Special Edition Vehicles - Oil Change on WS6

Is it tough to get to the oil filter on a 01 WS6? What's the best type of wrench to buy?

-Also, where is the best place to put jack stands on these cars when you jack up the front?

Wanted to change the oil for the first time this weekend...going with Mobil 1 oil and filter.

Thanks!!!

The filter can be a PITA, I would advise getting the truck filter if you can find it, AC Delco part #PF61(I think). It is longer and you can fill the car with a full 6 quarts not to mention it is a little longer which will help getting it off on the next change. Since you are going to run the Mobile 1 filter just cross reference the number

I place the jackstands under the front subframe behind the front wheels or you can put them under the lower a-arms

hmmmm i dont have to jack my camaro up to do an oil change......i am at stock height tho.....i just reach in through the wheel well behind the drivers side front wheel.....another option which is what im goona start doing is just buy a K&N wrench off filter

I used to work at a Tire and Lube Express and have literally done thousands of oil changes on just about any vehicle you can name.

If you do an oil change correctly, you should NEVER need an oil filter wrench. When putting the filter on, there's no need to get it super tight. Once it is snug to the motor, do another half turn. You can easily take it off by hand next time you change the oil. I timed myself once for an oil change on my '95 (not that much different than an LS1 as far as filter location/access) and it took me 11 minutes, including jack the car up, letting it down, and adding oil.

I changed oil on my buddy's GT500 recently, and it took about 15-20 mintues start to finish and those filters are a pain in the ass to get a (above the front driver's a-arm). I even took extra care in not making a mess or getting oil on anything. Still just used my hand though, because I was the one that did the last oil change too ;)

I always hate the first time people ask me to change their oil, because dealerships and shops usually put it about 2 full rotations past snug. Gotta love when you have to get out a hammer and a put a screw driver through the filter to get it off when you should be able to do it with just your right hand :bang:

/rant

MasterTomos, I know what you are saying and this works 99% of the time, but just wait till you have one back off on you. It DOES happen. That is why shops tighten them gorilla tight. I still only tighten by hand, but it's usually 3/4 to a full turn.Then sometimes I can get it off by hand, but other times like on the camaro since I can't get a whole hand on it, I have to use a wrench.
Just my two cents.

I have done probably around 2,000 oil changes, none of which have ever backed off. In my experience, half a turn past snug (or so) combined with the fact that they get pressurized and "sucked up" to the motor after driving them has always resulted in a nice snug fit.

Also, i NEVER put oil on the gasket. The reason people do this is to make sure the old gasket doesn't stick to the motor when you take off the previous oil filter. This is just lubricating the gasket, which I'm not sure why you'd want to do that...Just make sure the old gasket came off with the old filter when you take it off.

I've had more oil filters internally collapse due to poor build quality (maybe 3 or 4 times) than I have had cars have filters back off. So in my experience, it's more likely that your filter will fall apart than back off at a half turn past snug.

To each his own.

OP, I am not mechanically inclined and I can do the oil change with little effort. I use ramps that lift the front end up. I found a set that are wide enough to fit the tires properly. It is a bit of a tight squeeze to get the filter off but as stated by others, don't crank the new filter on. Tight is good but don't overdo it as it is too difficult to remove the next time.