ok I know this is dumb and i'm a total newbie, but just started not to long ago and still learning, although Quickly soaking it all up. I need to do and oil change on my car, and I'd rather do it myself than taking it to a shop. Bought some ramps, an oil pan, oil, k&n oil filter, and an oil filter tool. I've never changed oil though, this being my first car, so I kinda need some help. Like where is the drain thing to drain the oil, "what to look for" "how do i change the filter" and how much oil does my car hold "I have an 02 Fire" I got 5 Qts hope that's enough. I know it's a dumb question, but would really appreciate the help. Thanks in advance!!

5 quarts is perfect. It should be 5w30.

On the bottom of the oil pan (the very bottom of the engine- if you're under the car looking up, what you are looking at is the oil pan) there is a bolt. It is the only bolt there, so you really can't miss it. It is 15mm (I believe that is the same on all three engines), so you'll need a 15mm socket or wrench to loosen it. Loosen it a little with the wrench (don't take it out yet), slide the oil drain pan under it (the oil will arc slightly as it comes out, so try to center it as best as you can bearing in mind the direction that gravity is pulling in relation to the hole you are about to create) then keeping a good hold on the bolt with your hand, loosen it the rest of the way as quickly as you are able and pull it out. You may consider wearing gloves, since oil is a lot of fun to clean off of your hand, and it's even more fun to clean off of your clothes where it ran up your arm and got on your shirt. Not to say that has ever happened to me before of course, cough cough.

step 2. Wait for the oil to drain. It helps to pull out the dipstick while it is draining, it'll come out smoother and more quickly. You don't have to remove it completey, just unscrew the cap that says "oil fill/check" and pull it out just enough that you can tilt it to the side and it will rest on the dipstick and stay open. (Oh- before you lean the dipstick on that edge, wipe it down with a shop towel to keep dust and the like from dropping in or getting on the dipstick).

Once the old oil has slowed to a slow drizzle you can either wait the God knows how many hours for it to drain completely, or you can go ahead and put the drain plug back in. Your choice, of course.

Next locate the oil filter. It depends on which of the three available engines that year you have where exactly that will be, but you should be able to find it pretty easily by looking at the new one and finding the part that looks like it. A little bit of oil is going to come out of that too, so once you find it, move the drain pan under it before you remove it. Just unscrew it with the filter wrench you so wisely purchased for just this purpose.

Now take your finger and wet it with a little bit of the new oil, and run that around the rubber gasket on the new filter. Keep putting fingerfulls of oil on it until it stays shiny. screw that in and tighten it down with the filter wrench (don't kill yourself, but make sure it seats well and seals good.

Now you just pour the new oil in, fire that puppy up, and pat yourself on the back for having changed your own oil.


I may not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but at least I'm a pretty color

one thing thouhg...he's got the 2200.....takes EXACTLY 4 quarts......to fill
but other than that do what he said

also, dont do it while the motor is hot...hot oil on you isnt good lol

id let the car sit for a few hours, then do it...


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Hot oil is thinner and drains easier and more completely. I always take my car on a nice quick 3-5 mile drive before I change it.

i just bring it home and wait till i can touch the engine without going "@!#$ thats hot"...then its usually ready to change it.

What do you do with the old oil?

Pour it in the storm drain, lol

Auto Zone recycles oil for free. You just gotta take it to a store.

Im not sure if the comment "pour it in a storm drain" was suppose to be funny, but it should go without saying NEVER POUR IT IN A STORM DRAIN. As said your car needs only 4 quarts and everything I have ever heard says never use the oil filter tool to tighten the filter on. If you do you will never get it off. I have always hand tightened my oil filter and never had a problem. Its easier for me to get to the filter from under the hood. Its on the passanger side near the firewall down on the back of the engine.






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with the 2200 it's best to turn your wheels to the left and go in from the passenger side wheel well to get the filter off.




