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Oil Change on a 3.1L V6

M

Motorbreath

New member
Hey all!

I'm planning on doing my first oil change and was wondering if anyone could help me locate the oil tank underneath the car, and where the oil filter is located. Pictures would be even better. I just want to make sure I unscrew the correct screw!

I own a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 3.1L V6

Thanks for your time!
 


Here is the oil pan, only has 1 drain plug.

The filter is on the front side of the motor just above the oil pan, look between the metal sub frame and oil pan/motor and it's there. Oil will run down the side, have some brake cleaner or something with a rag to clean it up.

$(KGrHqF,!qcFGlFI-ITVBR0P+m7k5Q~~60_35.JPG
 
Fivefingerdeathpunch said:
Here is the oil pan, only has 1 drain plug.

The filter is on the front side of the motor just above the oil pan, look between the metal sub frame and oil pan/motor and it's there. Oil will run down the side, have some brake cleaner or something with a rag to clean it up.

$%28KGrHqF,%21qcFGlFI-ITVBR0P+m7k5Q%7E%7E60_35.JPG
Click to expand...

Thanks FFDP! Much appreciated!
 
I have a quick quesiton. I just got the jack and stands, and was wondering the best place for the jack in front on the underside of the car? The manual only shows where to put the stands (6 inch away from the front tires) Again, pictures would be great.

Thanks again!
 
You can jack it up on the metal subframe, I choose the 1 of the corners where the control arm bolts into the subframe and jack it up high enough for me to squeeze under there, I place the jack stand either under the subframe area or under that sides control arm just incase. Personally I don't care to get both front tires off the ground, I'm alright with not getting that last 1/4th of a quart of old oil from the one corner out when I only jack up one side.
 
this is where i jack the car up from, the jack cup is over the sub frame bushing and bolt.

jacklocation_zps94452ccd.jpg


you can put your jack stands on the frame to the right of the jack.

if you have a strong enough jack you can jack from the middle of the front part of the sub frame, and lift both wheels up at the same time. then put the jack stands under the frame, lower the jack slowly.

car ramps are the easy way to get it up in the air. they are on sale all the time at parts stores and harbor freight.
 


that jack should be ok for lifting the front of the car all at once. just make sure your on the frame not its not gonna slide off, you can take out the rad or worse.

the jack stands if you got a harbor freight near by they cost 25 bucks for 3 ton stands. no delivery charge of course.

not sure what part of earth your from lol
 
"not sure what part of earth your from lol" hahaha I'm in Los Angeles. I was just reading some reviews on those Torin stands, and someone pointed out the poor welding job on them.
 


the negative reviews are from user error. aka morons. im sure the guy with a bent foot had the car sliding off it.(making the stand lean hard) you want to set the lips on the stands to the edges of your frame for stability. locking them under the frame.
 
Thanks Scotty! I'll take a picture of how my grand prix looks once it's lifted to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

Thank you for your time and help!
 
Excuse me guys for being such a noob at this, but where exactly is the subframe in the front of the car located? Here is a pic. I tried to get under my car as much as I could without jacking my car up. DSCN3258 fiberglass.jpg
 
Where the ass in glass is, directly under that is the metal subframe, you can see the little bit of rust color on the edge. It's pretty much a square metal frame.
 


Ramps are from my experience not fun, you gotta line it up right and not to try to scrape the bumper or fly off the end. On my car and my moms I had to used wood so it wouldn't scrape. My moms car was worse because the trans slips and im afraid of it catching 1st and making a big problem.

Jack and stands is literally 2 min, chok thenrear wheels, jack up from front of the sub frame, slide two jack stands on either side in the middle of the sub frame roughly. Lower car on stands done, I like to move the jack out of the way but still keep it supporting some weight of the car.

Sent from the Milky Way
 
ramps are fine, you need to use common sense like anything else. like dont use them on dirt or grass with out a board under them. or they sink and kill you.

dont use them on your driveway on a hot ass day as they will sink into the driveway and leave nice scars. always use a board under them on a drive way. cement is fine. asphalt will get f ed up

once they are bent, toss em out, buy a new pair.

the big one, always set the e brake while in gear, then put the car in neutral. let of the pedal brake let the car settle, then into park.

when its time to come off the ramps, put it in gear first, then take the e brake off. doing this will keep it from doing that god awe full clunk.

this is how you should also park on hill to keep from the park pawl getting hung on. provided your e brake works.
 
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