500 Hour Service Interval Guide for a John Deere 17G Excavator – Part 2

Written by Luis Montes Updated On November 16, 2024

In the last post, we changed the hydraulic oil filter and the pilot filter.

You’ll learn to replace the engine oil and filter in part 2 of the John Deere 17G 500-hour service interval tasks series.

We also have a video version on the Fortis HD YouTube channel. Check it out.

Need to save time? The following table shows every filter you need for the complete 500-hour service interval:

Drain the Engine Oil

We recommend sampling your engine oil at every service. Refer to the operator manual for more information.

Before draining the oil, running the machine for a few minutes is good practice to warm the engine. The contaminants will mix with the oil and come out when draining it.

Have a drain pan ready to catch the oil. You can access the drain plug underneath the 17G without removing a belly pan.

Using a ratchet with a 17mm socket, turn the drain plug clockwise to loosen it and remove it with your hand.

If you lift the dipstick slightly, air will come into the crankcase, and the oil will drain faster. The dipstick is in the backside compartment.

Clean the drain plug. Check the seal and replace it if needed. Don’t overtighten the plug, or you’ll strip the thread and won’t be able to take out the plug. Once the seal washer contacts, tight the plug and give it another 1/4″ turn.

Wipe the plug off so you can tell later on if it leaks.

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Remove the Engine Oil Filter

Leave the drain pan in place because the oil will drain when you remove the filter.

The engine oil filter is in the backside compartment beside the dipstick. Using a filter wrench, loosen the filter by turning it counterclockwise and remove it by hand.

Instead of a filter wrench, you can use a Channellock, too.

To drain the oil completely from the filter and dispose of it correctly, you can put it upside down on a mesh screen on top of the drain pan.

Install the New Engine Oil Filter

Check that the new filter matches the old one by comparing the part number, the seal, and the threaded hole size.

Lubricate the seal with fresh oil.

Wipe the oil from the sealing surface using a clean cloth.

Install the new filter, tightening it by hand as much as possible.

Fill Up the Engine Oil

Use a pouring jug to make this step easier because the fill is on an angle. Ensure the inside of the jug is clean.

The John Deere 17G Excavator takes 3.1 liters of oil. We recommend using Tekamo 15W40 premium heavy-duty engine oil (Refer to your 17G owner’s manual or check our reference guide).

Check the dipstick when pouring the oil in to avoid overfilling the engine.

Due to a lack of space, small models like the 17G may find it hard to fill the engine oil using a jug or funnel. In that case, get the engine air filters out of the way.

Get the oil level to the top mark. Put the dipstick and cap back on. Also, reinstall the engine air filters if you took them out.

Start the machine for 10 seconds to pump oil through it and fill the filter. Shut it down and wait another 10 seconds to let the oil drain back to the bottom. Recheck the level to get an accurate reading, and top off if necessary.

Next Post

In the next post, we’ll change the engine air filters of the John Deere 17G Mini Excavator.

If you don’t have the time to do the service yourself or want to get on a preventative maintenance program for your John Deere 17G, reach out to Tekamo HD to set you up with a heavy-duty mechanic.