How hard is it to do an oil change on this car?
 

I know it's probably a dumb question, but I've been driving Escorts since Jan 1985, and this is my first non-Escort oil change since then. Escorts ar a pain to do it, and I have a special oil filter clamp I use to get the old one off, mostly becuase the filter is so hard to get to.

How hard is it to get the oil filter? (acessibility concerns).
What side of the car do I go under to get to the filter the easiest (so I know what side of the street to park on tonight).
Do I need another clamp for the new filter?

Specifically I used something that looks like this (sometimes) to install an oil filter on my Escort:


And I always use something like this one to remove an oil filter on my Escort (crushes the oil filter, but always removes it just fine):




What will I need for the Alero?

what engine do u have?

I would assume he has the 3400 since he has posted in the 3400 specific section.

Just pop out the plastic shroud under the front of the car, reach up and grab the filter. You may want to have a small funnel or something to catch the oil when you pop the filter off, otherwise it might get messy. Not really hard to get to, I don't use any special tools.

HAHAH good call on 3400. I do not even take off the shroud. It's a ten to fifteen minute job.

Yes, it's the 3400, hence the positng in this fourm. I was wondering about the cleareance/accessability around the filter itself WRT using tools to get it off since if it's like my Escort, where tools are necessary. From what you have said it seems to be easily accessible one a shroud is removed. That assuming some oil change place moron hasn't already thrown it out (they are famous for that).

I know it's basically a stupid question, but I'm accustomed to doing a hard to do oil change, OK.

That and the Alero is my backup car, and I happen to be driving it for a reason. I don't want to take any chances of getting started with the job and not having everything I need.

New filter, Bucket, Oil, and something to run through the crankcase before you change the oil would be my suggestion.

then it's way to go.

put her up on a set of ramps or some jack stands.

On the 3400 I can reach the filter from the top of the car if the engine is not too hot. The filter is directly below the front exhaust manifold.

Here's my oil change route:

I pull out the ramps and drive the car up on the ramps. I undo the 2 wingnuts holding on the winddeflector on the bottom. Use a 15mm closed wrench (or is it 14mm? The wife's car is one and the Alero is the other. I'm pretty sure it's a 15mm, most GM cars since at least 1985 are ;) ) DO NOT USE A SOCKET!!!

Turn to the pass side, same with the oil filter which is on the front of the motor (ACDelco PF-47 or similar)

I think you know the rest of the drill since you've changed oil before ;)

I do use a pair of oil filter pilers. That cap thingy you have don't work too well IMO, plus the pilers can be used on many sizes of oil filter. The pair I have fits the tiny filter on her Altima (1.5 inches) and the huge ass filter on the Delta (almost 3 inches {PF-24 if anybody wants to know}) One twist, and off it comes. I've used those straps, they are hard to get up there on the 3400

whats wrong with using a socket?

i was wondering the same thing, you can get same amount of torque with a wrench or socket. and you only need either for primary loosening of the drain plug and then snuging back up. and yes its a 15mm.

Now that I've done it, yes it was really easy. For comparison purposes, on my Escort, the oil filter is in the back of the engine, between the engine back and the firewall, about half way up. And on my Escort, I can not use a ratchet on the drain plug, there is no cleareance for it. Speaking of which, while I didn't have an Escort oil filter handy, I'm reasonably sure that an oil filter for a 1995 Ford Escort with a 1.9L engine will work on this car. It's the same diameter and everything, just longer. I can't attest to the threads, but they did look the same in thre store. I do wonder about the thing in the back of the A/C compressor if it might be to close or something if one used a longer fliter.

And I used a 13mm ratchet and you can do this by getting under the front of the car. Once you remove the splash shield (or whater it's called) everything is right there. Resetting the dash light took maybe an extra minute, but only because I had to lookup how to do it.

I've only used the cap thing to install it on my Escort since it's in such a hard to reach location. As it turns out, I didn't use either one, but the ones that I had were already the right size.

I love changing my oil, I do the same as Redog except the ramp part :p

OK Forklifts work too. :haha:

I found that using a socket if the car is only supported by ramps or jackstands will put the torque in the wrong spot and could snap the plug head off.

If the car's on a lift and you can stand behind it, sockets work fine ;) It's just the angle of the plug

I have never heard of this happening before, ever.