How to Drop the Oil Pan in a Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is a popular, midsized, four-door sedan produced since 1988. The fourth generation, with model years from 2006 through the current model, are the most common vehicles. Dropping the oil pan in the Sonata is required if there is a hole in the pan, usually caused by the vehicle hitting something underneath.

Instructions

1

Take the Sonata for a ride for at least 5 minutes to allow the oil in the vehicle to circulate. Pull onto a flat, secure surface and turn the vehicle off. Place a jack and jack stands under the vehicle and raise it, following the directions provided by the jack's manufacturer.

2

Put an oil drip pan under the engine's oil pan, found under the vehicle, between the tires. The oil pan is a rectangular shaped metal pan.

3

Twist off the drain bolt, located on the back (facing the back of the vehicle) using a wrench. Once the bolt is removed, the oil from within the oil pan will flow into the pan and will drain for at least 10 minutes.

4

Replace the oil drain bolt once all oil has been removed. Remove the oil from under the vehicle, cover and store to reuse if new or to dispose of properly.

5

Go under the hood of the Sonata and locate the negative battery cable, on the battery box, towards the very front of the car on the left hand side. Use a wrench to unscrew the bolt holding the cable in place.

6

Head under the Sonata, locate the engine splash shield, and exhaust front pipe. Use a wrench to unscrew both of these. They are located over the top of the oil pan. Remove the timing belt in the same fashion.

7

Position one hand on the bottom of the oil pan and use the other to unscrew each of the oil pan bolts, of which there are 16. To remove them, unscrew one then locate the one across from it. Remove each of the bolts in a crisscross fashion until the oil pan drops off.