Look, I'm a very mechanically inclined guy who, for the very first time, changed the oil and filter in a 2008 Sante Fe Limited where i had no idea of what to expect in a cannister filter system. This is not your normal spin on filter!
That may seem wierd but I have never changed a filter that was a cannister type as in this Sante Fe but OH...what a breeze!
I purchase the Fram CH9999 and 6 quarts of Mobil 1 5/20w synthetic... I have 3200 miles on this new car.
It was freaky at first but so simple and I hope someone here will reference this post for a quick "do-it-yourself" maintenance item. Again, it was a breeze.

Yes, first, take a 10mm socket with an extension an unbolt the 4 hex screws and two bolts that hold the plastic cover on the engine top.
Next, take your open end 17mm wrench and unscrew the oil pan drain plug, drain thoroughly.
Now, unscrew that round plastic black cover on the right side of the cover you just removed. that is the cannister. You will find that the filter is inside and easily accessed. Remove the filter, toss aside and remove the two rubber o-rings that are on that cannister cover you just unscrewed. That cover is actually an assembly that holds two rubber O-rings and will hold the new replacement filter.
Your new filter should come with two new O-rings that you should properly lubricate with the new oil you are about to use. Toss the old one and lube and replace with the new.
Now, take the new filter and place ONTO THE CANNISTER HOUSING....NOT into the exposed engine port. You'll find that the new filter actually snaps in. Now, with new filter and O-rings in place all encapsulated into the assembly you are holding, gently rescrew this back into that port. Should go in way too easy. I hand tightened until it bottomed out but without over torqueing.
Replace oil drain plug. Remove oil filler cap. Load in the new oil to a tune of 5.5 U.S. quarts of fresh oil. Replace cap, re-install the cover and six bolt/screws and pat yourself on the back. You did it!... and you can't even light the BBQ in the backyard.

What perfect timing. I'm going to do my first oil change this weekend on my new '08 and was wondering about the filter, never having changed that type before.

How does the Santa fe feel with the synthetic? Do you notice a difference in the drive?

-SF

What is the trick to take the old orings off? Razor? they seem kinda tight on there to take off....

For both the large and small "O" rings, just slip a knife point, or something similar, under them and they will pry right off.

No need to cut them. You may do damage to the plastic.

David <><

I use a very small standard screwdriver to pry off the O-ring.

As previously suggested, I would also caution against trying to cut them. Too easy to damage the plastic housing. Anything small and thin will work to pry out the ring.

Another tip - if the filter housing cap is on real tight, you might need to employ one of those thin rubber kitchen pads used to remove lids from glass jars. Resist the urge to grab a wrench......

This post has been edited by Pezman1: Sep 19 2008, 10:02 AM

caiobabe et al,

Thanks for the nice write-up and tips. I just had my last stealership oil change. It was only when it was done that I got to know how much the bill was for - $98 and change!

That is absolutely awful. :w00t:

I have heard oil referred to as "liguid gold" before but never actually thought there was such a thing as gold in liquid form prior to melting.

What else did they do for the $98+ besides oil and filter?

Please, oh please tell me they did many other things such as a car wash, interior detailing, tire rotation, etc..

David <><

This post has been edited by david-paul-1: Sep 19 2008, 12:23 PM

Just got done changing my oil and I must say it was a friggin pain in the A**. Needing to take the cover off is a design flaw IMO. Then there are a couple of wires/hoses in the way of unscrewing the cap. I needed to use an old fashion belt oil filter wrench to get it to turn. Probably just because it was the first time. When the cap comes off you notice that there is a 5 inch or so appendage attached to the cap. The O rings are located on the base of the cap (large one) and at the tip of the appendage (small one). There is a slot in the cap to allow a tiny screwdriver room to lift and slide off the large O-ring. No such luck with the small one. It took me about 3 minutes to get the old one off and 3 to get the new one on. I was afraid I'd break the pastic tip. I will agree it is much less messy than the '04 design and i'm sure it will go much faster next time now that I know what I'm doing. I have the 3.3 and according to the oil on the dipstic it took a full 6 quarts. I filled it to the F which is lower than the divit on the dipstick and checked it constantly while filling it because I thought it should only take 5.5 qts. Next time I think I'll make hubby change the oil :beer:

No real noticeable difference except i thout my engine actually ran quieter. I may be wrong and I may just be overly excited about finally getting syn. in there.

Yea, I did the same as Pezman.
A fine flat head screwdriver and just flipped it right off.

Thanks for the post, good write up. Looking forward to doing my own oil changes (when the time comes) and this is the first DIY write up I've found.

This sounds like a piece of cake compared to laying on your back and snaking a hand or something else up where the quickie lube guy used a jack hammer to install the previous spin on oil filter.

Dan

I just changed the oil in my 08 SE. It was a breeze. I was sort of apprehensive at first because my wife's last car, a 98 Jetta, also had a canister type filter. It was a pain to work with.

This was totally opposite. It is probably easier than my Mustang because the oil filter is on top.