Time for first DIY oil change - filter question

[T4R_Finally]

Okay, I've been changing oil in my vehicles for years, but my 3rd gen is close to ready for my first time to change the oil in it. I saw the DIY on doing an oil change. It shows accessing the oil filter by turning the wheels all the way to the left and removing part of the flap under the driver's side fender to access the filter. Is this the best/only way to get to it? If so, do I just pull on the flap and get the clips to release or do I need to squeeze the clips from behind to get them out? I just don't want to break anything if I can help it.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I personally pull off the skid plate and reach from underneath, but that is because I don't have long arms.

If you do have them, just turn the tire to the left, pop out the two flap plastic pieces with a flat head screwdriver, move the flap back, and remove the filter.

The first time I did mine it was on there tight, so I had to have some oil filter pliers handy to get it off.

 

[tbst]

^^ what he said. My experience is that some is going to spill.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Thanks guys. I have never changed oil without spillage. My pickup's oil filter is easy to get to from underneath but, because of the angle it is at, there is no way to take it off without some spilling and running all down my arm, etc. I'll have plenty of newspaper and rags for that. I have a couple of different size filter wrenches that I can use if needed. I can often loosen them with my hands with mechanix gloves on since they have the rubber stuff that helps grip. These filters are so small, I may not need a filter wrench. But I have if needed.

I do have long arms. But taking the SP off is fairly easy. Getting it back on is a pain without help holding it. And I noticed that I already have a couple of the SP bolts broken off, so I don't want to keep taking it off and taking a chance of breaking anymore of them.

 

[sportscarfan]

You can get the filter off by turning the steering, the clips are probably already missing. That's the easiest access IMO. I'd pull the skids anyway to clean out several pounds of oil/dirt that has accumulated there over 12 years, because no one else [shops, jiffylube, etc] bothers to.

 

[3rd gen king]

You can get the filter off by turning the steering, the clips are probably already missing. That's the easiest access IMO. I'd pull the skids anyway to clean out several pounds of oil/dirt that has accumulated there over 12 years, because no one else [shops, jiffylube, etc] bothers to.

When i changed it a removed this skid and it was like a gold mine!!!!

I found 1 wrench and the original oil cap which "was lost by a dealer" like 10 years ago! And a pound of shiz and scum

 

[RunninInGA]

It will most definitely spill based on the design and the angle the filter sits. I did not remove the flap, loosened the filter to let it drain (it'll drain mostly straight down), spun the filter off, and cleaned up with paper towels. Conversely, you can wrap a plastic grocery bag around the filter during removal to minimize spillage, but it'll happen regardless. I didn't want to break any clips either, so I chose not to take them off. You can maneuver with the flap still in place.

X2 on the skid plate. Took mine off and cleaned 10 years worth of crud off it.

 

[TheDurk]

I just popped the two clips at the lower right and never put them back. It's been that way for twelve years and over two dozen oil changes and I perceive no ill effects.

 

[Nashvegas34]

Seems like everyone has a different way of doing this. I just lay on the ground under the radiator and reach up from the bottom without taking the skid plate off. I pretty much just go straight up right beside the skid plate and have no problem reaching the filter and removing it with one hand. Yes, it spills some when the filter comes off, but I've gotten good enough at it that I don't get any on my arm. I just put some towels on the skid plate to catch the spill, then put the new filter on immediately, hand-tightening only. I haven't tried the through-the-wheel-well method, but I can't see how that would even work. I guess it does, though.

 

[T4R_Finally]

You can get the filter off by turning the steering, the clips are probably already missing. That's the easiest access IMO. I'd pull the skids anyway to clean out several pounds of oil/dirt that has accumulated there over 12 years, because no one else [shops, jiffylube, etc] bothers to.

The clips are still there. But I imagine they are brittle and may break easily. The skid plate is clean. I removed it recently to replace my radiator. That's when I discovered a couple of the bolts were broken off in the holes by previous removal attempts. I also realized it is difficult to hold up and keep it aligned to put it back on as well.

I think I will try accessing the filter from underneath and swap it out that way if I can get to it. If not, I'll hope for the best and pull the clips and go in from the side.

Thanks

 

[Qyota]

Seems like everyone has a different way of doing this. I just lay on the ground under the radiator and reach up from the bottom without taking the skid plate off. I pretty much just go straight up right beside the skid plate and have no problem reaching the filter and removing it with one hand. Yes, it spills some when the filter comes off, but I've gotten good enough at it that I don't get any on my arm. I just put some towels on the skid plate to catch the spill, then put the new filter on immediately, hand-tightening only. I haven't tried the through-the-wheel-well method, but I can't see how that would even work. I guess it does, though.

This might work on a 2WD, but probably not the 4WD. Personally, I remove the skid plates and do it from below. Gives me a chance to inspect everything. I reach up with my left arm over the front lower crossmember and grab the filter. Not a big deal at all. Then, I have full access to clean everything before buttoning it back up. The skid plate is kind of a pain to remove/install, though.

 

[IanB]

The skidplate is a PITA to remove & install, but once I learned to leave the middle bolts that hold the 2 halves together, and support the back and let the front hang on the hooks, it's not too bad.

 

[T4R_Finally]

This might work on a 2WD, but probably not the 4WD. Personally, I remove the skid plates and do it from below. Gives me a chance to inspect everything. I reach up with my left arm over the front lower crossmember and grab the filter. Not a big deal at all. Then, I have full access to clean everything before buttoning it back up. The skid plate is kind of a pain to remove/install, though.

Well mine is a 4wd but your hand or arm must be smaller than mine if you can get to the filter from underneath and grab it. And, I also found that even if I wanted to, the filter wouldn't fit through the space to physically remove it from underneath.

I just got done with everything except refilling with oil. What worked best for me was to get under the vehicle with my head just inside the front of the tire where I could look up and see the filter. Then I reached up and around through the fender flap and I was able to loosen and remove the filter from there. Of course there was a little spillage, but not as much as I have on my pickup. All in all, not too bad. Going back out to filler her up and I'm done.

Thanks

 

[TRDFerguson]

i realize youve already done it, but another way that i like the best is to reach from the engine bay down underneath the alternator and get it that way. i do oil changes on a lot of these things and thats the easiest way ive found.