General Maintenance: Oil Change

  How to do your own oil change.


In this article, we'll be covering how to save money by changing your own oil.
Warm the car up to normal temperature, shut it off and prepare to get messy (though hopefully it won't get messy).

DANGER

Any information presented or implied is for entertainment purposes only. A car and related parts can be very dangerous to work around. Please exercise extreme caution when performing any kind of repair or modification. Neither I or any affiliated parties can be held responsible for any problems or accidents which may occur.

Go to your local auto parts store and pick up a case of your favorite motor oil (see your owner's manual for the recommended oil) as well as a replacement "Oil Filter" and a replacement "Crush washer" for the oil drain bolt. Now before you begin, make sure your work area is safe and clean. In cases where you have inadequate ground clearance, try parking off of a curb to give you a slight increase in ground clearance, but don't work where other cars may hit you!

Locate the drain plug for the oil pan. It should look something like the large bolt you see here in the center of the picture. Slide a pan (enough to hold how much oil you will be adding) underneath the area where the drain bolt is to catch the oil. Now, use the appropriate sized socket or wrench to open the drain bolt. To loosen, turn the bolt counter-clockwise. As you loosen it further, stop using the wrench and turn it by hand. Be prepared for oil to begin flowing. Keep in mind that the oil may splash a bit at first, and can possibly be hot, so be careful. Put the oil drain bolt somewhere safe.

After all of the oil has stopped flowing, take the drain bolt, clean it off, and put the new crush washer on. Now, close the oil drain hole by inserting the bolt and turning it clockwise. Be careful not to over-tighten the bolt, only tighten it so that it will not shake loose from vibration. Too tight, and you may damage the oil pan or bolt! Once the oil has been drained and the drain bolt tightened, it is time to replace the oil filter. Most oil filters should unscrew by hand, but, as we would HIGHLY RECOMMEND to be prepared against unexpected trouble in removing the filter, invest in an oil filter wrench as pictured here. They come in different sizes, so make sure the one you buy is the right size for your car's filter.

Locate the oil filter. It is usually in one of two places. Under the car, or attached to the engine (top side). If you don't know what the filter looks like, open the box of the filter you bought, and look for a similar (if not identical) unit. Place some old rags in the area around and below the oil filter to catch the tiny bit of oil which will come out once you remove the filter. Remove the old oil filter by turning it counter-clockwise. Once it is fairly loose, use your hands to unscrew it completely. Wipe it down and place it in a bag for proper disposal later.

Now, open a bottle of new oil, and using your finger, spread a thin layer of oil around the new filter's inner ring (some filters come with a protective plastic covering. REMOVE THIS!) If the filter is mounted under the car, and vertically, pour some oil into the new filter, otherwise, just continue on. Screw the new filter in by turning it clockwise until tight. Tighten it by hand so your next oil change will be easier, by not having to use a filter wrench, but make sure it is on tightly enough to prevent it from leaking.
Now this is the easy part. Locate the oil filler cap. Nearly 100% of the time, it will be located on top of the engine. Unscrew it, and start poring in new oil. Remember to fill only the required amount (consult your owner's manual for specific numbers). The bottles of oil have their capacity listed so it will be easy to keep track of how much oil you put in. A funnel may help with the filling if you are uncomfortable with pouring it out of the bottle. After you add the reqiured amount, close the filler cap by turning it clockwise, clean up your work area, pull the oil catch pan out from under the car, and check for any problems. Please dispose of your oil and filters properly. It may be a good idea to check the oil level later to see if you need to add any more oil. (Your owner's manual will tell you how to do this).

DO NOT POUR OIL DOWN THE DRAIN. Take it to a proper recycling facility (Many auto parts stores that sell motor oil will take used motor oil) That wasn't hard was it? You just saved a lot of money by doing this yourself, celebrate by taking your car for a ride.