🔧 Impala - Engine Oil and Oil Filter Change

This service drains the old engine oil, replaces the spin-on oil filter, and refills your Impala with fresh oil. Regular oil changes protect the 2.5L engine from wear and sludge buildup.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes

Assumption: Your Impala retains its original oil pan, drain plug, and filter arrangement.

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level, solid ground and never get beneath a vehicle supported only by a jack.
• 🧤 Let the engine cool until the exhaust and oil pan are safe to touch; warm oil can cause burns.
• 🚗 Keep the transmission in Park and apply the parking brake.
• 🛑 Do not start the engine while it is raised or while the oil is drained.
• 🔋 Battery disconnection is not required for this service.
• ♻️ Collect all used oil and take it to an authorized recycling facility.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Vehicle ramps rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks rated for passenger vehicles
• 15mm socket
• 3/8-inch-drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs
• 64mm 14-flute oil filter socket
• Drain pan with 6-quart minimum capacity
• Long-neck engine-oil funnel
• Engine-oil dipstick cleaning cloths
• Nitrile mechanic gloves
• Safety glasses

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• SAE 5W-20 full-synthetic engine oil meeting GM dexos1 specification - Qty: 5 quarts
• Spin-on engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Engine-oil drain plug sealing washer - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Drive for about five minutes, then park on level ground and switch off the engine.
• 🛑 Apply the parking brake and place the transmission in Park.
• ⏳ Wait at least five minutes so hot oil and exhaust parts can cool.
• 📏 Confirm the oil container states SAE 5W-20 and carries the GM dexos1 approval.
• 🧾 Record the mileage and date for your maintenance history.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and secure the front

• Place the vehicle ramps rated 2-ton minimum directly in front of both front tires.
• Drive slowly onto the ramps, place the transmission in Park, switch off the engine, and apply the parking brake.
• Place the wheel chocks rated for passenger vehicles firmly behind both rear tires.
• Put on the safety glasses and nitrile mechanic gloves.
• Ask a helper to guide you onto ramps.

Step 2: Open the oil fill points

• Open the hood and locate the engine-oil filler cap on top of the engine.
• Turn the cap counterclockwise by hand and set it aside.
• Pull out the dipstick, wipe it with an engine-oil dipstick cleaning cloth, and leave it slightly raised. This allows the oil to drain more freely.

Step 3: Drain the old engine oil

• Position the drain pan with 6-quart minimum capacity under the drain plug at the bottom of the oil pan.
• Use the 15mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug carefully by hand while keeping your fingers away from the oil stream.
• Allow the oil to drain until only an occasional drip remains, usually 10-15 minutes.
• Remove the old sealing washer and clean the drain plug with an engine-oil dipstick cleaning cloth.

Step 4: Reinstall the drain plug

• Fit the new engine-oil drain plug sealing washer onto the drain plug.
• Thread the plug clockwise by hand until fully seated. Stop and restart if it does not turn easily.
• Use the 15mm socket and 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs to torque the drain plug to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• Wipe the area clean with an engine-oil dipstick cleaning cloth.
• Hand-starting prevents costly oil-pan thread damage.

Step 5: Remove the old oil filter

• Move the drain pan with 6-quart minimum capacity beneath the spin-on oil filter.
• Fit the 64mm 14-flute oil filter socket over the filter. This cup-shaped specialty socket grips the end of the filter.
• Use the 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to turn the filter counterclockwise until loose.
• Unscrew the filter by hand and keep its open end upright because it contains oil.
• Check that the old rubber filter gasket came off with the filter. Remove it by hand if it remains stuck to the engine.
• Clean the filter mounting surface with an engine-oil dipstick cleaning cloth.

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Apply a light film of fresh SAE 5W-20 engine oil to the new filter’s rubber gasket using a gloved fingertip.
• Thread the new filter clockwise onto the engine by hand.
• When the gasket first contacts the mounting surface, tighten the filter by hand approximately another three-quarters of a turn.
• Do not tighten the new filter with the 64mm 14-flute oil filter socket unless its installation instructions provide a specific torque.
• A lubricated gasket seals and removes more easily.

Step 7: Add fresh engine oil

• Place the long-neck engine-oil funnel in the oil-filler opening.
• Pour in approximately 4.5 quarts of SAE 5W-20 full-synthetic engine oil meeting GM dexos1 specification.
• Remove the funnel and reinstall the oil-filler cap clockwise by hand.
• Reinsert the dipstick completely.
• Confirm that no tools or containers remain in the engine compartment.

Step 8: Circulate the oil and inspect

• Make sure no one is beneath the vehicle, then start the engine.
• Confirm that the oil-pressure warning light turns off within a few seconds. Switch off the engine immediately if it remains illuminated.
• Let the engine idle for approximately 30 seconds while watching underneath for leakage at the filter and drain plug.
• Switch off the engine and wait five minutes.

Step 9: Lower the vehicle and set the oil level

• Remove the wheel chocks rated for passenger vehicles.
• With a helper guiding, slowly reverse off the vehicle ramps rated 2-ton minimum and park on level ground.
• Apply the parking brake, switch off the engine, and wait five minutes.
• Remove the dipstick and wipe it with an engine-oil dipstick cleaning cloth. Reinsert it completely, then remove it again to read the level.
• Add small amounts through the long-neck engine-oil funnel until the level reaches the upper crosshatched mark.
• The approximate refill capacity with a new filter is 5.0 quarts (4.7 liters). Use the dipstick as the final authority and do not overfill.

Step 10: Reset the engine-oil life monitor

• Switch the ignition on without starting the engine.
• Use the right-side steering-wheel controls to display Driver Information Center > Info > Remaining Oil Life.
• Press and hold the check-mark button until the display changes to 100%.
• If prompted, highlight Yes with the arrow controls and press the check-mark button.
• Switch the ignition off, restart the engine, and verify the oil-life display remains at 100%.

---

✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check the dipstick again after the first drive and add oil only if it is below the upper crosshatched mark.
• 🔍 Inspect the drain plug and oil filter for fresh oil after the engine has run.
• 🛢️ Pour the used oil into a sealed container and take it with the old filter to an authorized recycling facility.
• 🚫 Never pour used oil onto the ground or into household drains.
• 📅 Follow the oil-life monitor, checking the oil level regularly and changing the oil at least once per year.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹5,500-₹10,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹3,500-₹7,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹2,000-₹3,000 by doing it yourself!

Local labor and imported parts prices vary. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.5-1.0 hour.

---

🎯 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.