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How To Change Your Oil
By:
Published: October 18, 2006
If you want your car – more importantly, your car's engine – to stay in fighting form, you should go in for an oil change either every 3,000 miles or every three months.
According to the Auto Repair guide at About.com, having clean oil in your car engine is the best way to keep it running for a long time. Not changing the motor oil frequently will result in a particle build-up capable of eroding your car's engine.
Where
To ensure a safe and thorough oil change, be sure to park your vehicle on a flat surface. Once the car is parked, put on the parking brake and turn off the engine.
Tools
1. Old clothes you do not mind getting dirty
2. A few old rags
3. Oil filter wrench
4. One gallon draining pan or bucket
5. 4-6 Quarts of motor oil. The brand of necessary motor oil depends on the make and model of your car – check the owner's manual for recommendations
6. Funnel
7. Rubber gloves and safety goggles (optional)
8. Pair of jack stands or car ramps and a jack. If your car is low riding, it is advised you use a jack stand to give you some wiggle room. Even if the car is not low-riding, you can still use the jack stand if you think you would be more comfortable with the extra space
How
If this is your first time conducting your own oil change, take some precautions before you begin. Keep all your tools onsite to expedite the procedure. The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends proceeding with the oil change while the car engine is hot, since this will help the motor oil drain faster. If it is hot outside, there is no need to worry about this step.
Start the car and let the engine run for about ten minutes. Remember to shut off the car and wait a few minutes before actually attempting the oil change procedure. If need be, raise the vehicle's clearance by supporting it atop a pair of jack stands.
1. Get underneath your vehicle with the draining pan and oil filter wrench. Locate the oil filter plug on the oil tank. (The oil tank is located directly beneath the car engine). Once you have found the oil filter plug, slide the pan underneath the tank and prepare to remove the plug.
2. To remove the plug, use the oil filter wrench and turn it counter-clockwise to remove the bolt. Once the plug is partially free, it is best to allow the rush of the oil drive the plug into the draining pan, rather than removing it with your hands.
3. Allow the warm oil to drain completely into the pan. This may take only a few minutes depending on how viscous the liquid is.
4. When the oil has completely drained, use some old rags to clean the area of excess oil. Also, use an old rag to clean the oil away from the oil filter plug.
5. Once the oil filter plug and the seal are clean, use the oil filter wrench to screw the plug back onto the oil filter tank, clockwise. Do not screw the plug too tightly. A good rule of thumb is to turn until you cannot turn the wrench with ease any longer. If you have to use force, however, the bolt probably is screwed too tightly.
6. Now also is a good time to change the oil filter, which is located on the side of the engine. Again, slide the draining pan beneath to catch remaining oil. Use the oil filter wrench to unscrew the old oil filter and the gasket casing. Once those have been removed, wipe it clean with an old rag. Also wipe any remaining oil away from around the engine. Coat the gasket with a thin layer of new oil – doing so will make it easier to put back on. Replace the new oil filter by hand only; do not use the oil filter wrench. Again, remember to not tighten too much.
7. Once you are underneath the car, open the hood (if it is not already open) and locate the oil fill cap on the engine. It should be labeled. Unscrew the cap and place the funnel in the tank. Slowly pour the recommended amount of motor oil in the funnel. Put the cap back on and wipe up any spilled oil.
8. Now is the time to check for leakage. Check around the engine and beneath the vehicle for any leakages. Start the car and rev the engine, if nothing leaks; you have successfully changed your motor oil and filter!
Last Tips
Do not expect to just throw your car's old oil by the wayside; it must be properly disposed of. Funnel all old oil into some empty milk jugs or any other sealable plastic container. Take it to your local auto store so they can properly dispose of your oil change remnants.
Sources:
DIY: How to Change Your Oil. Vincent T. Ciulla. 17 October 2006.
