Help with oil change, please.

[5thGenCamaroChick]

Problem solved, see post #23


Before I say all this, I want to ask that you experienced mechanics/gearheads don't make fun of me or give me a hard time, please. I like to tinker and fix things around the house, and I've assisted on a few tune ups & oil changes in my younger days (back when the coolest cars had holley 4-barrel carbs and mag wheels lol). Anyways, I set my mind to learning to do my own oil change on my 1LT. My neighbor helped. I drove it up on ramps and chocked it, put the drain pan under, took out the plug, let the oil drain, reinstalled the plug, replaced factory oil filter with K&N, put in 6 quarts of mobil 1 5w-30 and replaced air filter with K&N. I ordered the filters from Advance to make sure I got the right ones. Checked for leaks. Started her up and there's a kindof vibration. Actually, more like it's idling "stronger", smooth still, but stronger. Before I changed the oil/oil filter/air filter you could barely feel the engine rotations at idle, now you can feel clearly feel them. I took it for a test drive and it seems to run fine, just those vibrations are different (still no leaks either). Could that be the difference in the air filter? The only thing I can think that I could possibly have done wrong is the insertion of the oil filter. I put the male end of the filter cap into the female hole in the gasket and pushed the filter up snug to the cap (I didn't see it being taken out for reference, and my neighbor had to go take a call). Is that correct? Also, while typing this I remember having watched a video of an oil change and the guy lubed the oil filter gasket before insertion, and I forgot to do that. Is that okay or do I need to drain the oil, take it out and lube it? Any info would sooooo appreciated. I really want to learn to do this myself without killing my car.

p.s. Does anyone know the normal operating temp for the 1LT V6? I don't have gauges that shows whether the car is running hot, just the computer that tells me the coolant temp (yeah, I know it has a light that comes on if it overheats, but I'd like to know before it gets to that point). I also don't have an oil pressure gauge. I don't particularly care for the 4 pack gauges, but the oil pressure would come in handy right now.

p.p.s. sorry this is so long, I just wanted to try and include all the info I could. Thanks again... you guys are great!

[Kelso]

did u make sure the gasket from the original oil filter came off...sometimes it sticks to the car part...and ive always lubed the gasket idk why just was taught tht way.

[J3ffZ28]

I dont know much about changing the oil but i have been reading a lot of posts that after a certain mileage the the car "opens up" after the first oil change. Maybe its ur car breaking in....

[jayson71]

Originally Posted by Kelso

did u make sure the gasket from the original oil filter came off...sometimes it sticks to the car part...and ive always lubed the gasket idk why just was taught tht way.

If you left the original gasket in place the oil would spray out unmistakably.
From what I read it sounds like you got it right. I would watch for leaks, engine codes, etc.

One thing you want to do is reset the "Oil Life" meter. See the Owners Manual on how to do this.

You can also call onstar and ask for a check, they might find something you don't normally see. IDK but maybe.

[talwell]

A simple oil change should not have this type of affect on the car. As for the filter, it basically will only go on one way. When you see them lube the filter, what they are doing is rubbing a small coat of oil on the filter gasket to obtain a better seal with the block.

There really should be nothing that you did that could have caused this. If it persists, simply take it into the dealer and let them take a look at it.

BTW - congrats on taking on your own oil change, although a small and simple task it is one that many people would not be willing to do. I myself dont change the oil only due to the ease of having it done rather than taking them time to do it myself.

[5thGenCamaroChick]

Originally Posted by jayson71

If you left the original gasket in place the oil would spray out unmistakably.
From what I read it sounds like you got it right. I would watch for leaks, engine codes, etc.

One thing you want to do is reset the "Oil Life" meter. See the Owners Manual on how to do this.

You can also call onstar and ask for a check, they might find something you don't normally see. IDK but maybe.

Yep, I remembered to set the meter. The Onstar idea is good, hadn't though of it. I'll try that. Thanks!

