🔧 ILX - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

Changing the oil and oil filter keeps your engine lubricated and removes contaminants that cause wear. On your ILX, this is a straightforward service with a drain bolt and a spin-on oil filter under the engine.

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

Assumption: Stock engine and standard oil pan/filter housing.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Let the engine cool 20-30 minutes to avoid burns from hot oil and exhaust parts.
• ⚠️ Support the car with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses; oil can irritate skin and eyes.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the drive belt and rubber hoses.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this service.

---

🔧 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 6-quart)
• Funnel
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-80 ft-lb range)
• Oil filter wrench, 65mm 14-flute (specialty)
• Shop rags

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (this helps the oil drain smoothly).
• If you raise the front, lift with a floor jack and support with jack stands under solid front support points.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the front of the car

• Place wheel chocks at the rear wheels.
• Lift the front using a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum), then set the car onto jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum).
• Give the car a gentle push to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Drain the engine oil

• Slide a drain pan (at least 6-quart) under the oil pan drain bolt.
• Use a 17mm socket with a 3/8" ratchet to loosen the drain bolt, then finish removing it by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5-10 minutes).
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain bolt and install the new oil drain plug crush washer.
• Reinstall the drain bolt by hand first (to avoid cross-threading), then tighten with a torque wrench: Torque to 39 N·m (29 ft-lbs).
• Tip: Hand-thread 3-4 turns before using tools.

Step 3: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the drain pan under the oil filter area (some oil will spill).
• Use the oil filter wrench, 65mm 14-flute (specialty) to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Use shop rags to wipe the engine’s filter mounting surface clean.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with the filter (a stuck gasket can cause a bad leak).

Step 4: Install the new oil filter

• Put a thin film of fresh oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket (use a glove and a small dab of new oil).
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches the engine surface.
• Tighten the filter an additional 3/4 turn by hand. If you use a torque wrench and adapter, tighten to: Torque to 12 N·m (9 ft-lbs).
• Tip: Hand-tight is usually best for filters.

Step 5: Add new engine oil

• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill hole.
• Pour in about 4.0 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic first.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap.

Step 6: Start the engine and check for leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and look underneath with safety glasses on.
• Check the drain bolt and oil filter area for leaks. Tighten only if needed.

Step 7: Set the oil level correctly

• Wait 3-5 minutes for oil to drain back into the pan.
• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop rags, reinsert, then pull again to read.
• Add oil in small amounts (about 0.2 quart at a time) using the funnel until the level is near the upper mark.
• Tip: Don’t fill above the top mark.

Step 8: Reset the oil life (Maintenance Minder)

• Turn ignition to ON (engine off).
• Use the steering wheel buttons to display oil life on the multi-information display.
• Press and hold the SEL/RESET button until the oil life starts blinking.
• Press and hold SEL/RESET again to reset to 100%.

---

✅ After Repair

• Take a short 5-10 minute drive, then recheck for leaks under the car.
• Recheck the dipstick level after the drive and top off if needed.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a recycling center or auto parts store that accepts waste oil.

---

💰 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 0.8-1.2 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.