So I decided prices of oil changes on my car (2005 sunfire) were a bit odd, so I decided last time I'd look at the recipt a bit closer. When I did I found "Special Oil Filter: $15 fee" on my recipt below the labor fee. Since I'm not gullible I decided its a good time to start changing my own oil again (I work on computers for a living, every bit of exersize helps!) and save some "special cash".
Heres the problem: I haven't changed my oil since my 1995 dodge neon (I called it "fun" but my fiance calls it "that death trap you drove") was traded in for this car, and I cant find the oil filter or the oil pan on this new car. I tried to find a Haynes book for the car, but no luck. Also after searching online I can't figure out if there is any difference between my 2005 and the 2001-2004 models that people talk about all the time online.
Any help on both or either question would be much appreciated. Also, so you know I did use the search feature for the site, but people were speaking of 98 cavaliers and such, no luck on a make / model that fit my problem.
oh, and i've already bought the oil and the filter ($12 for it all!) and have the car up on ramps instead of jacks / jackstands ( for everything I need to change it myself the cost was ~$50, $10 more than to have someone else do it, but all of it is re-usable, ended up saving about $34)
So, after an hour of searching I finally found them both. Still no clue on why the 2005 is isolated from the 00-04 models though.
The pan is on the bottom of the engine. The plug is on the side toward the rear of the car. 15mm bolt. The filter is on the front, about 8" down on the driver's side of the engine. You'll see a 5 sided "cap" that goes over the filter.
The eco's filter is not like a traditional filter, which is why they charged you extra. It actually costs less to produce, and it better for the environment. But it's new and different so they get away with charging more.
I believe youll need a 32mm socket to get the filter out. I think thats what i use on my 06 HHR 2.2 eco.
At the moment I'm sitting at 24,300-ish miles (give or take ~50). This time I went a little over 3k but I've been puting more highway on it lately than usual so I don't think it did any real damage (not like I went 2k over or anything).
Thanks for the advice on the socket for the filter. I ended up buying a 1/2" socket extention (6 inch length) so I could just use the 32mm socket that I already have. Besides, I could always use an extender
I ended up having to actually put an extra extention on my 15mm as well to get my drain plug loose as well. I'm not sure what the shop I was going to used on it, but it had to be numatic or something because it was on exessively tight, I was afraid I was going to torque the head off the bolt! The same goes for my filter cap. I considered at the beginning just paying the money, but after seeing how they were puting my car back together I'm going to do it myself from now on simply to keep my car safe. I don't like other people mucking about with my car as is, and that didn't help any.
Not sure where you took it, but a lot of the quicky oil change places you go are not to be trusted. Just search Jiffy-lube on google.
FYI, I think you mean pneumatic. If they did do that, they should be shot. Keep in mind the drain plug will sorta tighten with time because of the heating and expansion and stuff. I usually finger tighten it, and snug it with a ratchet...no more.
"The Blue Bullet"
Yeah that drain plug always gets tighter. I do finger tight, plus 3/8 of a turn with a wrench. Never lost a plug yet, and it's always tighter when I take it off. That filter cap is plastic, it should be tight enough that it doesn't leak and isn't going anywhere.... I don't take any of my cars in any more for the same reasons. Search for Jiffy-Lube on youtube.com. Scary.
I do it to tight then tap the end of the wrench 2x with my palm, not hard, but just to snug it.
Also don't wrench down on the filter either, once its tight its good. I do the same as you 6" extension with 1/2" 32mm socket works great!
-Chris
