🔧 Terrain - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

You’ll drain the old engine oil, replace the oil filter element, then refill with the correct oil. This keeps your A4—sorry, your Terrain—properly lubricated and helps prevent engine wear and oil sludge.

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

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground and chock the rear wheels.
• 🛑 Let the engine cool 10–15 minutes; oil can burn skin.
• 🛑 Always support the Terrain with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🛑 Keep oil off belts and exhaust parts; wipe spills immediately.
• 🛑 No battery disconnect is required for this service.

---

🔧 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
• Oil drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• Ratchet
• Socket extension (3-inch)
• 15mm socket
• 24mm socket
• Torque wrench (ft-lb/Nm)
• Flat-blade screwdriver

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (SAE 5W-30 full synthetic, dexos1-approved) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Engine oil filter element (cartridge style) with new O-ring - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug gasket/washer - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🧰 Warm the engine for 2–3 minutes, then shut it off (warm oil drains faster, hot oil burns).
• 🧰 Set the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• 🧰 Gather your oil drain pan, filter, and oil so you don’t leave the Terrain on stands longer than needed.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front of the Terrain

• Use a floor jack at the front center jacking point and raise the vehicle.
• Place jack stands under the front pinch welds/subframe points and lower onto the stands.
• Give the vehicle a gentle push to confirm it’s stable.

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

• Look under the front of the engine for a plastic panel.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver to release any plastic fasteners, then remove the panel by hand.
• Set fasteners in a cup so none vanish.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Position the oil drain pan under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 15mm socket, ratchet, and socket extension to loosen the drain plug, then finish by hand.
• Let oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5–10 minutes).
• Clean the drain plug and install a new oil drain plug gasket/washer if your setup uses one.
• Reinstall the drain plug by hand first (to avoid cross-threading), then tighten with a torque wrench. A torque wrench is a tool that tightens a bolt to an exact safe tightness.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)

Step 4: Replace the oil filter element (cartridge)

• Open the hood and locate the oil filter housing cap on top of the engine.
• Place a few shop rags around the housing to catch drips.
• Use a 24mm socket and ratchet to loosen the cap slowly, then remove it by hand.
• Pull the old filter element off the cap by hand.
• Remove the old O-ring from the cap and install the new O-ring (usually included with the new filter).
• Lightly coat the new O-ring with fresh oil (dip a gloved finger in new oil).
• Push the new filter element onto the cap, then reinstall the cap by hand.
• Tighten the cap using the torque wrench and 24mm socket.
• Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs)

Step 5: Reinstall the splash shield (if removed)

• Reposition the panel and reinstall fasteners by hand first.
• Snug fasteners with the flat-blade screwdriver as needed (do not over-tighten plastic).

Step 6: Refill with new oil

• Lower the Terrain off the stands using the floor jack.
• Remove the oil fill cap on top of the engine.
• Use a funnel and add 4.5 quarts of SAE 5W-30 dexos1-approved full synthetic to start.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 7: Start, check for leaks, and set the oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30–60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 3–5 minutes for oil to drain back into the pan.
• Check underneath for leaks at the drain plug and filter housing.
• Check the dipstick, then add oil in small amounts until the level is at the full mark.
• Don’t overfill—add in 0.25-quart steps.

Step 8: Reset the oil life monitor

• Turn the ignition to ON (engine OFF).
• Use the Driver Information Center controls (typically on the turn-signal stalk) to display Oil Life.
• Press and hold SET/CLR until it resets to 100%.

---

✅ After Repair

• 🔍 Recheck the dipstick after your first short drive and top off if needed.
• 🔍 Inspect again for seepage around the drain plug and filter housing cap.
• 🔍 Pour used oil into a sealed container and take it to an oil recycling drop-off (many parts stores/shops accept it).

---

💰 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.

---

🎯 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.