Changing oil
 

Im about to change my oil for the first time and want to know if there was a special tool needed for the oil filter. ive read some places that the 2.2 eco oil filter is under the hood, not under the car. and you need a really big socket wrench for it

Not to sure on that. but your supposed to put oil filters on hand tight. So if you can reach your hand to it in sure its not hard to twist off with your hand.

its a 32mm socket i believe. and thats all you need. socket, 6" extension, and a ratchet. the drain plug is a 15mm socket. it easy to get to and change

and yes, its under the hood. not hard to see

its 32mm. pepboys sells a shallow socket for it. or u can get one of these which i always preferred using

go to crappy tire or auto zone or something, the 32mm ( or napa thats where mine is from ) and its about $12 for the tool

this and hand tighten the filter. Also, take a little bit of oil and lubricate the seal and the filter before tightening it on.

why cant this damn alero be like every other car. its rediculous how difficult this car is. its always different from the rest. just another reason i prefer japanese cars over american, because their so much simpler

ya also make sure if the gasket on the old filter came off. because if it does not come off and then u have a double gasket and then all of the oil will leak out.

I would much rather work on an american car over a Japanese car any day?

I have owned chevy trucks, a jeep grand cherokee, ford truck, toyota truck, mazda cars, etc. Out of every vehicle I have ever worked on this car has been by far the easiest and most simple. Apart from maybe the Chevy Half ton with a 350 in it. I could literally crawl into the engine bay and shut the hood with everything still in place. I'm 6'1". every honda I have worked on has been the most difficult, pain in the ass job ever.

well not all cars are easy my moms Honda crv needs a special tool to change the filter. it is not that hard after you have done it once. you find ways to make it easier. actually the new Japanese cars are hard to work on i should know i work for a Subaru and Mitsubishi dealership. but i like working in Japanese engines and cars any day. i mean i know more about a subaru engine than my own cars engine.

really i can have an honda engine taken apart and put back together in 2 hours. it takes me 4 hours to just take apart the 3400 engine.also i rather work with metric tools than having to work with both metric and standard like most american cars are.

So you think all American cars are easy to change the oil on?

late 90's Windstar requires a piece of cardboard against the block under the oil filter to whatever your draining the oil into because the oil filter is located right above the 1200* cat.

My mom's 01 Cavy (LN4) sure the oil plug is easy to get to but the filter is on the side by the firewall. I usually grab it from the top, and I've gotten pretty good at it now that I don't lose any oil out of the filter when I remove it, unlike the Alero

well every car manufacture has some cars that are easy to change the oil filter and some are hard. i think the 3400 engine is easier than the eco and the 2.4. just from my experience when i changed my buddies 2.4l alero's oil.

Someone call a waaaaaaambulance : P

compared to actually having to spin off a canister filter the eco oil filter i loved no mess just pop off the cap and pull out the little aquarium looking filter. it was cake. no mess

no cake. no mess. just a $12 32mm socket :lol:

to bad you did not change your oil when i was back home i would just let you borrow the 32mm socket i have. it is a snap on socket so it will not break.

No what Im saying is in my general experience American cars are much easier to work on. Not saying this is a fact for all people or all vehicles. Just my personal experience

I guess some people have never seen the oil filter on the Ecotec before...



The filter itself comes out of the black cap.

oh just like a jetta ok. i did not know that u had to just replace the filter not the whole thing the jetta was the only car i knew that had that till now,