Hey I;m 17 years old and bought a 98 Cavalier z24 last month and want to change the oil, I need to save some money so i'm doing it myself. this is my first car and first time changing oil.
I jacked up the car and I found the oil filter no problem (front of the engine) but I can't find the oil plug to drain. I read its a plug 15mm and there are a bunch this size underneath so im not sure which is I don't even know what an oil pan is so please help me out.
also, let me know if the stuff i bought is ok
i bought a motomaster filter and 4 bottles of quakerstate 5w30 oil.
Very bottom. It mightbe hiding under crap. Mine is shiney because meth-addled monkeys at the quikie lube always overtighen stuff and I messed it up trying to undo it.
my luck, someone will reply to you before i get done typing, but i'll do it anyways.
i've never heard of motomaster but its a filter thats newer than what you have, so it'll work. 4bottles of quakerstate 5w30 is good too.
i have pictures that i'll post in another reply so i can get this stuff out first. your drain plug is on the oil pan. you SHOUL have a black, flat tube going pretty much down the middle of the underside of your engine. if you follow that from the front of the car towards the rear, you'll go right past your drain plug. my pan (2002 2.4L) has like a criss cross pattern on it...that might help.
changing oil is easy. people who pay for it are suckers.
get a drain pan and put it under the drain plug. loosen the drain plug using a 15mm socket. let the oil drain until it stops. put the plug back in (i don't ever torque it, i just tighten until i can't tighten anymore). move the drain pan underneath the filter. it'll make a mess, and it can be tough to get off, but it comes off. once that stops dripping, get a few paper towels and wipe everything down. next fill the oil filter with oil just a little (i really mean just a little, its not necessary to fill more than 1/4 way). put a little oil on your finger and run it around the rubber ring of the filter (just something i've always done). put your filter on tightly (about as tight as it was when you took it off). next, pour one quart of oil into the motor through the oil cap on top of the engine. give it a minute a two and look under the car to check for leaks. if everything looks good, dump in the other 3 quarts and you're set.
some people, myself included, put a little more than 4 quarts (i put in 4 1/4) to account for the oil that was put in the filter. its not necessary though. drop the car onto a level surface and check the oil level.
good to go
GO PATS!!!
told you someone would reply before me...
colton's pic works but here's a few more in case you can't find it from that pic...
pics are probably huge, sorry, i don't have time to resize...they'll be good for detail.
and btw, thanks for making me realize how dirty the under side of my car is...now i have something to do this weekend
GO PATS!!!
i never used motomaster fliter before i always just uset to get the fram ones.... i finds its easyer to twist off :p but u should be good with that fliter....
Thanks guys, your too nice.
One problem is, the quick lube place put the drain plug too tight :|
those bastards, im gonna tell them to just loosen it and thats it, last time i take it in for that
thanks again
special thanks to redneck, those pics showed exactly
Hey Tyler.....take a ratchet and use a bar on the end of it....gives you alot more leverage on the bolt.
that or use a hammer and just hit the end of the wrench/ratchet a few times...it'll loosen.
GO PATS!!!
