How to Change the Oil in a Pontiac Grand Am
The Pontiac Grand Am has two different oil change procedures. If your Grand Am has a 2.5 liter engine, then you service it through the oil drain plug. Other engines undergo a regular oil changing process. Check the owner's manual for the proper oil capacity for your particular model and change the oil every 7,500 miles.
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Instructions
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Prepare the Pontiac Grand Am for an Oil Change
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1
Lift your Pontiac Grand Am with a jack and place the car on jack stands. If you don't have jack stands, drive the car onto a set of wheel ramps.
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2
Pop the hood and remove the dipstick and oil filler cap. The dipstick is on the upper engine block. For some engine models the dipstick and oil fill are one component, with the oil fill located on the valve cover.
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3
Gather an oil drip pan, socket wrench, oil filter wrench, cleaning cloths and a new oil filter. Slide under your Pontiac Grand Am.
Change the Oil on a 2.5 Liter Engine
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4
Locate the oil drain plug underneath your Pontiac Grand Am. Service the filter through the oil drain plug opening. Remove the plug with the wrench and drain the oil for 10 to 15 minutes into the drip pan.
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5
Turn the filter slowly. Pull it downward and remove the filter with a pair of pliers.
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Dump the old oil into the oil drip pan and put on the new oil filter. Make sure the O-ring comes off with the old filter. Tighten the oil filter by hand and use a wrench to replace the oil drain plug.
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7
Move the jack stands and lower the Pontiac Grand Am or drive it off the wheel ramps. Go under the hood and add oil. Turn on the engine and check the oil pressure gauge to make sure it rises. If it doesn't, turn the car off and add more oil.
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Take an oil reading on the dipstick. If the oil level isn't at full, add more oil.
Change the Oil for Other Engines
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9
Locate the oil filter and oil drain plug underneath your Pontiac Grand Am. The oil drain plug is under the oil pan with the filter housed nearby.
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10
Remove the oil drain plug with a wrench. Pull the plug out and let the oil drain for 10 to 15 minutes into the drip pan. Check the gasket and threads for damage. Replace any damaged parts.
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Take off the oil filter with a strap-type oil filter wrench. Dump the old oil into the drip pan and put on the new oil filter. Tighten the oil filter by hand and use a wrench to replace the oil drain plug.
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12
Move the jack stands and lower the Pontiac Grand Am or drive it off the wheel ramps. Go under the hood and add oil. Turn on the engine and check that the oil pressure gauge rises. If it doesn't, turn the car off quickly and add more oil.
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13
Turn off the engine. Take an oil reading on the dipstick. If the oil level isn't at full, add more oil.
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Tips & Warnings
Fill plastic containers with the used oil and take them to an auto parts store or a gas station. Most of these places have oil disposal containers for customers.
