a local dealer yesterday to get a few filters, when I asked for a dozen drain plug gaskets I was told by the parts manager that they don't have any as it isn't a part normally stocked :dizzy:

Can you reuse a copper NON crush sealing ring, sure, but for how many times and especially when you have some gorilla doing the work that does not use a torque wrench...

Ford dealers charge about $130 for a synthetic oil change-and this moron won't use a new ring---:walking:

[ALC-GregH]

You can reuse the copper ring gaskets more then just a few times. Chances are they never need to replace them because they are not leaking. I've NEVER torqued a oil drain plug in my life. 30 years servicing automobiles and not once. I did however rip my forearm wide open trying to loosen a drain plug once. Needed 20+ stitches to close it back up. I literally was laying on the ground with my foot braced on the frame and pulling with both hands on a breaker bar, then just like that, the plug came loose, I went flying back and my arm caught the front license plate and peel my arm open like a can of sardines!

[Gravel Rat]

I started buying Fumoto valves and never looked back it make take a little longer to drain but no worries about leaking plug washer no worries about stripped threads. You can do a hot drain and no burned fingers. Put the catch pan under the engine open the valve and let it drain.

No mess no trying to fish the plug out of the oil and no scaled hands and no banged up body from pulling on the wrench trying to get the plug out.

[RobertProv]

ALC, I agree that the gaskets CAN be reused but at what the dealers charge the question becomes -should- they be reused?, I figure it cost the dealer about .50. As for using a torque wrench I have pretty much always use them, just me I guess.

Gravel, the Fumoto valves have their place but there are also apps that are not suitable,in the case of the powerstroke I found that the threads on the valve were quite a bit shorter than the oem plug and I little confidence in the valve staying put, also on a few applications we found that the valve protrudes a bit into the pan creating an oil dam.

But when the situation is right, there is nothing like a Fumolto.

[Gravel Rat]

The fumoto that was in my 95 PSD was in the pan for 3 years never moved a inch. The one in my current 6.0 hasn't moved either its been there for 2.5 years.

I will keep using the Fumoto I'am sold on them I have had too many cases of stripped pan plugs or plugs leaking or falling out.

Put the Fumoto in and never worry about it again.

[RobertProv]

You will never strip a plug using a torque wrench either.

[Gravel Rat]

You can't torque a pan plug with a torque wrench and expect it to be tight. If your using a regular plug you gotta use the copper washer those nylon washers crack you don't know it then it works its way out now you have a loose plug.

If you buy a used vehical you don't know what the previous owner did. Those quick lube places use a impact wrench to tighten the plugs that just pulls the threads out of the pan.

I used to do oil changes on pickup trucks to class 8 trucks I never used a torque wrench.

[RobertProv]

If you torque to specs and have a leak you have a problem and the problem was caused by someone who did NOT use a torque wrench.

People use whatever they are comfortable with some of my favorites are the squeak method, the side movement method and the quarter turn method-32 ft lbs is really not a lot of force and it takes a surpising LACK of effort to remove the plug after it has been properly tightened, just a firm hit with your palm; which is another great topic in itself.

Inch pounds in the air and ft pounds on the ground, can't quite figure that out.