🔧 Legacy - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

This service drains old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills with fresh oil. Fresh oil protects your engine from wear and helps it run smoothly.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.75-1.5 hours

Assumption: stock under-cover and top-mounted oil filter.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands (never the jack alone).
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot—let the engine cool 10-20 minutes if fully warmed up.
• ⚠️ Chock the rear wheels so the car cannot roll.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off belts and exhaust parts; clean spills immediately.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not 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)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 8-quart)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• 14mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• 3/8" extension (6")
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver
• Oil filter wrench (65-75mm cap type) (specialty)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Park on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• 🧰 Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off (warm oil drains faster).
• 🧰 Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (helps oil drain smoothly).
• 🧰 Jack up the front at the center jack point and place jack stands under the front pinch welds.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the lower engine cover (undertray)

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) and jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) to safely support the front of the car.
• Use a 12mm socket, 3/8" ratchet, and 3/8" extension (6") to remove the undertray bolts.
• Use a flathead screwdriver to pop out any plastic clips (pry the center up first, then remove the clip).
• Tip: Keep bolts/clips in one small pile.

Step 2: Drain the old engine oil

• Place the drain pan (at least 8-quart) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug by hand and let the oil drain completely (usually 5-10 minutes).
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug, install the new one, then reinstall the drain plug by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten with a torque wrench (10-80 ft-lbs range): Torque to 42 Nm (31 ft-lbs).

Step 3: Remove and replace the oil filter (top of engine)

• Put shop rags around the filter area to catch drips.
• Unscrew the oil filter by hand. If it’s too tight, use an oil filter wrench (65-75mm cap type) (specialty).
• Make sure the old rubber gasket did not stick to the engine (a “double gasket” can cause a big leak).
• Rub a thin film of new oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket using nitrile gloves.
• Install the new filter by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn by hand. Tip: Do not use the wrench to tighten.

Step 4: Reinstall the undertray

• Position the undertray and start bolts by hand.
• Use a 12mm socket and 3/8" ratchet to tighten the bolts snugly.
• Reinstall the plastic clips using the flathead screwdriver to seat them.

Step 5: Refill with new engine oil

• Insert a funnel into the oil fill hole.
• Pour in 0W-20 full synthetic: start with about 4.8 quarts.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.
• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds, then shut it off.
• Wait 5 minutes, then check the dipstick and top off to the full mark (typical total is about 5.1 quarts with filter, but always confirm on the dipstick).
• Use shop rags to wipe any spilled oil.

Step 6: Check for leaks

• With the engine off, look underneath for any drips at the drain plug and around the filter area.
• If you see a leak, stop and fix it (usually a loose plug, missing crush washer, or double-gasketed filter).

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Recheck the oil level the next morning on a cold engine and top off if needed.
• ✅ Dispose of used oil and the old filter at an oil recycling drop-off (most parts stores accept it).
• ✅ If your Legacy shows an oil maintenance reminder, reset it using the dash display: Settings > Maintenance > Engine Oil > Reset (wording can vary slightly by display).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$180 (parts + labor)

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

You Save: $55-$110 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?

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