Where is the oil filter on my '96 GC 3.8L? Is it easy to get to or do have to jack the vehicle to change it? Whoopee first oil change and I'm so pumped.

 

It's screwed onto the side of the block. Wouldnt' you have to jack the vehicle to drain the oil anyway?

 

Thanks but not really. I have a shallow drain pan that allows me to slide it under the oil pan and still have room to finger remove the drain plug. I find that filter location is my usual problem. My Ranger filter I have to access from the passenger side just behind the front wheel. The filter on my wife's Civic is buried in some cavity behind the engine. I let her take it to the shop.

 

As you slide under the van look up. The oil filter should just about hit you in the face. I'm only 150# and 6' tall and I can't slide under my dad's Town and country and reach the drain plug without jacking it up. Are you a stick man?

 

I found the filter, as you suggested, on the front of the engine toward the passenger side and partly obscurred by a piece of black plastic. I would call that easy access. It came off easily. I was able to reach the drain plug by lying in front of the van with the long axis of my body perpendicular to the long axis of the van. I was able to initially loosen the drain plug by kicking the wrench with my boot once I have the box end on the plug. Then I can reach in and hand wrench it off. I'm 5'10" and weigh about 155#. Not a stick man but I do take a shirt with a 34" sleeve. I friend used to say I have "ape arms".

Thanks for your help. Another successful oil change and no one was killed or injured in the process

 

Darn, Darwin was wrong. lol

 

Maybe not. I have heard it usually takes many generations for the effects to manifest................, so hold on to your jewels.

However, I personally believe the Darwin Effect can irreversibly modify your gene pool quite suddenly........especially if that jack slips!