🔧 Traverse - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

On your Traverse, an oil change means draining the old engine oil, replacing the oil filter, then refilling with the correct dexos-approved oil. This protects the 3.6L from wear and keeps the oil life monitor accurate.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface and support the SUV with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Let the engine cool 20–30 minutes; hot oil can burn you.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the serpentine belt and exhaust components.
• ⚠️ Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses; oil can irritate skin/eyes.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (10-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop towels
• 13mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive extension (6")
• Torque wrench (3/8" drive)
• 7mm socket
• Trim clip removal tool
• Oil filter wrench (cap-style)
• 24mm socket

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic, dexos1 approved) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug gasket (or drain plug with gasket, if equipped) - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap to help the oil drain faster.
• Confirm your filter style before opening the new part: some Traverses use a top-mounted cartridge filter in a housing, others use a spin-on canister filter.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Safely raise and support the front

• Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) at the front center lift point and raise the front.
• Set the SUV onto jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) under the left and right front support points.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a 7mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the small bolts/screws holding the access panel.
• Use a trim clip removal tool for any plastic push-clips.
• Keep fasteners in a cup so none disappear.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Position a drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 13mm socket, 3/8" drive ratchet, and 3/8" drive extension (6") to loosen and remove the drain plug.
• Let oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 10–15 minutes).
• Clean the drain plug area with shop towels.
• Install a new oil drain plug gasket (if used), reinstall the drain plug, then use a torque wrench (3/8" drive) to tighten it. A torque wrench is a tool that clicks when the bolt reaches the correct tightness.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)

Step 4: Replace the oil filter (choose the path that matches your Traverse)

• Look first: if you see a plastic/metal cap on the engine with a filter inside, that’s the filter housing cap (a cap that holds a cartridge filter).
• If you see a metal canister filter that screws on/off, that’s a spin-on filter.

Step 4A: Cartridge filter in housing (top-mounted)

• Place shop towels around the housing to catch drips.
• Use a 24mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the filter housing cap.
• Lift the cap out and remove the old cartridge filter.
• Install the new cartridge filter onto/into the cap as designed.
• Hand-start the cap to avoid cross-threading, then tighten with a torque wrench (3/8" drive).
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)

Step 4B: Spin-on canister filter (under-engine)

• Move the drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the oil filter area.
• Use an oil filter wrench (cap-style) and 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Wipe the sealing surface clean with shop towels and confirm the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter.
• Lightly oil the new filter gasket with fresh oil (use a glove and a finger).
• Install the new filter by hand until the gasket contacts, then tighten per the filter’s instructions (typically about 3/4 turn by hand).

Step 5: Reinstall the splash shield

• Reinstall the panel and fasteners using a 7mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Reinstall any clips using a trim clip removal tool (to align/start them) and hand pressure to seat them.

Step 6: Refill with new oil

• Lower the SUV from the jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill opening and add 0W-20 full synthetic, dexos1 approved.
• Add about 5.5 quarts first, then wait 2 minutes and check the dipstick.
• Top off to the dipstick’s proper range (typical total is around 6 quarts with filter, but always confirm by dipstick).

Step 7: Start, inspect, and recheck level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30–60 seconds.
• Shut it off and inspect underneath for leaks at the drain plug and filter area.
• Wait 5 minutes, then recheck the dipstick and adjust level if needed using the funnel.

Step 8: Reset the oil life monitor

• Turn ignition to ON (engine can be off).
• Use the steering wheel controls to navigate the driver information display.
• Find the Oil Life screen, then press and hold the confirmation button (often OK or a checkmark) until it resets to 100%.

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✅ After Repair

• Recheck for leaks after your first short drive (5–10 minutes).
• Verify the oil level again once the engine is fully warmed up, then sits 5 minutes.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a recycling center or auto parts store that accepts waste oil.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $120-$200 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$75 (parts only)

You Save: $85-$125 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.2 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.