🔧 Telluride - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

Changing the oil and filter on your Telluride keeps the 3.8L V6 properly lubricated and helps prevent engine wear. You’ll drain the old oil, replace the filter, then refill with the correct oil and confirm the level.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the vehicle with jack stands—never rely on a jack alone.
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot; let the engine cool 10-20 minutes to avoid burns.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the serpentine belt and exhaust components (smoke/fire risk).
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this service.

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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, pair)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Ratchet (3/8")
• 17mm socket
• Torque wrench (3/8")
• Trim clip remover
• 10mm socket
• 27mm socket
• Oil filter wrench (specialty)
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic, API SP / ILSAC GF-6) - Qty: 7 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Telluride on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off and wait 10-20 minutes. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap (this helps it drain smoothly).
• Raise the front with a floor jack and support with jack stands at the proper front support points.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Slide the drain pan under the engine area.
• Remove the underbody panel fasteners using a 10mm socket and a trim clip remover.
• Set the panel and clips aside so you don’t lose them.

Step 2: Drain the engine oil

• Locate the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 17mm socket and ratchet (3/8") to loosen the drain plug, then finish by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (typically 5-10 minutes).

Step 3: Reinstall the drain plug with a new crush washer

• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new one.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Tighten using a torque wrench (3/8") and 17mm socket: Torque to 39 Nm (29 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Replace the oil filter (two possible styles)

• Move the drain pan under the oil filter area—oil will spill when the filter comes off.
• If your Telluride has a cartridge filter housing cap:
  • Use a 27mm socket and ratchet (3/8") to loosen the housing cap slowly.
  • Pull out the old filter cartridge and remove the old O-ring(s) from the cap.
  • Install the new O-ring(s) (lightly coat with fresh oil using a gloved finger).
  • Install the new cartridge, then tighten the cap with a torque wrench (3/8") and 27mm socket: Torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• If your Telluride has a spin-on oil filter:
  • Use an oil filter wrench (specialty) to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
  • Make sure the old rubber gasket isn’t stuck to the engine.
  • Lightly oil the new filter’s gasket, then install.
  • Tighten by hand: turn until the gasket touches, then an additional 3/4 turn.

Step 5: Reinstall the splash shield

• Reinstall the underbody panel using the 10mm socket and any clips with the trim clip remover.
• Double-check nothing is hanging down or contacting the exhaust.

Step 6: Refill with new engine oil

• Lower your Telluride off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill opening.
• Pour in 6.5 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic, then reinstall the oil filler 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 as needed (typically ends up near ~6.9 quarts total with filter). Sneak up on “FULL.”

Step 7: Check for leaks

• With the engine running, look under the vehicle for any dripping at the drain plug and filter area.
• Shut the engine off and re-check the oil level one more time after a few minutes.

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✅ After Repair

• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a recycling center or parts store that accepts waste oil.
• Wipe any spilled oil off the engine/splash shield with shop towels.
• If the maintenance reminder is on, reset it in the instrument cluster using the steering wheel buttons: User Settings > Convenience > Service Interval > Reset (wording may vary by cluster).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $120-$220 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$85 (parts only)

You Save: $75-$135 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.8-1.2 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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