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How to change Oil in your car

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How to change Oil in your car

This article is aimed to be an easy to follow, step by step guide on how to do an oil change for your car.

You can easily save a few hundred pounds a year by simply changing your own oil by yourself. Changing oil is considered as a minor service and prolongs the need to have a full service on your car. Furthermore by changing the oil by oneself, one has the satisfaction of knowing the job was done right and with the correct materials.

The required tools, parts and accessories for changing the oil are:

- A 3/8-drive socket set (metric will work for both)
- a combination wrench set (closed- and open-ended, metric)
- an oil filter wrench
- an oil pan or an old bucket to capture the old oil.
- 2 or 3 one gallon milk containers with screw-on lids
- a lot of old newspapers
- several dirty rags
- work clothes
- a new oil filter (see vehicle's owner's manual for requirements)
- enough oil to refill the engine (check back page of owner's manual for grade and quantity).

 

The steps for changing the oil and oil filter are:

 

1.       Heat the engine by driving the car around for a few minutes. This will heat the oil and make it thin enough to drain completely from the engine. Find a safe and flat spot to park your car on. At all times be conscious of public health and safety.

2.       Check if you can get underneath the car and jack it up if necessary. Ensure the engine is turned off and the vehicle is in first gear. Also make sure the handbrake is on and block the tyres with bricks or wood.

3.       Slide under, and locate the oil drain plug. It will be the closest thing to the ground, a large nut with a slim washer under it. Sometimes it will be labelled. Find the socket that fits over the nut.

4.       Turn the nut counter-clockwise. Loosen, but don't remove it.

5.       Spread newspaper under the car. Slide the drain pan under the drain plug. Loosen the plug and put it aside. It will take a few minutes for the oil to drain.

6.       Slip the oil filter wrench onto the socket wrench. You'll probably have to use the short extension. Set the oil filter wrench up to grab counter clockwise. Slip it over the oil filter and pull. Carefully, remove it all the way and pour the contents into the drain pan. Put the used oil filter, right-side-up, on the newspaper.

7.       Get out, open the hood, and remove the oil filler cap.

8.       Before you thread the new oil filter in place, dip your finger into the drain pan, and coat the rubber gasket on the bottom of the filter with oil. This will help it seal better against the engine block. Use a rag to wipe off the round metal circle on the engine, where the oil filter goes, then thread the new filter onto the post. Tighten it by hand or use the oil filter wrench over on the socket wrench and tighten it that way.

9.       Put the washer in place and thread the drain plug back into its spot. Make it tight, but not so tight you can't get it off next time. Now use the funnel to pour the old oil into the milk bottles, and then wipe out the inside of the funnel with a rag.

10.   Pour in the new oil as per the manufacturer recommendation. After the oil is all in, twist the oil cap back on, and check the dipstick for oil level. Add more oil if necessary.

11.   Start the engine and let it idle for about five minutes and check if there are any leaks.

 

Important note: please dispose the used oil in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner. There are substantial fines applicable for improper or illegal oil disposal. Find a local recycling place that will accept the used oil.


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