2008+ Oil Change w/ pictures (3.6L)

[spaceman78]

hello louie i tryed changing my oil today....i looked at your pictures i took all the 4 10mm nuts off and the 3 push pins out....the plastic shroud still does not come off . am i doing some thing wrong........to me this is a piss poor design bye gm.....my 2004 cts i changed the oil 5 minutes.............

[louiefl99]

Is it held at the front or rear? If it is the front, then you took the wrong push pins out, there are others holding up various bits. The front will drop several inches when the pins are out. If it is held in the rear and the 4 bolts are out, then just give it a good pull straight down. There is a spring clip located between each pair of screws that hold it up. You can see this as the small rectangular slots in the picture above.

[spaceman78]

thank you buddy i will try it again........thank you for the reply enjoy your cts

[spaceman78]

i did my oil change today. every thing turned out well......nexet time will take no time at all.......louie help with the pictures thanks alot********

[cklemmer]

Man, I just did the first oil change on my 2009 DI AWD CTS, and it took me forever. Mostly I was scratching my head about how to get the bottom shroud off, which wasn't like the one in the pic at the top of the thread. Not sure if it was different because it was changed for 09, or if more likely the AWD or DI option changes the shround. In any case, after an ordeal involving 2 sets of ramps, jackstands, and a crushed wheel chock, I got it off. It looked like this:

http://cid-b0421c25cfded1cf.skydrive...S%20Shroud.jpg

The shroud was held on with 4 10mm bolts, as expected, but their placement was totally different. I've circiled the bolt holes in red. The inner bolts are way under the car. I've got long arms, but I don't think I could reach these without putting the car on ramps. Which means now I need a set of ramps that fit under the airdam on this CTS. In blue I circled the two retaining clips. They hold the shroud on nicely while you bolt it on. There were no body clips to remove, which was nice.

Other than the lower shroud, it was a dream.

[zymod]

Originally Posted by cklemmer

Man, I just did the first oil change on my 2009 DI AWD CTS, and it took me forever. . .

. . .Other than the lower shroud, it was a dream.

Many thanks. I'm about to do my first oil change on my '09 DI AWD, and this pic will save much pain and suffering. I'm in your debt.

[smithb]

Thank you for the post. I should be doing my first oil change soon. Anyone use one of those oil sucker machines to get the old oil out? Allegedly (from their ads) mercedes techs use those instead of the drain plug. Then you wouldn't have to remove the bottom shroud at all. I wonder about how much gunk is removed from the bottom of the pan with those things though. I would think a lot of junk would left at the bottom.
On a related note, I heard from forever ago that you should change your oil after 500 or 1,000 miles during break in to get rid of metal and stuff from manufacturing and the break in period. Then I heard that modern oils have low conentration of zinc (or phosphorus, whatever you want to call it) wear inhibitor because it clogs the catalytic converters, but a high concentration is needed for break in and oil from the factory has extra zinc added for the break in period (then I heard this was only needed for flat tappet engines). This along with better manufacturing means you no longer should change your oil early, just at the normal interval. Does anyone know for sure when you should first change your oil?

[scoutpilot]

Why did you remove the shroud? I took mine to a Jiffy Lube and they didn't remove anything.

[louiefl99]

There is a small v-channel at the rear of the shroud rearward of the drain plug, I suppose you could wipe it up with a rag, but chances are that you'll end up dripping some on the ground over time. Not good for the environment, not good for my stain-free driveway. Only takes a few minutes.

[jfrotton]

Thanks to all who have posted, especially, Louie.

Over the weekend, I changed the oil (2009 CTS DI), and all came out just fine. I think the Oil Filter is WAY COOL. BTW, I used Mobil1 5W-30, and used a Fram Oil Filter. Does anyone know if there is a Mobil1 Oil Filter forthis car?

Thanks...Joseph

[poates]

Great Pictures, thanks

[donaldw9521]

i have an 08 cts .build date 10/07. i change my own oil with 5/30 mobil 1. whats weird is this bottom shroud has never been on the car. they must have left it off at factiry. i only have 11.600 miles on car. changed oil/filter twice. i really don't see a usefull purpose for the bottom shroud. or is there?

[reciprocity]

Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Has anyone found the part number for the drain plug gaskets and the bottom engine cover retainer clips? (RWD 09 CTS w/3.6 Direct Inject engine)

[UNFNick2]

so can you change the oil without removing the shroud or do you gotta take it off?

[Cadjiek]

My wife's 09 3.6 non DI does not have a shroud. Changing the oil very easy. Maybe the 3.6 DI only has the shroud??