How to Remove the Oil Filter From a Chevy Z71 Tahoe

The Z71 Tahoe's engine oil operates to both cool and lubricate the internal components of the engine. The most important components that the oil must pass through are the main bearings, the connecting rod bearings and the camshaft bearings. The distance between each bearing and its respective component is very small. It is between these small spaces that the oil must flow through. As the oil flows throughout the engine, it picks up small pieces of debris, which can damages the engine and impede the oil's ability to flow through the bearings. For this reason, the Z71 uses an oil filter, through which the oil circulates. The filter is designed to prevent the debris picked up by the oil from damaging the engine. However, the oil filter must periodically be replaced, which requires that the existing filter first be removed.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oil filter wrench

1. Raise hood and locate the oil filter. The oil filter is located on the driver's side of the Tahoe's engine block, towards the bottom of the block, and is cylindrical in shape.

2. Slide an oil filter wrench onto the body of the filter. An oil filter wrench consists of a single handle attached to a metal loop. The inner side of the loop is coated in rubber, which allows the wrench to grasp onto the filter. Simply slide the metal loop onto the body of the filter.

3. Press down on the filter wrench to unscrew the filter from the engine block. As the wrench is pressed downwards, it will tighten the loop around the filter. Once the wrench cannot be pressed down any longer, such as where the handle of the wrench contacts the engine block, simple reposition the wrench onto the filter so that the handle can then be pressed downward again. Once the filter is loose, unscrew the filter with your hand until it disengages from the engine block.

References

• Auto Repair For Dummies; Deanna Sclar; 2008
• Chevrolet 2006 Tahoe/Suburban Owner's Manual; General Motors; 2006