Where the Oil Filter Is Located on a Hyundai Santa Fe

The oil filter on most modern Hyundai Santa Fe models is located on the front side of the engine, accessed from underneath the vehicle, though the exact position and filter style differ by engine type and model year. Understanding where it sits — and whether you have a spin-on canister or a cartridge-style filter — is essential before attempting any maintenance.

Why the Oil Filter Location Varies by Model Year and Engine

Hyundai has used several different engines and filter designs in the Santa Fe over the years. Older models typically use a traditional spin-on filter, while many newer models use a cartridge-style filter in a plastic or metal housing. This evolution changes both where you look for the filter and how you access it.

Key Factors That Affect Oil Filter Placement

Several variables determine exactly where the oil filter is located on a Hyundai Santa Fe:

• Model year of the vehicle
• Engine size and type (e.g., 2.4L, 2.0T, 3.3L V6, 2.5L, 1.6T hybrid)
• Front-wheel drive vs. all-wheel drive packaging
• Spin-on vs. cartridge-style filter design

Because of these variables, the filter is always on the engine itself but may be more easily identified by knowing the general area and appearance rather than a single, universal position.

General Oil Filter Location by Generation

While exact placement can vary slightly, the oil filter location falls into recognizable patterns across Santa Fe generations. The descriptions below cover the typical spots you’ll find on most U.S. and European-market models.

1st Generation (Around 2001–2006)

On early Hyundai Santa Fe models (commonly 2.4L inline-4, 2.7L V6), the oil filter is a spin-on type usually located low on the engine block and accessed from underneath the vehicle.

• Typically mounted on the front or side of the engine block
• Visible as a small cylindrical metal canister (often black or blue)
• Reached by sliding under the front of the vehicle behind the bumper
• Usually near the oil pan and oil drain plug

On these early models, once the splash shield is removed (if present), the filter is generally easy to identify as the only small metal “can” screwed directly into the engine block near the bottom.

2nd Generation (Around 2007–2012)

With the second-generation Santa Fe, Hyundai continued using spin-on filters, still accessed from below but sometimes located closer to the front of the engine.

• For the 2.7L and 3.3L V6 engines, the filter is often on the front-lower area of the engine
• Access is from underneath after removing or sliding back the plastic undertray (splash shield)
• Filter remains a traditional spin-on canister, typically horizontally or slightly angled
• Position is between the front subframe and the front of the engine, near the oil pan

Although slightly more tucked in than first-generation models, the filter’s appearance and general low-front location are familiar to anyone who has changed a spin-on filter before.

3rd Generation Santa Fe & Santa Fe Sport (Approx. 2013–2018)

From around the 2013 model year, especially on 2.4L and 2.0T engines, Hyundai increasingly used a cartridge-style oil filter housed in a plastic or metal cap on the engine block. The location is still on the engine’s front side but the filter looks different.

• Many 2.4L and 2.0T engines: cartridge filter in a vertical housing at the front or front-left (driver side in LHD markets) of the engine
• 3.3L V6 (where equipped): often retains a spin-on filter low on the block, accessed underneath
• Access generally from below; you’ll see a round housing cap with a large hex head rather than a metal screw-on canister
• On some submodels, the housing is slightly higher up, requiring reaching up past suspension or subframe components

This generation marked a transition era: certain engines retain spin-on filters, while others switch to cartridge designs, making it important to know which engine your Santa Fe has before looking for the filter.

4th Generation Santa Fe (Approx. 2019–2023)

With the redesign starting around 2019, many Santa Fe models with 2.4L, 2.5L, or 2.5T engines commonly use a cartridge-style filter in a top- or front-mounted housing that’s more compact but still most easily accessed from below.

• 2.4L and 2.5L engines: cartridge filter in a housing usually at the front of the engine block, slightly toward one side
• 2.5L turbo: similar housing, sometimes more tightly packaged near the turbo plumbing
• Access typically from under the vehicle after removing the front undertray
• The housing cap has a large hex or fluted top, designed to be removed with a socket or special oil filter cap wrench

On these models, you don’t see a metal spin-on canister. Instead, you’ll find a molded housing that you unscrew, remove, and then swap the internal paper filter element.

Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Variants (Recent Years)

On hybrid and plug-in hybrid Santa Fe models, the gasoline engine shares space with electric components, but the oil filter is still mounted directly on the combustion engine, usually in a similar cartridge-style housing.

• Typically a cartridge filter located on the front or side of the engine block
• Often more crowded under the hood due to high-voltage components and extra cooling hardware
• Access usually from below, sometimes more limited by additional underbody panels
• The filter housing can be close to the engine’s accessory drive or near the front subframe

While the basic location concept remains the same, the tighter packaging on hybrid models can make visual identification and tool access more challenging than on non-hybrid versions.

How to Visually Identify the Oil Filter Area

Even if you don’t know your engine code, you can usually find the oil filter on a Hyundai Santa Fe by looking for specific visual cues under the vehicle.

From Below the Vehicle

On nearly all Santa Fe models, beginning the search from the underside is the most reliable approach.

