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Photo by G-Rated Birdman of El PasoHow to Change the Oil on an Automobile
Changing the oil in your vehicle on a regular basis is the most important thing you can do to lengthen the life of your engine. Refer to the manufacturer’s owner's manual for the exact time periods to accomplish this procedure.
Changing the oil in your vehicle on a regular basis is the most important thing you can do to lengthen the life of your engine. Refer to the manufacturer’s owner's manual for the exact time periods to accomplish this procedure.
If you have basic automobile knowledge and access to a few simple tools, you can change the oil on any car in a short amount of time. Changing your own oil not only is cost effective, but can eventually lead you to tackling other simpler jobs like changing bulbs and wiper blades.
These instructions are written toward the average person who has basic mechanical skills and a desire for do-it-yourself projects. By basic mechanical skills, I mean that readers should already know how to use a few basic tools and need not be an expert mechanic.
The three basic steps are:
(1) Obtain the tools needed to complete the job efficiently and in the shortest amount of time
(1) Obtain the tools needed to complete the job efficiently and in the shortest amount of time
(2) Change your oil
(3) Discard the old oil safely
Note:Oil disposal has become a huge environmental problem in the last 10 years or so. The Environmental Protection Agency now enacts a fine -- into 6 figures -- for improper oil disposal. Before accomplishing this procedure, it is recommended that you locate a quick-lube business that will accept your discarded oil at no charge
Note:Oil disposal has become a huge environmental problem in the last 10 years or so. The Environmental Protection Agency now enacts a fine -- into 6 figures -- for improper oil disposal. Before accomplishing this procedure, it is recommended that you locate a quick-lube business that will accept your discarded oil at no charge
List of tools and supplies needed to perform the procedure:
· One 3/8-drive socket set (9.5 mm metric
· One wrench set, closed- and open-end, SAE or metric
· Oil filter wrench of decent
· Oil catcher -- an oil pan, an old kitchen basin, a plastic pail
· 2 empty one-gallon containers with screw-on lids
· Funnel and a one-quart plastic baggie
· Old newspapers and dirty rags
· Work clothes and, if your hair is long, a cap
· Pair surgical gloves (optional)
· A new oil filter (check your vehicle owner's manual for part listing requirements)
· Ample oil to refill the engine (Refer to your owner's manual for the proper grade and exact number of quarts)
· New washer seal
Getting started:
1. Before you begin, pick out a flat area to work on. Then take your car for a short drive to heat up the oil, thereby reducing its viscosity for a more thorough drainage.
· One wrench set, closed- and open-end, SAE or metric
· Oil filter wrench of decent
· Oil catcher -- an oil pan, an old kitchen basin, a plastic pail
· 2 empty one-gallon containers with screw-on lids
· Funnel and a one-quart plastic baggie
· Old newspapers and dirty rags
· Work clothes and, if your hair is long, a cap
· Pair surgical gloves (optional)
· A new oil filter (check your vehicle owner's manual for part listing requirements)
· Ample oil to refill the engine (Refer to your owner's manual for the proper grade and exact number of quarts)
· New washer seal
Getting started:
1. Before you begin, pick out a flat area to work on. Then take your car for a short drive to heat up the oil, thereby reducing its viscosity for a more thorough drainage.
2. Drive the vehicle long enough so that the temperature gauge registers a warmed engine.
3. If you don't have a temperature gauge, or if your gauges are broken, turn on the heat and drive the vehicle until warm air begins to flow.
4. Turn motor off, place the car in park, then set the parking brake. For added safety, block the tires.
5. Get underneath the car to find the oil drain plug. If there isn't ample room to fit underneath, you will need to jack up the car up.
Warning: Set the vehicle on jack stands. Never crawl underneath a car held up solely by a jack. Always use jack stands.
6. Locate the drain plug. It should be set on the closest thing to the ground; it is a rather large nut with a washer underneath it.
Caution:
Make sure you're not mistaking the transmission drain plug for the oil drain plug. The transmission drain plug is a larger nut. Another way to determine the difference between the two is that the metal around the oil drain plug will be much hotter after an engine warm-up
7. Put on your surgical gloves. Take a socket wrench and put a correct-sized socket onto it. Place the socket over the oil drain nut and turn it counter-clockwise. If the nut is frozen and will not loosen up after several attempts, locate a same sized closed-end wrench.
7. Now take some old towels or newspaper and place them under the car. Be sure to cover where the oil filter protrudes out, as it leaks after removal. Glance up into the motor and look for the oil filter, it looks like a small, round cylinder usually white or orange with indents around the face.
