How do you change the oil filter on a 1996 Pontiac sunfire GT?

Answer 1

The generic answer to this question, is to use an oil filter wrench, available at any auto parts store. Be careful not to collapse the filter when you loosen it. Once it's loose, you can unscrew it the rest of the way by hand. Bear in mind here, that if the car has been driven just before you decide to remove/replace the filter, everything, including the oil in the filter, will be very hot! Use caution, please. When you replace the filter, first smear a thin coating of clean oil on the rubber seal in the end of the filter. Then, carefully screw the filter back onto it's mount. You DO NOT want to tighten the filter using the wrench that you used to remove it. Most filter manufacturers suggest that you tighten the filter by hand about 1/8 to 1/4 turn after the filter becomes snug and in contact with the engine. Check the directions on the filter box! I'm guessing that you're doing an oil change at the same time? When the entire oil change/filter change is done, start the car and look for leaks at the filter base and at the oil pan drain plug. If you see no leaks, beauty, you're done! If you DO see leaks, tighten whatever is leaking. Then you're done!. FriPilot