DIY: Pontiac G5 Oil Change
by Arthur HebergerThe short-lived Pontiac G5 was a rebadged Chevy Cobalt, with a few minor interior and exterior design changes, sold from 2007 through 2009 in the U.S. market. The 2.2-liter engine – which was the only engine available in the 2009 G5 – was said to have adequate power under normal conditions, but was noisy when pushed. Customers complained of cramped rear seats, which were difficult to access because of the front seat belts. The only difficult part of an oil change on the 2009 Pontiac G5 is the placement of the oil filter on the 2.2- liter four-cylinder engine.
Step 1
Park your G5 on a solid, level surface. Let the engine cool – engine oil at operating temperature can cause painful burns. Open the hood. Remove the engine oil fill cap. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Lift the front of the vehicle by the front crossmember with a floor jack. Place jack stands under the pinch welds behind the front wheels. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands.
Step 2
Place a drain pan under the oil drain plug on the engine oil pan. Remove the plug using a ratchet and 15 mm socket. Let the oil drain from the engine. Wipe the threads of the drain plug with a clean rag. Remove the gasket from the drain plug and install a new one. Install the plug and tighten it to 18 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.
Step 3
Lower the G5 to the ground. Remove the top engine cover – with the oil fill cap already removed you just need to lift it straight up. Place the drain pan under the oil filter housing.
Step 4
Remove the oil filter housing cap with a 32 mm, low-profile socket. Remove the filter from the cap. Wipe the cap threads clean with a rag. Remove the O-ring from the cap and install the new one. Install the replacement oil filter. Coat the O-ring with a small amount of clean motor oil. Install the cap and tighten it to 18 foot-pounds – be careful, over-torquing the cap could result in damage, causing an oil leak.
Step 5
Wipe any excess oil from the engine. Add motor oil; the 2009 Pontiac G5 owner’s manual recommends, 5 quarts of SAE 5W-30. Install the engine cover. Install the oil fill cap. Start the engine and check for leaks. Shut off the engine, wait a few minutes and check the oil level. Add as necessary to bring the level to the "Full" mark.
Things You'll Need
- Clean rags
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Wheel chocks
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Ratchet
- 15 mm socket
- Drain pan
- 32 mm, low-profile socket
- 6-inch extension
- Torque wrench
- Clean funnel
Warnings
- Do not use an open-end wrench to remove or install the oil filter housing cap. This could cause the hex on the cap to become rounded.
- Be sure to remove all rags from the engine compartment; hot engine parts can ignite oily rags.
Writer Bio
Born in Connecticut, Arthur Heberger started writing how-to articles and reviews in 2009. He has over 20 years experience in the automotive field, is a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certified automotive technician and a Hunter Engineering certified alignment technician. Heberger received his automotive training at Technical Careers Institute in West Haven, Conn. and Hunter Engineering in Springfield, Mass.
