🔧 Soul - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

Changing the engine oil and oil filter keeps your engine lubricated and removes dirty oil that can cause extra wear. On your Soul, this is a straightforward maintenance job if you lift the front safely and refill to the dipstick mark.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the rear wheels.
• Let the engine cool 15–30 minutes; warm oil drains better, but hot oil can burn you.
• Never get under a car supported only by a jack—use jack stands.
• Wear gloves and safety glasses; oil can irritate skin and eyes.
• No battery disconnect is required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum, pair)
• Wheel chocks
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive)
• Oil drain pan (at least 8-quart)
• Oil filter wrench (cap style or band style)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (SAE 5W-20 full synthetic, API SN or newer) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Soul on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Chock both rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (this helps oil drain faster).
• If your Soul has a service reminder, plan to reset it after the oil change.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the front

• Use a floor jack to lift the front of your Soul at the front center jacking point.
• Set the vehicle onto jack stands placed at the approved front support points.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable before you go underneath.

Step 2: Position the drain pan

• Slide the oil drain pan under the oil pan drain plug.
• Tip: oil shoots out a little at first.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Use a 17mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (typically 5–10 minutes).
• Wipe the drain plug clean with shop rags.
• Replace the drain plug washer with the new crush washer.

Step 4: Reinstall and torque the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (3/8" drive) with a 17mm socket and Torque to 34–44 Nm (25–32 ft-lbs).
• Wipe any oil off the oil pan area with shop rags.

Step 5: Remove the oil filter

• Move the oil drain pan
• Use an oil filter wrench to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket (O-ring) came off with the old filter (it should not stick to the engine).

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Lightly coat the new filter’s rubber gasket with fresh oil (use a small dab from the bottle).
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches the mounting surface.
• Tighten by hand an additional 3/4 turn. Do not use the wrench to tighten.

Step 7: Refill with fresh oil

• Lower your Soul off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Place a funnel in the oil fill opening.
• Pour in about 4 quarts first, then wait 1 minute and check the dipstick.
• Top off slowly until the oil level is at the upper mark on the dipstick (do not overfill). Total fill is typically about 4.2 quarts (4.0 L) with filter.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap securely.

Step 8: Start engine and check for leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle 30–60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter.
• Wait 5 minutes, then re-check the dipstick and adjust the oil level if needed.

Step 9: Reset the service reminder (if enabled)

• Turn ignition ON (engine off).
• Using the steering-wheel buttons, go to User Settings > Service Interval, then select Reset.

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✅ After Repair

• Recheck underneath for any seepage after your first short drive.
• Recheck the dipstick the next morning (cold engine) and top off if needed.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an oil-recycling drop-off (most auto parts stores accept it).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$160 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $30-$65 (parts only)

You Save: $60-$95 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.6-1.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.