The Volvo C30 is a small but stylish three-door hatchback from this Swedish automaker. The C30 is aimed squarely at first-time Volvo buyers as well as the youth market. Like any European car (and most cars for that matter), having the C30 worked on at the dealer can be an expensive proposition. Simple maintenance items such as an oil and filter change can be done easily by the owner with the right tools and approach. Changing the oil in a C30 should take under an hour.
Raise the Volvo with a floor jack and lower the front of it onto a pair of jack stands. Remove the seven Torx (star-shaped) bolts that hold the engine splash shield to the underside of the car with a socket and a Torx bit.
Remove the two bolts that hold on the air intake with a socket. This is located between the middle of the car and the passenger side, just behind the grill.
Loosen the oil filter housing cap with a 36 mm socket. You will need to use an extension on the ratchet to reach the cap---it is located below the air intake that was removed in Step 2.
Place an oil drain container under the engine and the oil drain plug. Remove the oil drain plug in the bottom of the engine with a 17 mm socket and ratchet. Let the oil drain until the dripping stops.
Finish loosening and remove the oil filter housing cap. Remove the cartridge filter if it did not come out with the cap. Install a new filter. Thread the filter housing cap back on and tighten it with the socket and ratchet.
Reinstall the oil drain plug with a new copper crush washer and tighten it. This is also a good time to upgrade to a magnetic drain plug, which will pick up any metal in the oil from the engine.
Open the oil cap on top of the engine. Fill the motor with 6.1 quarts of 5W30 synthetic motor oil. Reinstall the air intake with the two bolts that hold it on. Lower the car off of the jack stands. Start the engine and ensure that there are no oil leaks.
