|
Car Oil Change - Do It Yourself
Getting your oil changed is something that the pros promise they can do in a jiffy, however, with
every three thousand miles you drive, the price can add up quickly. You can save yourself some
money by doing it yourself. An oil change is not as hard as you may think!
Prior to changing your oil, you will need to pick up some supplies at you favorite parts store. The
first thing you will need is six quarts of oil. If your car manufacturer recommends a certain type,
you should stick with that. Otherwise, choose a brand you know and trust. (Note- do not mix oil. If
you have a quart or two of one brand already at home, make sure you purchase additional quarts of
the same kind.) With every oil change, you should always change your oil filter as well. So, you
will also need to pick up an oil filter for your particular car. In addition, you will need an oil
pan to empty the old oil into. Your best bet is to purchase one that can seal so that you can
easily take it to be recycled. And, if you don’t have one already, you could use an oil filter
wrench.
After you purchase the necessary items, you are ready to start the oil change. First, elevate the
vehicle off the ground using your car jack, just enough to access the underside of the engine.
(Note: For added safety, make sure you are using a jack stand.) Remove the oil fill cap on the
engine. Then, get underneath the engine. The oil pan covers the entire bottom of the engine, and
this is what you will be draining from. Find the engine pan drain plug, which is shaped hexagonal
(six sides). Place the oil pan you bought underneath. Next, use a socket wrench to loosen the drain
plug. The oil will start to come out. Let this drain completely. Once drained, replace the plug and
tighten.
Next, move the drain pan so it is under the oil filter. Use your oil filter wrench to rotate the
filter counter-clockwise until it comes off. Once loosened, you’ll need to unscrew it from the
engine with your hands. Once off, place in the oil pan- oil will drip out from the filter. Now,
it’s time to put on the new filter. When you remove the new filter from the box, you’ll see a
rubber gasket on the base. A good trick for easy removal in the future is to coat the gasket
thoroughly with oil. When that’s done, screw the new filter onto the filter pipe tightly.
At this point, you’re done underneath, so you can let the car down. But first, get the oil pan and
any tools out from under the vehicle. Next, fill the engine with five quarts of oil and put the cap
back on. Then, check the oil level. You should see that it’s one quart high, and this is just
because the filter is not yet full. Next, start the car and let the engine idle for about five
minutes. This will allow the oil pump to pick up the new oil, and get it circulating. Also, check
under the car to make sure the filter is not leaking any oil. Then, you can shut off the car and
check the oil level once again. This time it should read, “full.”
You’re done! Just repeat these instructions in 3,000 miles!
Michael Walker is a freelance author providing tips and hints on engine related topics such as JDM
motors, used import engines and engine swaps. His articles are a valuable source of information for
the auto enthusiast.
by Michael Walker -
Back to Top
###
|
