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- With the car mildly warm (2-3 minutes run time) park the vehicle on
a level surface. Lift the hood, place the fender
covers to protect your paint, and do a preliminary
check of your oil level so that you can be alerted
of any problems there may be. Remove the oil cap to allow the oil to drain more easily, and place the cap on the fender cover
as not to forget it when you are finished.
- Safely lift and secure your vehicle with the jack stands.
- Using the creeper/blanket, slide under the car with the 15mm wrench,
filter pliers and the drain pan within easy reach.
- After looking for any leaks, loosen the drain plug by quickly
rapping the wrench with the palm of your hand in
a counter clockwise direction. Pulling on the
wrench could cause the drain plug to be rounded, where a quick rap is
less likely to cause any damage.
- After allowing the oil to drain to a mere trickle, replace the drain
plug hand tight.
- Move the oil drain pan to beneath the filter. On the 2.4L engines,
the filter is located in front of the engine.
- Loosen the oil filter using either the filter pliers, or if you ate
your Wheaties this morning, using only your
hands. Allow the oil filter to drain into the pain
for a bit before completely removing the filter. This will minimize
spilling that you will have to clean up later, and have smelling up
your car as it burns off.
- After the oil filter nearly stops draining, remove it, and wipe down
the filter mounting surface to see that the old
gasket and any debris is not left on the mounting
plate.
- After putting a bit of clean oil around the new
filter's gasket (to aid removal next time), snug up the oil filter and
wipe off any old oil.
- Reposition the drain pan to below the drain plug, remove it, and
allow the remainder of the oil, if any, to
drain.
- Install and tighten drain plug, wipe off any oil that may be left
around anywhere.
- If your vehicle is equipped with a 5 speed transmission, this is a
prime time to check your transmission fluid. The
dipstick should be fairly easy to find on the back
of the transaxle, and it will have cross hatching on the dipstick
to show the correct level. If the transmission is low, the ONLY fluid
that should be used in a GM J-Body transmission is GM Synchromesh.
- Put in 4 quarts of oil, replace the oil cap, and start the car.
- Once the car is started, wait for the oil pressure light to go out,
and check underneath for any leaks. If no leaks
are detected, remove creeper/blanket, drain pan,
and any tools remaining under the vehicle.
- Remove the jack stands, and lower the vehicle. Check other fluids
(power steering, washer fluid, transmission (if
automatic), coolant, and brake fluid).
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