Anyone have a decent shot of where the oil plug is? I looked at the ones in the DIY post but they're not very good. I'm planning on changing my oil tonight for the first time and just want to be sure i can find the dang thing.

Thanks,
BlackNoir

It might be hard to tell from pictures where things are located because photos don't always show a wide field of view.

For the engine oil drain plug, look under the car from behind the front passenger side wheel. It's on the side of the oil pan.

Is this it?

http://home.comcast.net/~gamerscloset/OilPlug.jpg

Well you circled about three bolts there. It's the black one your circled.

Yes......sure you want to change your own oil? ;)

ah man, cut me some slack here.. at least I'm trying.. :)

Come on...you gotta admit the dig was just there for the taking :D:

ah man, cut me some slack here.. at least I'm trying.. :)

new stuff goes in at the top - but put the plug back in first eh !
he he

actually, before you even remove the oil, you want to "try" and get the OEM filter off first.

Nothing sucks like an engine with no oil in it and no way to change the filter.

kudo's for willing to start man---its a learning curve and we all have been there.
Remember dont tighten the dang drain pug to tight when you reinstall. Put rags under your filter to catch the oil that will drain out when you get it loose. Dont pour the oil in too fast and use a long neck funnel to pour it in with. the oil can back up while poring and some dont notice that it can run down the little vacuum tube to the intake=not good.
olddragger

oh by the way he can post a picture on the forum and i still havent firgued out how.
olddragger

Make sure you check the oil filter to see if you can loosen it before doing anything, I had to tow my car to the dealer because I couldn't get the oil filter loose. I shoved a screw driver through it to try to twist it off and it still wouldn't come loose.

i think the best way to get at it is from underneath with a long arm, thin fingers and a lift :)

Is this it?

http://home.comcast.net/~gamerscloset/OilPlug.jpg

yes that is a good photo showing how not to park your car on a ramp ;)

yes that is a good photo showing how not to park your car on a ramp ;)

holy sh*t - I didn't notice that . I bet the wheels weren't chocked either .....

:spank:

Yes......sure you want to change your own oil? ;)

true dat :)

His car is an 04. I would hope the oil filter has been off before.

EDIT: One thing to note is that you need a new crush washer for the oil pan drain plug. DO NOT reuse the one that was there. Not to bust your balls but don't forget to remove the old one either.

His car is an 04. I would hope the oil filter has been off before.

EDIT: One thing to note is that you need a new crush washer for the oil pan drain plug. DO NOT reuse the one that was there. Not to bust your balls but don't forget to remove the old one either.

Judging by the way he parks on the ramp, it would be an assumption that the oil has been changed before on this car.

Replacing the crush washer isn't necessary either.

Make sure you check the oil filter to see if you can loosen it before doing anything, I had to tow my car to the dealer because I couldn't get the oil filter loose. I shoved a screw driver through it to try to twist it off and it still wouldn't come loose.

Just dip your finger in the new oil and rub it around the rim of the new oil filter to lubricate it a bit, so it wont seize on next time you attempt to change it.


changing out the spark plugs wasnt so bad. just takes time. I'd say it's a lot easier than changing a standard FWD V6 engine. and a little bit harder then changing a typical honda or any FWD Inline-4.

Judging by the way he parks on the ramp, it would be an assumption that the oil has been changed before on this car.

Replacing the crush washer isn't necessary either.

Yeah...............you should at least take a look at the washer and see if it really needs to be replaced. You don't have to do it every time, but then again......not that expensive.

I would at least start the filter and make sure it will turn.
Drain the oil.
Remove and replace the oil filter, but you should rub a little oil on the new gasket(like has been said) and only put on hand tight! They will tell you to tighten 1/4 turn after gasket makes contact, but I always go a little bit more. Oh yeah...might want to wrap a rag around underneath the filter so any drippage would be caught.
Clean off the drain bolt and washer................inspect the washer.
Clean around the hole in the drain pan. Wipe off is enough.
Re-install drain bolt(with washer!)
Add oil
Take old oil to be reprocessed(Autozone or somewhere else)

Sounds like a no-brainer to most of us, but if you've never done it then..............


And oh yeah..............just to give you more crap! Don't park like that on those ramps! I actually change my oil all the time without lifting, you just have to be ready to lay on the ground a little.

And oh yeah..............just to give you more crap! Don't park like that on those ramps! I actually change my oil all the time without lifting, you just have to be ready to lay on the ground a little.

I would add this point as I just did my change this morning - remove the dipstick and put your hand through the gap where the dipstick was. That way you can get much better purchase on the filter when undoing by hand.
also : Drive onto a 1" packer (wooden pail or something) - that makes the job a lot easier .

Oil is changed! Thanks guys.

Hey you need to get togeather with the 4 years to super charge.