An oil filter change is a basic but critical part of an automobile's maintenance plans. As the oil circulates throughout the engine, it gradually picks up very small metal shavings and other debris left from normal engine operation. The purpose of the filter is to remove this debris from the oil supply. A dirty filter will result in the debris continuously circulating throughout the engine, causing damage. Removing an oil filter from a GMC Yukon Denali can be a do-it-yourself project with a few simple steps.
Change the oil and replace the filter when the engine is cool to avoid burns and allow the engine to fully drain the oil.
Raise the front of the Yukon with a floor jack, then lower the vehicle onto two jack stands.
Climb underneath the driver’s side of the vehicle, beneath the engine, and locate the oil filter. The filter is a cylinder approximately 6 inches in length which extends from the side of the engine.
Place a oil drip pan underneath the oil filter. Although the vast majority of the engine’s oil will drain from the oil pan, there is likely to be a small amount of oil that drips from the engine once the filter is removed.
Attach an oil filter wrench to the oil filter. An oil filter wrench consists of a single handle and a metal band attached to the handle. This wrench is specifically designed to provide the torque necessary to remove the usually slippery filter. Slide the metal band over the filter and position the band as close to the portion of the filter that enters the engine as possible.
Pull down on the handle of the filter wrench to twist the oil filter in a counterclockwise direction. Once the filter breaks free, continue to twist the filter in a counterclockwise direction by hand until the filter is removed.