< http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/bloi l_change.htm/>
How to Change Your Oil. DMV.org. 17 October 2006. http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/change-oil.php/ How to Change Your Motor Oil. eHow.com. 17 October 2006. http://ehow.com/how_11_change-motor-oil.html/
According to the Auto Repair guide at About.com, having clean oil in your car engine is the best way to keep it running for a long time. Not changing the motor oil frequently will result in a particle build-up capable of eroding your car's engine.
Where
To ensure a safe and thorough oil change, be sure to park your vehicle on a flat surface. Once the car is parked, put on the parking brake and turn off the engine.
Tools
1. Old clothes you do not mind getting dirty
2. A few old rags
3. Oil filter wrench
4. One gallon draining pan or bucket
5. 4-6 Quarts of motor oil. The brand of necessary motor oil depends on the make and model of your car – check the owner's manual for recommendations
6. Funnel
7. Rubber gloves and safety goggles (optional)
8. Pair of jack stands or car ramps and a jack. If your car is low riding, it is advised you use a jack stand to give you some wiggle room. Even if the car is not low-riding, you can still use the jack stand if you think you would be more comfortable with the extra space
How
If this is your first time conducting your own oil change, take some precautions before you begin. Keep all your tools onsite to expedite the procedure. The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends proceeding with the oil change while the car engine is hot, since this will help the motor oil drain faster. If it is hot outside, there is no need to worry about this step.
Start the car and let the engine run for about ten minutes. Remember to shut off the car and wait a few minutes before actually attempting the oil change procedure. If need be, raise the vehicle's clearance by supporting it atop a pair of jack stands.
1. Get underneath your vehicle with the draining pan and oil filter wrench. Locate the oil filter plug on the oil tank. (The oil tank is located directly beneath the car engine). Once you have found the oil filter plug, slide the pan underneath the tank and prepare to remove the plug.
2. To remove the plug, use the oil filter wrench and turn it counter-clockwise to remove the bolt. Once the plug is partially free, it is best to allow the rush of the oil drive the plug into the draining pan, rather than removing it with your hands.
3. Allow the warm oil to drain completely into the pan. This may take only a few minutes depending on how viscous the liquid is.
4. When the oil has completely drained, use some old rags to clean the area of excess oil. Also, use an old rag to clean the oil away from the oil filter plug.
5. Once the oil filter plug and the seal are clean, use the oil filter wrench to screw the plug back onto the oil filter tank, clockwise. Do not screw the plug too tightly. A good rule of thumb is to turn until you cannot turn the wrench with ease any longer. If you have to use force, however, the bolt probably is screwed too tightly.
6. Now also is a good time to change the oil filter, which is located on the side of the engine. Again, slide the draining pan beneath to catch remaining oil. Use the oil filter wrench to unscrew the old oil filter and the gasket casing. Once those have been removed, wipe it clean with an old rag. Also wipe any remaining oil away from around the engine. Coat the gasket with a thin layer of new oil – doing so will make it easier to put back on. Replace the new oil filter by hand only; do not use the oil filter wrench. Again, remember to not tighten too much.
7. Once you are underneath the car, open the hood (if it is not already open) and locate the oil fill cap on the engine. It should be labeled. Unscrew the cap and place the funnel in the tank. Slowly pour the recommended amount of motor oil in the funnel. Put the cap back on and wipe up any spilled oil.
8. Now is the time to check for leakage. Check around the engine and beneath the vehicle for any leakages. Start the car and rev the engine, if nothing leaks; you have successfully changed your motor oil and filter!
Last Tips
Do not expect to just throw your car's old oil by the wayside; it must be properly disposed of. Funnel all old oil into some empty milk jugs or any other sealable plastic container. Take it to your local auto store so they can properly dispose of your oil change remnants.
Sources:
DIY: How to Change Your Oil. Vincent T. Ciulla. 17 October 2006.
< http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/bloi l_change.htm/>
How to Change Your Oil. DMV.org. 17 October 2006. http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/change-oil.php/ How to Change Your Motor Oil. eHow.com. 17 October 2006. http://ehow.com/how_11_change-motor-oil.html/
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