🔧 Silverado 1500 - Engine Oil and Filter Change

This is a very manageable first DIY service. You’ll drain the old oil, replace the spin-on filter, refill the engine, and reset the oil-life monitor.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-75 minutes

Assumption: These specifications apply to the stock U.S.-market 6.2L gasoline engine.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level, solid ground with the transmission in Park and the parking brake engaged.
• 🛑 Never crawl under your Silverado while it’s supported only by a floor jack.
• 🌡️ Warm oil drains better, but hot oil and exhaust parts can cause serious burns.
• 🧤 Wear gloves and safety glasses because used engine oil is irritating.
• 🔋 Battery disconnection isn’t required.
• ♻️ Collect every drop and take the used oil and filter to a recycling facility.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 15mm six-point socket
• 3/8-inch-drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs
• Oil filter wrench sized for 3-inch filters
• Oil drain pan rated 12-quart minimum
• Long-neck engine oil funnel
• Floor jack rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 3-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels

An oil-filter wrench grips a stubborn filter for removal. A torque wrench tightens the drain plug to a measured specification.

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• SAE 0W-20 full-synthetic engine oil meeting GM dexos1 specifications - Qty: 8 quarts
• Wix WL10255 premium spin-on engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug sealing washer - Qty: 1 if damaged or flattened

I’d use the Wix here. It has a silicone anti-drainback valve and is built around the manufacturer’s normal service interval. Cheap oil changes get expensive the moment they start dripping.

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📋 Before You Begin

• 📍 Park your Silverado on level pavement and apply the parking brake.
• 🛞 Place wheel chocks firmly behind both rear tires.
• 🌡️ Run the engine for about three minutes, then shut it off and wait five minutes.
• ⬆️ If additional clearance is needed, lift the front using the frame-approved lifting point and support both sides with jack stands.
• 🧰 Position the drain pan before loosening either the plug or filter.
• 📏 Confirm the new oil container says SAE 0W-20 and carries the current dexos1 approval.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Open the oil fill point

• Open the hood and locate the oil filler cap on top of the engine.
• Remove the cap by hand and place it somewhere clean.
• Pull the dipstick slightly upward to let air enter while the oil drains.
• Keep dirt away from the open filler neck.

Step 2: Position the drain pan

• Put on the mechanic gloves and safety glasses.
• Slide the 12-quart drain pan beneath the engine oil-pan drain plug.
• Place the pan slightly behind the plug because the oil initially exits with some force.

Step 3: Drain the old engine oil

• Use the 15mm six-point socket and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug carefully by hand while keeping inward pressure on it.
• Pull the plug away quickly and allow the oil to drain for at least 10 minutes.
• Inspect the plug threads and sealing washer. Replace the washer if it’s cut, flattened, or distorted.

Step 4: Reinstall the drain plug

• Clean the drain-plug threads and sealing surface with shop towels.
• Start the plug by hand for several full turns. It should thread in easily.
• Use the 15mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the plug to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• Never use an impact wrench on the drain plug.

Step 5: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the drain pan directly below the oil filter.
• Use the oil filter wrench to turn the filter counterclockwise until it loosens.
• Unscrew the filter by hand and keep it upright as you lower it.
• Check the engine’s filter mounting surface. Make sure the old rubber gasket didn’t stick to it.
• A stuck old gasket would create a double gasket and a major leak.

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Use a clean finger to spread fresh 0W-20 oil around the new filter’s rubber gasket.
• Thread the new filter clockwise onto the mounting stud by hand.
• Once the gasket touches the mounting surface, tighten the filter approximately three-quarters of one additional turn by hand.
• Don’t use the filter wrench for final tightening unless the filter manufacturer specifically instructs it.
• Hand tight is right for a spin-on filter.

Step 7: Refill the engine

• Insert the long-neck funnel into the oil filler opening.
• Pour in 7.5 quarts of SAE 0W-20 full-synthetic oil first.
• Wait one minute, remove the funnel, and install the filler cap by hand.
• Seat the dipstick fully.

Step 8: Build oil pressure and inspect

• Confirm that no tools remain beneath the truck or inside the engine compartment.
• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Verify that the oil-pressure warning light goes out promptly.
• Use a flashlight to inspect the drain plug and oil filter for fresh leakage.
• Shut the engine off immediately if the warning light stays on or oil leaks rapidly.

Step 9: Set the final oil level

• Shut the engine off and wait at least five minutes on level ground.
• Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean with a shop towel, reinstall it fully, and remove it again.
• Add oil in small amounts until the level reaches the upper crosshatched mark without going above it.
• The expected total capacity with a new filter is approximately 8 quarts.
• Reinstall the dipstick and tighten the filler cap by hand.

Step 10: Reset the oil-life monitor

• Turn the ignition on without starting the engine.
• Use the steering-wheel controls to open Driver Information Center > Info > Oil Life.
• Press and hold the check-mark button until the display resets to 100%.
• If prompted, select Yes using the steering-wheel controls.
• Start the engine and confirm the oil-life display remains at 100%.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Recheck the oil level after the engine has been off for five minutes.
• 🔍 Inspect the drain plug and filter again after your first short drive.
• 📏 Keep the oil level between the dipstick marks. Don’t overfill it.
• ♻️ Pour the used oil into a sealed container and recycle it with the old filter.
• 🧾 Record the date, mileage, oil viscosity, and filter used.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $100-$180 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $55-$95 (oil and filter)

You Save: $45-$85 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.3-0.5 hours.

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