• Safely raise and support the front of the vehicle with ramps or jack stands (never rely solely on a jack)
• Remove or partially detach the plastic engine undertray or splash shield (usually held with clips or bolts)
• Locate the oil drain plug on the oil pan; the filter is typically within arm’s reach of this plug
• Look for either:
  

  • A small, metal cylindrical can (spin-on filter), or
  • A larger, fixed housing with a removable cap (cartridge filter)

Once the undertray is off, the filter is almost always visible at the front-lower area of the engine block, either pointing downward, sideways, or slightly angled.

From Above the Engine Bay (On Some Models)

On certain later models with cartridge filters, you can at least identify the housing location from above, even if removal is easier from below.

• Open the hood and locate the engine cover; if necessary, gently pull the cover up to remove it
• Look at the front portion of the engine near the radiator side
• Find a round, protruding cap with a hex or fluted top, often made of black plastic or aluminum
• This cap typically has warnings about tightening torque and may have an oil can icon

While full access may still require going underneath the vehicle, seeing the housing from the top helps confirm that you’ve identified the correct component.

Differences Between Spin-On and Cartridge Filters on the Santa Fe

Knowing which filter type your Santa Fe uses is important not only for buying the correct replacement but also for understanding the exact location and required tools.

Spin-On Filter Location Characteristics

Spin-on filters are the classic metal “can” style that thread directly onto a boss on the engine block.

• Usually found on older Santa Fe models and some V6 engines
• Mounted low on the engine, often near the oil pan, accessible from below
• Appearance: cylindrical metal can, typically 2.5–3 inches in diameter and 3–4 inches tall
• May be oriented horizontally, vertically downward, or at a slight angle

If you see a removable metal can screwed onto the block, you have a spin-on filter, and its location will almost always be low and front-facing on the engine.

Cartridge Filter Housing Location Characteristics

Cartridge filters use a replaceable paper element housed inside a permanent outer body, usually with a removable cap.

• Common on newer 2.4L, 2.5L, and turbo engines, as well as hybrids
• Located on the front or slightly side-front of the engine block
• Appearance: fixed housing with a large threaded cap (plastic or metal) having a hex or fluted design on top
• Often slightly higher up on the block than older spin-on filters, requiring you to reach upward from under the car

Recognizing the cartridge housing is key to avoiding confusion with other round engine components, such as some coolant or vacuum housings.

Model-Specific Notes and Practical Tips

Because “Hyundai Santa Fe” spans many years and engines, it’s useful to pair general location knowledge with a few practical checks based on common setups.

Confirming Your Engine and Filter Type

Before crawling under the vehicle, it helps to determine what you’re looking for.

• Check your owner’s manual for engine size (e.g., 2.4L GDI, 2.5T, 3.3L V6)
• Look for an engine label under the hood or an emissions sticker that lists engine displacement
• Search online by year, trim, and engine (e.g., “2018 Santa Fe Sport 2.4 oil filter type”)
• Purchase the correct filter first; the physical part (spin-on can vs. cartridge) will clue you into what to look for on the engine

Once you know both the engine code and filter design, pinpointing its exact location on the engine becomes much more straightforward.

Typical Locations by Common Recent Engines

On many of the most common recent Santa Fe engines, the oil filter tends to be in broadly similar spots.

• 2.4L GDI (approx. 2013–2018): Cartridge housing at the front of the engine, accessed from beneath after removing the central/front undertray.
• 2.0T (turbo) GDI: Cartridge housing at or near the front/side-front of the engine; tighter clearances due to turbo plumbing, still accessed from below.
• 3.3L V6: Spin-on filter mounted low on the front or side of the engine block, near the oil pan, visible once the undertray is off.
• 2.5L and 2.5T (approx. 2020s models): Cartridge-style housing toward the front of the engine, slightly offset to one side, reached from underneath with a socket on the housing cap.
• Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid 1.6T: Cartridge filter on the gasoline engine block, front-lower area, but more cramped due to hybrid components and additional cooling lines.

While exact clearances, angles, and nearby components change between engines, these general patterns apply to most Santa Fe configurations sold in the last decade.

When You Should Rely on the Owner’s Manual or Service Data

Because potential variations exist even within the same generation (for example, regional differences or mid-cycle engine updates), official documentation remains the final authority on location and access.

Using the Owner’s Manual and Service Resources

The safest way to be precise is to cross-check with Hyundai’s documentation.

• Consult the “Maintenance” or “Engine Oil” section of your owner’s manual for diagrams or notes on filter location
• Use Hyundai’s official service portal or a reputable repair database for your exact year and engine
• Search the manual or database by VIN to reflect your exact configuration
• If you’re unsure, a quick inspection at a dealer or trusted shop can confirm the location without guesswork

While many DIY guides online are accurate, manufacturer documents remove ambiguity when models share similar names but different mechanical layouts.

Summary

On a Hyundai Santa Fe, the oil filter is always mounted on the engine block, typically on the front-lower area of the engine and most easily accessed from underneath the vehicle. Older and some V6 models use a spin-on metal canister located near the oil pan, while many newer four-cylinder and turbo engines — including recent hybrids — use a cartridge-style filter inside a round housing with a removable cap. Because location details depend on year and engine type, the best approach is to identify your specific engine, remove the front undertray, and look at the front side of the engine block near the drain plug, confirming exact placement with the owner’s manual or service information.