Oil Change Tips
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:47 pm
I changed the oil on my Kizashi for the second time today and decided to post what I learned to make the job easier for others.
- Six 10 mm bolts on the bottom to remove the plastic tray from under the oil pan.
- 14 mm drain plug, when you remove it oil shots out pretty far. It is easier to catch it if you have a high bucket close to the drain hole. As you unscrew the plug, hold it in with your finger until all the threads are released, then remove your hand with the plug out of the way and let the old oil flow.
- The oil filter is in the front of the engine, above the AC compressor. The location of the oil filter is inconvenient, plan ahead on how you will remove the old filter. You may prefer to take off the exhaust manifold heat shield first; it is held by three 10 mm bolts (shorter than the ones that hold the bottom plastic tray).
- I went to the local Suzuki dealer, and they sold me a filter made in China out of unknown materials. I went to Walmart, and got a synthetic filter made in Canada. The FRAM brand has four or so different levels of filters, from very cheap to more expensive, the part number is 4386 with two letters in front of it. You can also try Mobil M1-103 or WIX 51396 and other cross-reference numbers. My concern was that FRAM filters have the thread set about one-tenth of an inch shallower than the Suzuki filter; but it worked just fine, Kizashi engine has plenty of thread on the filter mount to accommodate the aftermarket filters.
- Lubricate the gasket on the new filter with fresh motor oil, and pour some of the fresh oil into the new filter before you put it on. You can fill the filter about half way with oil, and let it stand for a bit to let the oil absorb in the material, so that it doesn't run when you are ready to screw the filter in.
- To unscrew the old filter you will need a special wrench. I used Lisle filter wrench part number 63600, and I like how it works.
- Here is what you can do so that not to make a mess when you unscrew the old oil filter. Tear off and neatly fold several sheets of paper towels. Place them above the AC compressor and under the old oil filter before you take it off. The sheets will catch oil that spills while you take the old oil filter off.
- It is probably easier to take the old oil filter off from the top. Loosen it with the wrench first, then unscrew it by hand, turn the filter can down as soon as it is off, and lift it up.
- Make sure the rubber gasket came off with the old filter, before you put the new filter on.
- Six 10 mm bolts on the bottom to remove the plastic tray from under the oil pan.
- 14 mm drain plug, when you remove it oil shots out pretty far. It is easier to catch it if you have a high bucket close to the drain hole. As you unscrew the plug, hold it in with your finger until all the threads are released, then remove your hand with the plug out of the way and let the old oil flow.
- The oil filter is in the front of the engine, above the AC compressor. The location of the oil filter is inconvenient, plan ahead on how you will remove the old filter. You may prefer to take off the exhaust manifold heat shield first; it is held by three 10 mm bolts (shorter than the ones that hold the bottom plastic tray).
- I went to the local Suzuki dealer, and they sold me a filter made in China out of unknown materials. I went to Walmart, and got a synthetic filter made in Canada. The FRAM brand has four or so different levels of filters, from very cheap to more expensive, the part number is 4386 with two letters in front of it. You can also try Mobil M1-103 or WIX 51396 and other cross-reference numbers. My concern was that FRAM filters have the thread set about one-tenth of an inch shallower than the Suzuki filter; but it worked just fine, Kizashi engine has plenty of thread on the filter mount to accommodate the aftermarket filters.
- Lubricate the gasket on the new filter with fresh motor oil, and pour some of the fresh oil into the new filter before you put it on. You can fill the filter about half way with oil, and let it stand for a bit to let the oil absorb in the material, so that it doesn't run when you are ready to screw the filter in.
- To unscrew the old filter you will need a special wrench. I used Lisle filter wrench part number 63600, and I like how it works.
- Here is what you can do so that not to make a mess when you unscrew the old oil filter. Tear off and neatly fold several sheets of paper towels. Place them above the AC compressor and under the old oil filter before you take it off. The sheets will catch oil that spills while you take the old oil filter off.
- It is probably easier to take the old oil filter off from the top. Loosen it with the wrench first, then unscrew it by hand, turn the filter can down as soon as it is off, and lift it up.
- Make sure the rubber gasket came off with the old filter, before you put the new filter on.