The manufacturer of the 2002 Chevy recommends the replacement of the engine oil and filter every 3,000 miles under the severe duty maintenance schedule and every 7,500 miles under the normal duty schedule. The 2.2-liter DOHC engine featured in the 2002 Chevy Cavalier used a canister-style oil filter cartridge. All other engine options in this vehicle for the 2002 year used standard spin-on-style cartridge oil filters. A special, shallow 1-1/4-inch socket is require to replace the oil filter in this engine without damaging the plastic oil filter housing cap.
Apply the parking brake. Place wheel chocks behind the rear tires to secure the vehicle while you work under it. Position the floor jack under the driver-side front lifting point, and lift the car until there is room to safely work underneath. Place a jack stand under the front sub-frame. Lower the jack until the car is resting on the stand.
Slide the drain pan under the oil pan. Remove the oil pan drain plug using a 13 mm wrench. Allow the oil to drain into the pan. Inspect the drain plug gasket, and replace the gasket if it is damaged. Replace the drain plug. Torque the plug to 35 foot-pounds using a torque wrench. Slide the drain pan and wrench from under the car.
Lift the car off the jack stand and remove the stand. Lower the jack slowly until the car is sitting on the ground again. Open the hood, and support it with the hood prop. Remove the oil filler cap located in the front of the engine compartment behind the power steering pump. The oil level dipstick in the 2.2-liter engine is attached to the oil filler cap.
Locate the oil filter housing cap between the right intake manifold runner and the power steering pump. Remove the cap using the 1-1/4-inch shallow socket, and extension and ratchet. Unsnap the old oil filter from the inside of the housing cap and snap the new filter into place. Remove the rubber O-ring seal from the cap, and install the new one supplied with the oil filter. Reinstall the filter and housing cap.
Place a funnel into the oil filler tube and add 4.5 quarts of 5W30 engine oil to the crank case. Reinstall the dipstick and start the engine. Look under the car for leaks. Turn off the engine. Check the oil level a final time before driving the Cavalier.