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actually i couldnt gfet it form the bottom so i just reach over the top of the engine and mine came right off

Machzel08 wrote:actually i couldnt gfet it form the bottom so i just reach over the top of the engine and mine came right off

Same here..the 2200 really is a beetch to get off. Thank god I have skinny arms. That's the easiest way imo. you just have to get a good grip on it. I use the Fram filter since it has the sure grip and gives me a little more to grab a hold of.

BTW don't worry about the smoke that comes from under the car the next couple times you drive it after the change..the way that filter is situated you will spill most of the conents of the filter onto the exhaust, right about twhere your flex pipe is. It's not a big deal...just wipe off what you can and take pride in maintaining your car yourself

Thanks guys. ur great. very informative, shouldn't have a problem.

Don't know what it looks like under a 2200, but with my 2.2 '96, once the oil filter is off, oil drains on/over & past the exhaust pipe. Makes for a 'NICE' smell when it gets hot. Neat trick is to drape a piece of aluminum foil on the pipe before wrenching the filter. Take it off last thing, and no problem burning smell!

i always put a towel or rag over the flex pipe so i don't have to deal with that.




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all i've got to say is u may have a prob tryin to get a socket wrench in there..i have an '02 fire also and i could not for the life of me get a socket wrench in there...i mean, u can go get a smaller one (the top of it is too wide on a normal one) and that would work. but, unless ur plug is a f*ed up as mine, a 15mm crescent wrench or something would work just fine. (mine has become a little bit round on the outside and it's too dam tight for anything i can use...gotta take it bak to the dealer...) have fun! this is one thing i love doin myself!

Machzel08 wrote:one thing thouhg...he's got the 2200.....takes EXACTLY 4 quarts......to fill
but other than that do what he said

My car is a 00 cavalier nad it takes EXZACTLY 4.5 quarts. Thats what i have been using and will still use, the filter takes up some oil, maybe not half a quart but right at 4.5 its at the max line so thats what i go with. And as for the filter, from the top, elbow deep,

my buddy works at monroe...$12 oil change haha

i just reach my filter from the bottom and that seems pretty easy for me.


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So I finally did my oil change yesterday. All the info you guys gave me was really helpful, didn't really have any trouble at all except when it came to the filter, tried from the top of the engine, nope, tried turning my wheels to the left, nope. The only way I could get it off was to get under the car, and even that wasn't easy, plus the K&N filter is slightly larger than the delco filter that was already on it, so it was a little harder to manuver the filter into position. So a little advice for new guys that havn't changed their oil: if you're a fat ass or have fat arms don't try going in from the top or through the wheel well. thanks guys!

I used to work in a quick lube. 2.2 takes 4.25qts of 5w30, 15mm wrench for drainplug, and filter is easiest from the top. Even with the lift. As for the oil spillage from the filter a quick rinsewith the hose should take care of that. Just be careful of the electronics.

The Outlaw
98 Pontiac Sunfire (Christine)
2200 5spd
Red with Black racing stripes.

Don't let the punks get to you. If they can't say anything helpful its because they probably
have VERY LITTLE IF ANY MECHANICAL SKILLS . Talking crap is just their way of hiding that
fact. They figure the more crap they say the less likley anyone will know how dumb they are.

Ok now i have a qestion about pinging. I did the oil change a little less than a week ago. My car never used to ping before and now since i did the oil change it does. After i turned off my car last night it sounded like a soda can having the dents popped out of it, it did it periodically of course, anyway just wondered if this is normal. thanks

where is this sound coming from?



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somewhere by the radiator, or somewhere in the engine

Well PartEb0y

First of all I would make sure youre oil level is where it should be. Make sure you dont over fill youre motor oil. And check to see if you got any oil leaks. Pinging is usually cuased by low octane level or Knock sensor is worn out. If youre engine knocks youre oil pump may need to be checked or tested. (usually youre oil pressure will be low).

How many miles on youre engine?