Plan
to change your motor oil every
3,000 miles or every 3 months.
However, you may want to do it
more often if you've been driving
in very hot and/or dusty conditions.
Steps:
1. Gather necessary tools and
materials (refer to Necessary
Items list). If you plan to change
your oil regularly, consider investing
in jack stands, a socket set and
an oil drain pan.
2. Run the car's engine for 10
minutes before you drain the oil.
Warm oil drains faster than cold
oil.
3. Park the car on a level surface,
engage the parking brake and turn
off the engine. If your car has
a low clearance, raise it by driving
it onto a ramp or by jacking it
up and supporting it securely.
4. Open the hood and place the
new oil and funnel on top of the
engine to ensure that you won't
forget to add oil afterwards (an
expensive mistake that many do-it-yourselfers
make!).
Tips:
Consult your owner's manual or
an automotive parts specialist
to find out the weight of oil
and type of oil filter your car
needs.
You'll need the year, make, model
and mileage of your car if you
go to an auto parts store.
Warnings:
Make sure the car is securely
supported before you crawl underneath.
You will need two jack stands
to support the front of your car
after jacking it up. Never get
under a car that is supported
only by a jack! A pair of jack
stands costs less than $20.
Steps:
1. Crawl under the car once it
is securely supported.
2. Locate the oil drain plug on
the underside of the engine, usually
near the front center of the car.
Consult your owner's manual for
the exact location.
3. Place the oil drain pan under
the plug and loosen the plug with
a socket wrench. Remember: turn
counterclockwise to remove bolts.
4. Remove the plug by hand. Be
prepared for the rush of hot oil!
5. Let the oil drain into the
pan. Hold onto the plug.
6. Reposition the pan, if necessary,
to catch all the dripping oil.
7. Wipe off the drain plug and
the plug opening when the oil
finishes draining.
8. Replace the drain plug gasket.
9. Reinstall the plug. Always
start threading any bolts or screws
by hand to prevent cross threading.
10. Tighten with a wrench or socket.
Be careful not to overtighten
the plug.
11. Locate the existing oil filter.
Oil filters are usually on the
side of the engine.
12. Position the oil pan underneath
the filter to catch any remaining
oil.
13. Use an adjustable oil filter
wrench to unscrew the old oil
filter.
14. Use a rag to wipe the area
where the filter mounts to the
engine. Make sure the rubber seal
of the old filter is not stuck
to the engine.
15. Use some new oil to lightly
coat the rubber seal of the new
filter. (Image 1)
16. Screw the new filter into
place by hand. It's usually not
necessary to tighten the oil filter
with the oil filter wrench, but
have it at the ready if you're
grip's not strong (or large) enough.
Tips:
Wear gloves to remove the plug
if it's hot.
It's always best to replace the
oil drain plug gasket.
Use the right size wrench or socket.
Don't use an adjustable wrench:
you can strip the bolt.
Warnings:
Handle hot automotive oil with
extreme care.
Be careful when removing the old
oil filter. It's full of oil.
Installing New Oil and Cleaning
Up
Steps:
1. Locate the oil filler cap on
top of the engine. Remove it.
2. Place the funnel in the opening
and pour in the new oil. Typically,
you will use 4 to 5 quarts of
oil. Check your manual for the
correct oil capacity.
3. Replace the cap when you're
finished.
4. Run the engine for a minute,
then check the dipstick. Add more
oil if necessary.
5. Check the area around the oil
drain plug and the filter for
oil leaks. Tighten the plug or
oil filter if you find leakage.
6. Use rags and newspapers to
wipe away excess oil.
7. Pour the used oil into a plastic
container after the used oil cools.
8. Dispose the used oil properly:
either bring it to a recycling
center or an auto repair shop
that can recycle it for you. Don't
pour it down the sewer!
Tips:
Record the date and mileage after
you change the oil so you will
know when your car is due for
another oil change. It helps to
put a small sticker on your windshield
to remind you.
Warnings:
Handle hot motor oil with extreme
caution.
Only dispose of used motor oil
and filters at authorized locations.
Tips from eHow Users:
Easy Flushes When Changing Oil
by eHow Friend
Drain out about one quart of oil.
Replace that quart of oil with
a quart of diesel. Run the engine
(in place) for 3 minutes. Do NOT
drive the car with the diluted
oil in it. The diesel will help
clean out passages in the head
and will make the oil the thinner,
so more comes out quicker when
draining, bringing with it any
dirt and grime. We have done this
on our farm for over 50 years.
My dad showed me how to do this
growing up, and we now have 260,000
miles on our 94 Ford Crown Victoria
with no engine wear (burning oil)
and the engine has never been
taken apart. Particulates that
get trapped in passageways break
free sooner or later!
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