My V6 oil change experience

[convert]

I changed the oil myself in my V6 Camaro today , and I have to say it was really easy. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay easier than the last time I tried years ago . If anybody is on the fence about trying this yourself, let me encourage you to give it a try. Being prepared will make it go very smoothly and quickly.

I'm no expert on this stuff, but here's what I used and the steps I followed. I should have taken pics, but I didn't know how it was going to go .

You'll need:
1) A V6 Camaro
2) 6 quarts of 5W-30 oil. I got a 6 quart case of Mobil 1 full syn at Costco for $33.
3) An oil filter cartridge -- I used the K&N HP-7003 $15 at O'Reilly's, but there are lots of less expense brands that are supposed to be just as good.
4) Ramps (or floor jack and jack stands). Got my ramps at WalMart for $44.
5) Oil collection pan. Got a 15-16 qt one at WalMart for $8. They were out of stock of the smaller size.
6) 15/16" socket or wrench for oil filter cartridge cover.
7) 15MM socket or wrench for oil plug.
8) Funnel
9) Newspaper
10) Rags / paper towels
11) Maybe 1 hour total for the first time. Probably much less for subsequent changes.

Steps:

Drive the car around for 10 minutes or so to get the oil up to operating temperature . I have the 4 pack guages, so I watched and waited until it hit 200 degrees.

Place the ramps and drive the car up them.

Put the car in park/gear and set the brake. It would probably be good to chock the wheels too.

Pop the hood.

Remove the oil cap.

Pry up the engine cover and set it aside.

Put the oil cap back on if you want to prevent anything from accidentally falling down in there .

Get your 15/16" socket/wrench and remove the cover off the oil filter cartridge housing (it's on the driver side between the oil cap and the dipstick). Careful -- it'll be hot!! Use rags or gloves to insulate your hands.

The oil filter may come out with the cover. If it doesn't pull it out. Put the filter in/on your oil collector pan. You can put the cover back on if you want to keep anything from falling in.

Lay newspaper under the car. Spread it all around under the front end -- oil can spatter when it comes out and this will keep it from staining your floor.

Put your oil collector pan on the newspaper under the oil pan, offset over toward the passenger side wheel.

Get your 15MM socket/wrench and start working the oil plug loose. It's on the passenger side of the oil pan.

When the plug is most of the way out oil will start to drip out around it. Make sure the oil is falling into/onto your oil collection pan.

Get ready -- the oil will come out in a pretty strong stream and will shoot a good way over toward the passenger side wheel. That's why you want your collection pan scooted over that way!! I got unlucky at this point . As the stream started to slow down it hit dead center on the oil collection pan, right where the inlet plug is at and started spattering everywhere. That's why more newspaper is a good thing!

Let it drain. Give it a few hours if you have the time.

Thread the plug back in. I used a socket wrench to tighten mine just a little past finger tight. Use a torque wrench if you're not sure. My understanding is that you don't want to over-tighten this bolt, but of course you don't want it falling out!!

Wipe up around the plug.

Put the new oil filter onto the cover and screw it down into the housing. I just snugged mine up firmly but not over tight. Again, use a torque wrench if you're not sure.

Remove the oil cap and put in your funnel.

Pour in the first 5 quarts of oil. I didn't have any trouble filling up the funnel and just letting it drain down.

Pour in the 6th quart slowly. I was still able to just fill up the funnel and let it drain down in, so this is just FYI -- the 6th qt goes in much slower.

Remove the funnel and wipe up any mess. I didn't spill a single drop!

Put the engine cover back on.

Put the oil cap back on.

Check that there aren't any stray caps, sockets, wrenches, monkeys, gawkers, whatever in the way and then shut the hood.

Check that everything is out of the way under the car and nothing is leaking around the plug.

Tear lid off of oil filter package and record date, mileage, oil type and qty used on the back of it. Staple it to your oil and filter receipts and store with your car info. (I read this tip in another thread here -- I'll look for it again so I can credit the author).

Get your owners manual out. Record the date, oil type and amount, and filter type in the maintenance section.

Start the car. Reset the oil life meter.

Back the car off the ramps.

Check for leaks around the plug.

Clean up newspaper, etc.

Dispose of used oil at your local auto parts store.

Enjoy!

:5thgenvert:

[strobi]

daah.............

[Cyber_Gray_Autobot]

Thanks, I wanted to do this and now that I reviewed your post am going to do this for sure.

[ninety6]

Good write up... thanks!

socket is 24mm or 15/16", as OP says!


[edited: remove question about the socket size, i was wrong!]

[camaro guy]

ive been putting in the 7.6qt like the engine oil capacity says. no problems.

[OUR72GTO]

Originally Posted by camaro guy

ive been putting in the 7.6qt like the engine oil capacity says. no problems.

That may be for the V8?

[convert]

Originally Posted by Cyber_Gray_Autobot

Thanks, I wanted to do this and now that I reviewed your post am going to do this for sure.

Originally Posted by ninety6

Good write up... thanks!

Glad it was some help!

Originally Posted by camaro guy

ive been putting in the 7.6qt like the engine oil capacity says. no problems.

The manual says 6.0 QT for engine oil with filter. Maybe you were looking at 7.6 liters for the V8?

[camaro guy]

i was looking at the wiki on this forum for the v6

[camaro guy]

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/wiki.p...pecifications&

Engine oil capacity (qt / L): 7.6 / 7.2

[ninety6]

Originally Posted by camaro guy

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/wiki.p...pecifications&

Engine oil capacity (qt / L): 7.6 / 7.2

yeah he read that page right... but that page is wrong.

[67 Convertible]

Originally Posted by camaro guy

ive been putting in the 7.6qt like the engine oil capacity says. no problems.

Originally Posted by camaro guy

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/wiki.p...pecifications&

Engine oil capacity (qt / L): 7.6 / 7.2

You best look in your owners manual. The Camaro V6 takes 6 qts. of oil. If you're putting more than that in, better drain some out. Didn't you notice your dipstick showing way over filled ??

[convert]

I left a comment on the wiki page, and I see ninety6 did the same. Hopefully the authors will fix it.

[camaro guy]

see thats the problem. i couldnt see the clear oil on the dipstick. now i checked it when it has some color and saw it was over.

[ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by convert

I left a comment on the wiki page, and I see ninety6 did the same. Hopefully the authors will fix it.

That is the problem with the Wiki concept ... not authoritative ... I never trust a Wiki for anything that is important. Ideas, general concepts, overall picture ... sure. Owner's manuals these days are sometimes hard to read because some of them are written by non-native speakers, but at least they are something you can point to in the event there are warranty issues.

Good luck with suctioning out 2 quarts of oil ... or maybe it is only 1.6 quarts! ridgerunner