🔧 Legacy - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

Changing the engine oil and oil filter keeps your engine lubricated and helps it last longer. You’ll drain the old oil, replace the filter, then refill with the correct oil and verify the level.

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 10–20 minutes; warm oil drains well, but hot oil burns.
• ⚠️ Always support the car with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off exhaust parts and belts; wipe spills immediately.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for an oil change.

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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 (7-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Rags or shop towels
• 14mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lb range)
• 12mm socket
• Flat trim clip remover (specialty)
• Oil filter cap wrench 65mm 14-flute (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5.1 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Legacy on a level surface and set the parking brake.
• Run the engine 2–3 minutes, then shut it off and wait 10–20 minutes.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (this helps oil drain faster).
• Raise the front of the car with a floor jack and support it with jack stands under the proper front support points.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the lower engine cover (if equipped)

• Place the drain pan (7-quart minimum) under the front of the engine area.
• Remove bolts with a 12mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Remove plastic clips using a flat trim clip remover (specialty) (a clip remover is a small pry tool that pops plastic fasteners out without breaking them).
• Set the cover and hardware aside in a safe spot.

Step 2: Drain the engine oil

• Position the drain pan (7-quart minimum) directly under the drain plug.
• Loosen and remove the drain plug using a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5–10 minutes).
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new oil drain plug crush washer.

Step 3: Reinstall and torque the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten with a 3/8" drive torque wrench (10-80 ft-lb range) (a torque wrench clicks when the correct tightness is reached).
• Torque to 43 Nm (32 ft-lbs)
• Wipe the oil off the pan rail.

Step 4: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the drain pan (7-quart minimum) under the oil filter area (some oil will spill).
• Remove the filter using an oil filter cap wrench 65mm 14-flute (specialty) and a 3/8" drive ratchet (this is a cup-shaped socket that fits the end of the filter).
• Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with the filter (it should not stay stuck to the engine).

Step 5: Install the new oil filter

• Lightly coat the new filter’s rubber gasket with fresh oil using a finger.
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket contacts the mounting surface.
• Tighten by hand an additional 2/3 turn after gasket contact. Use the oil filter cap wrench 65mm 14-flute (specialty) only if you cannot tighten properly by hand.
• Wipe the area clean with rags or shop towels.

Step 6: Reinstall the lower engine cover

• Reinstall the cover using the flat trim clip remover (specialty) to align clips, then press clips in.
• Reinstall bolts using a 12mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet.

Step 7: Refill with new oil

• Lower the car safely off the jack stands using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Place a funnel in the oil fill hole.
• Add engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic): start with about 4.8 quarts, then top off as needed.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 8: Start, check for leaks, then set the oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30–60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and filter.
• Wait 5 minutes, then check the dipstick and add oil through the funnel until the level is at the full mark (do not overfill).
• Wipe any spilled oil using rags or shop towels.

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✅ After Repair

• Check again for drips after your first short drive.
• Recheck the dipstick level after the engine sits 5 minutes; top off if needed.
• Reset the maintenance reminder (if it’s on): use the steering-wheel controls on the multi-information display and go to Settings > Maintenance > Engine Oil > Reset.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an oil-recycling center/parts store.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $35-$70 (parts only)

You Save: $55-$90 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.0 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.