gotta coupla questions

I just bought a 2004 Cavalier and I looked all over the engine and couldn't find the oil filter..anybody know where it is? It is the F series engine. Also, the engine is really filthy and was wondering what you would use to wash down the engine without harming anything like alternator, wires, etc. It's not real oily, just dirty. Thanks, Joe

It is under the intake manifold at the rear off the engine, you'll notice a notch in the #4 cyl intake runner, this is for clearance for the extension... :rolleyes: There is a black plastic cover with a hex drive on top of it, probably 30mm-ish, but there is a special socket for it that I don't think has a size stamped on it, at least I'm pretty sure ours doesn't. Probably available at most auto parts stores.

Get the engine hot, then shut it off and spray it down with engine degreaser (takes off dirt too) and let it sit the amount of time it says on the can, probably 10 min or so, then spray it off with a hose.

Can I get to the oil filter from above or will I have to crawl under the motor to the back like some of my other GM cars?

You can only get to it from the top, it'll be obvious after you locate the cover.

Ok, I finally see it. Doesn't look like any oil filter I've ever seen, and the size socket that fits it is a 1 1/4". Don't know what that is in metric.
I pulled the car up to the hose today, sprayed the engine down with AutoZone engine degreaser (same as Gunk, I think) let it sit 15 minutes and washed it off and it looks much better than it did. Now I can get on with the maintenance it needs! Thanks for the help!

32mm metric.