How to Drop the Oil Pan in a Kia Spectra

The Kia Spectra is a compact car, from Kia Motors. It has been in production since 2000, in two generations. The most commonly seen Spectra is the second generation, model years from 2005 through 2008 with a 1.5L engine, 1.6L engine or the 1.8L engine.

Instructions

1

Position the Spectra on a safe surface that is stable and flat. Use a jack and jack stands to raise and then support the vehicle, following all requirements of the manufacturer of the jack for safety.

2

Open the hood of the vehicle and locate the battery which is found in the front of the vehicle, on the right-hand side. Use a wrench to unscrew the bolt holding the negative battery cable in place.

3

Look under the vehicle. If the Spectra is equipped with an engine undercover, use a wrench to unscrew the bolts holding it into place and remove. Place an oil drip pan under the oil pan, located in the center of the vehicle, between the tires. It looks like a rectangular metal pan.

4

Unscrew the oil drain plug found on the back of the oil pan. This allows for oil to drain out of the oil pan and into the oil drip pan. Allow to fully drain, about 10 minutes then replace the oil drain plug.

5

Remove the exhaust pipe from the exhaust manifold using a wrench to remove the bolts and then detach the pipe from the catalytic converter by pulling it off. There may be an exhaust pipe bracket running to the engine block that needs to be removed by using a wrench to remove each of the bolts.

6

Disconnect, using a wrench, the integrated stiffener, if the Spectra is equipped with it. Between the oil pan and engine block, remove the main bearing support and stiffener plat that is located here, if the Spectra is equipped with one. Each is removed using a wrench to disconnect the bolts.

7

Use a wrench to unscrew each of the bolts along the outside edge of the oil pan. Once removed, you may need to pry the pan off of the engine if the gaskets are sticking. Don't damage the gasket contact surface.