🔧 Trax - Engine Oil and Oil Filter Change

Your Trax uses a replaceable cartridge-style oil filter inside a reusable housing cap. Drain the old oil, replace the filter and sealing ring, refill with GM-approved oil, then reset the oil-life monitor.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Let the engine cool until the oil is warm, not hot. Hot oil can cause serious burns.
• 🛑 Work on firm, level ground and apply the parking brake.
• ⚠️ Never work beneath your Trax while it is supported only by a floor jack.
• 🧤 Wear gloves and safety glasses because used engine oil is a skin and eye irritant.
• 🔩 Do not overtighten the plastic oil-filter cap; it can crack and leak.
• 🔋 Battery disconnection is not required.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 24mm socket
• Torx T45 bit socket
• 3/8-inch-drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch-drive 6-inch extension
• 3/8-inch-drive torque wrench rated 7-75 ft-lbs
• Oil drain pan rated 6-quart minimum
• Automotive funnel with 1-inch outlet
• Plastic O-ring pick
• Low-profile floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks rated for passenger vehicles
• Shop towels
• Nitrile mechanic gloves
• ANSI-rated safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• SAE 5W-30 full-synthetic engine oil meeting GM dexos1 specification - Qty: 5 quarts
• Cartridge engine oil filter with cap O-ring - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain-plug sealing ring - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Drive briefly or idle the engine for about three minutes. Warm oil drains more completely.
• 🅿️ Park on firm, level ground, shift into Park, apply the parking brake, and switch off the engine.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks firmly behind both rear tires.
• 📏 Keep your Trax level while draining and checking the final oil level.
• ♻️ Prepare a sealed container so the used oil can be taken to an authorized recycling facility.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Open the Hood and Loosen the Fill Cap

• Open the hood and locate the oil-fill cap on top of the engine.
• Turn the cap counterclockwise by hand and set it on a clean shop towel.
• Pull out the yellow-handled dipstick, wipe it with a shop towel, and leave it slightly raised. This allows air into the engine while the oil drains.

Step 2: Raise and Support the Front

• Place a 2-ton floor jack beneath the approved front-center lifting point.
• Raise the front only high enough to provide safe access.
• Position 2-ton jack stands beneath the reinforced front side lifting points, then slowly lower your Trax onto them.
• Gently push the vehicle to verify it is stable before going underneath.
• A jack stand is a rigid support that safely holds the vehicle after lifting.

Step 3: Drain the Used Oil

• Position the 6-quart drain pan beneath the oil-pan drain plug.
• Wear safety glasses and gloves, then use a Torx T45 bit socket and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Finish removing the plug carefully by hand and allow the oil to drain for at least five minutes.
• Inspect the plug and install a new drain-plug sealing ring.
• Clean the plug and oil-pan sealing surface with a shop towel.
• Start the plug by hand to prevent crossed threads, then use the Torx T45 bit socket and torque wrench to torque to 14 Nm (10 ft-lbs).
• Stop tightening immediately when the wrench clicks.

Step 4: Remove the Oil Filter

• From above the engine, locate the black oil-filter housing cap near the front of the engine.
• Place shop towels around the housing to catch drips.
• Use a 24mm socket, 6-inch extension, and 3/8-inch-drive ratchet to turn the cap counterclockwise.
• Lift the cap and attached cartridge filter from the housing. A cartridge filter is a replaceable paper element fitted inside a reusable cap.
• Hold the assembly above the housing briefly so excess oil can drain back into the engine.

Step 5: Install the New Filter and O-Ring

• Pull the old cartridge filter straight off the housing cap by hand.
• Use a plastic O-ring pick to remove the old rubber O-ring from the cap groove without scratching the plastic.
• An O-ring is the round rubber seal that prevents oil from leaking around the cap.
• Apply a thin film of fresh 5W-30 oil to the new O-ring with a gloved finger.
• Fit the new O-ring into the same cap groove. Do not place it against the cap’s outer flange or threaded area.
• Push the new cartridge filter squarely onto the cap until fully seated.
• Insert the assembly into the housing and thread the cap clockwise by hand.
• Use the 24mm socket and torque wrench to torque to 25 Nm (18 ft-lbs).
• A dry or misplaced O-ring commonly causes leaks.

Step 6: Lower the Vehicle

• Confirm that the drain plug is installed and remove the drain pan from beneath your Trax.
• Use the 2-ton floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove both stands, then lower the vehicle slowly onto level ground.
• Leave the rear wheel chocks installed until the repair is complete.

Step 7: Add Fresh Engine Oil

• Insert the automotive funnel into the oil-fill opening.
• Add approximately 4 quarts of SAE 5W-30 full-synthetic oil meeting GM dexos1 specification.
• Wait one minute, fully insert the dipstick, then remove it and inspect the level.
• Add oil in small amounts until it reaches the upper crosshatched mark. The approximate capacity with a new filter is 4.0 L (4.2 US qt).
• Do not automatically pour in all five quarts; overfilling can damage the engine and catalytic converter.
• Remove the funnel and tighten the oil-fill cap securely by hand.

Step 8: Check for Leaks and Verify the Level

• Start the engine and confirm that the red oil-pressure warning light turns off within a few seconds.
• Switch off the engine immediately if the warning light remains on.
• With the engine running, use a flashlight and inspect the filter cap and drain-plug area for leaks without reaching near moving or hot parts.
• Switch off the engine and wait at least five minutes on level ground.
• Use the dipstick and shop towel to check the level again. Add 5W-30 oil through the funnel as needed, without exceeding the upper mark.

Step 9: Reset the Engine Oil-Life Monitor

• Turn the ignition on without starting the engine. For keyed ignition, turn the key to ON. For push-button ignition, press the start button without pressing the brake pedal.
• Use the MENU button on the turn-signal lever to display the Vehicle Information Menu.
• Rotate the lever’s thumbwheel until Remaining Oil Life appears.
• Press and hold the SET/CLR button at the end of the lever.
• If a confirmation message appears, use the thumbwheel to select Yes, then press SET/CLR.
• Verify the display reads 100%, then switch the ignition off.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Take a short drive, park on level ground, switch off the engine, and wait at least five minutes.
• 🔍 Recheck the dipstick and inspect beneath your Trax for fresh oil drops.
• 🧽 Clean spilled oil from the engine and underbody with shop towels.
• ♻️ Pour the used oil into a sealed container and take it with the old filter to an authorized oil-recycling facility. Do not place liquid oil in household waste or pour it onto the ground.
• 📝 Record the date, mileage, oil viscosity, and filter replacement.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $80-$140 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$60 (parts only)

You Save: $45-$80 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.3-0.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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