I need help really bad. Can anyone tell me if the sway bar needs to be removed to take the oil filter out on a 4.2L engine? I'm trying to change my oil right now and it looks like it can't be done without the sway bar taken off. Any assistance is appreciated.

 

no, you don't need to take it off. just make sure you get one of the "jaw" type oil wrenches, otherwise you'll have a hell of a time trying to get it off. i just bought a cheapie one from walmart for like $3, and that's def the best $3 i've ever spent. you might be in for a treat trying to find the filter anywhere too. the only place that i've found around here that stocks them is the audi dealership (which they were surprisingly the cheapest as well). neither autozone nor advanced auto had them in stock, but they could order them, but wanted $6x.00 for it!!! the dealership stocks them and they're only $18.00. don't know what the deal with that is.

 

Getting to the oil filter is much easier if you have some ramps.

I got my filters from ECS, made by Mann, for 15 USD a piece. That doesn't include delivery. So if you can get them from the dealer for 18, it would be so much easier. Where I am, the dealer wants 30 USD.

Another place if you are buying a number of filters (over 50 dollars worth)is Germanfilters.com. You can then get free delivery.

 

^^^--i made the assumption that it was on a lift, but i guess that might not be the case. if it isn't on a lift, you should def take katcoota's advice and pick up some ramps for it, or have some other way to get the whole front end up off the ground some so you can get under there. and do make sure you get a wrench for the filter, trust me, you'll thank me later.

 

thanks guys but I ended up needing to undo the sway bar, I had no choice. I put the car on stands but I think I need ramps instead for next time, it sucked working under such a low profile car. I'm not gonna mention how hard it was to put the belly cover back on.