8. Now get your drain pan and place it under the oil drain plug. Place it so the oil stream hits it just right. Loosen the oil drain plug and set it to the side. The oil should drain in under than 2 minutes.
Warning: Coming into skin contact with hot engine oil can cause severe burns
9. Locate your filter wrench. Remove the socket off the wrench and put the oil filter wrench over the socket wrench. You may need to use a short ratchet extension, to.
10. Place the filter wrench over the oil filter and turn it counter-clockwise. Once you feel it loosen, then turn it a little bit more, and then slide the wrench off and complete the process by hand. Use caution as it has hot oil inside! Be sure that your face is not underneath it. Remove it and pour the remaining oil into the drain pan. Place the old oil filter on the newspaper.
11. Open the hood (of the car and take off the oil filler cap. Set it to the side as this will help the oil drain better.
12. Before you thread the new oil filter back into place, place a finger into the drain pan oil and lightly coat the small rubber gasket at the bottom of the oil filter as this will help it seal much better against the block of the engine.
13. Next, grab a clean rag, clean off the metal opening on the engine where the oil filter sits, and then tighten the new filter onto the engine post. When it's hand-tight, continue to tighten it by hand about one-half to three-quarters of a turn until snug.
14. Place the new washer seal and the washer on the oil drain plug to avoid possible leakage and place the drain plug back in its hole.
15. Set the oil funnel into the oil filler hole on the top of the engine and pour in as many quarts as the manufacturer recommends. After all of the oil is in the engine, turn the oil cap back on clockwise and then check the dipstick for proper oil level, just to make sure. Grab the old oil filter and place it in a safe, sealed bag or container, and dispose of it properly.
16. Start the engine, and let it idle for several minutes checking for leaks. Once you verify that there are no leaks, drive to the nearest oil recycling to dispose of the old oil.
Warning: Set the vehicle on jack stands. Never crawl underneath a car held up solely by a jack. Always use jack stands.
6. Locate the drain plug. It should be set on the closest thing to the ground; it is a rather large nut with a washer underneath it.
Caution:
Make sure you're not mistaking the transmission drain plug for the oil drain plug. The transmission drain plug is a larger nut. Another way to determine the difference between the two is that the metal around the oil drain plug will be much hotter after an engine warm-up
7. Put on your surgical gloves. Take a socket wrench and put a correct-sized socket onto it. Place the socket over the oil drain nut and turn it counter-clockwise. If the nut is frozen and will not loosen up after several attempts, locate a same sized closed-end wrench.
7. Now take some old towels or newspaper and place them under the car. Be sure to cover where the oil filter protrudes out, as it leaks after removal. Glance up into the motor and look for the oil filter, it looks like a small, round cylinder usually white or orange with indents around the face.
8. Now get your drain pan and place it under the oil drain plug. Place it so the oil stream hits it just right. Loosen the oil drain plug and set it to the side. The oil should drain in under than 2 minutes.
Warning: Coming into skin contact with hot engine oil can cause severe burns
9. Locate your filter wrench. Remove the socket off the wrench and put the oil filter wrench over the socket wrench. You may need to use a short ratchet extension, to.
10. Place the filter wrench over the oil filter and turn it counter-clockwise. Once you feel it loosen, then turn it a little bit more, and then slide the wrench off and complete the process by hand. Use caution as it has hot oil inside! Be sure that your face is not underneath it. Remove it and pour the remaining oil into the drain pan. Place the old oil filter on the newspaper.
11. Open the hood (of the car and take off the oil filler cap. Set it to the side as this will help the oil drain better.
12. Before you thread the new oil filter back into place, place a finger into the drain pan oil and lightly coat the small rubber gasket at the bottom of the oil filter as this will help it seal much better against the block of the engine.
13. Next, grab a clean rag, clean off the metal opening on the engine where the oil filter sits, and then tighten the new filter onto the engine post. When it's hand-tight, continue to tighten it by hand about one-half to three-quarters of a turn until snug.
14. Place the new washer seal and the washer on the oil drain plug to avoid possible leakage and place the drain plug back in its hole.
15. Set the oil funnel into the oil filler hole on the top of the engine and pour in as many quarts as the manufacturer recommends. After all of the oil is in the engine, turn the oil cap back on clockwise and then check the dipstick for proper oil level, just to make sure. Grab the old oil filter and place it in a safe, sealed bag or container, and dispose of it properly.
16. Start the engine, and let it idle for several minutes checking for leaks. Once you verify that there are no leaks, drive to the nearest oil recycling to dispose of the old oil.
I have been changing the oil on my car since I could remember, and it's paid off in spades over the years. With a little effort and an open area you can change your oil too and save big $$$.
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