[5thGenCamaroChick]

Originally Posted by Kelso

did u make sure the gasket from the original oil filter came off...sometimes it sticks to the car part...and ive always lubed the gasket idk why just was taught tht way.

The gasket is made onto the filter, and when I wiped the old oil out of the filter cap all I could see was metal, so I don't think there was anything in there.

[5thGenCamaroChick]

Oh, and by the way, I answered my own question about the air filter... I took the new one out and put the old one back in. Same vibes.

[coolman]

If you have no leaks and you checked the oil level with the dipstick and it okay. That shouldn't have caused any bad vibs. If you left the old gasket on you would know in about 10 second after you started the motor. Oil would be leaking out like crazy. What is the vib like , Is it in the motor?

[1320junkie]

Honestly, I think you did a great job changing your old and you may just be playing mind games with yourself because you did most of it this time yourself...just run it by the dealer to have them check it out for you.

[Americankettler]

First off...Good for you!
I'm very impressed...and it sounds like you did everything right. (Except for lubing the gasket. As long as you don't develop any leaks over the next 100 miles, you should be OK)- Keep an eye on it.
As for the difference in idle...you got me.

I can't wait to do mine!

I didn't realize the V6 took 6 quarts of oil...wow.

Now...if only I could get my oldest to take care of her car instead of calling "Dad" everytime there was a problem.

Dave

[5thGenCamaroChick]

Okay guys, after letting the car sit overnight I went out this morning and checked the oil. The dipstick shows that it's overfull and the oil is black, as though all the old oil didn't drain out. I called the service department and the guy told me there was old oil left in the pan because I had the car nose-up on ramps, and that it has to be level. I've never heard such a thing, have any of you? Anyway, long story short, I have to go out and either a) drain it all out on flat ground (which I'm not entirely sure is possible since I can't reach the plug that way) and start all over or b) drain out a little and make a mess all over the oil plug/bottom of my car trying to get the plug back in while oil is running out. Now my concerns are this: my pristine mobil 1 is going to have yucky oil mixed with it and I drove my car with a little too much oil in it. Ayaya. I'll get it right one of these days.

[duder4thgen]

Originally Posted by 5thGenCamaroChick

Okay guys, after letting the car sit overnight I went out this morning and checked the oil. The dipstick shows that it's overfull and the oil is black, as though all the old oil didn't drain out. I called the service department and the guy told me there was old oil left in the pan because I had the car nose-up on ramps, and that it has to be level. I've never heard such a thing, have any of you? Anyway, long story short, I have to go out and either a) drain it all out on flat ground (which I'm not entirely sure is possible since I can't reach the plug that way) and start all over or b) drain out a little and make a mess all over the oil plug/bottom of my car trying to get the plug back in while oil is running out. Now my concerns are this: my pristine mobil 1 is going to have yucky oil mixed with it and I drove my car with a little too much oil in it. Ayaya. I'll get it right one of these days.

Two questions. First- where is the drainplug on the oilpan? If its on the back of the pan, all of the oil is going to drain, no problem. If its on the side of the pan, you might need to only jack up the opposite side of the vehicle of the plug, so its pointing down.

Second, v6's have cansiter style filters. Did you change the filter before or after you put the drain plug back in? I could be wrong, but every time I've changed the oil with a cansiter style filter (even upright ones like on an Ecotech), the canister will hold around 1/2 to 1 quart of old oil, and won't drain to the pan until you break the seal.

You need to at the very least get her back up in the air and drain some oil out until its not overfilled. If that was her first oil change, I would change it again, that old oil is going to have metal shavings left from the break in. Or change it really soon, like another 2k-3k miles. Not counting any metal shavings, that old oil is going to have an effect on the additives in the new stuff, and its not going to last as long.

[5thGenCamaroChick]

The drain plug is on the bottom towards the back of the pan, so it's facing the ground. As for the filter, I replaced it after I put the plug back in. My neighbor told me if I broke the seal before the oil had drained that oil would go everywhere on my engine. Of course he also mentioned he'd never used a filter like that. Maybe that should have been a heads-up. lol