Car's Oil Can Be Changed Easily By You

By Juan Uflerbaumer

Changing your car's oil yourself is a lot easier than you think, and also you can save money.
Whether you are a first timer or experienced, this is a detailed guide to show you themost efficient and safest way to do this simple task, but remember, safety always comes first when it comes to automotive maintenance.

about 5 quarts of motor oil will be needed. (the proper SAE viscosity, API performance and quantity required for your engine as well as filter specs is in your owner's manual)

A new oil filter. This is a "spin-on" type oil filter, it comes in various sizes and shapes.

A drain plug socket wrench or open-end wrench (exact size) and an oil filter wrench.

A large drain pan and a rag.

Your motor oil and oil filter should be changed every 3,000 miles or every 3 months, whichever comes first. This will provide superior engine protection and longer engine life. (Check your owner's manual for special conditions and do not exceed warranty recommendations.)

Never use a jack to hold your vehicle up because it is too unstable. Wheel ramps are ideal and much safer. Drive your vehicle up onto the wheel ramps so that the front tires are elevated. Set your emergency brake and brace both rear wheels with wooden blocks. Put your vehicle in park if you have an automatic transmission and in first gear if you have a manual transmission.
Idle your engine for about 5-10 minutes to bring it to normal operating temperature because if the oil is cold will not drain properly (never start your engine without oil). Then switch off the engine and raise the hood to locate and loosen the oil sump cap to avoid vaccum, this will allow the oil to drain from the bottom more freely.

Locate the oil drain plug on the underside of your vehicle. It should be located at the bottom rear end of the engine sump.

Place the drain pan underneath the drain plug. Turn the plug counterclockwise using your wrench until it rotates freely. Finish removing the plug by hand. Be careful of the oil since it may release rapidly and is likely to be rather hot.

After that, loosen the oil filter - may be warm - turning it counterclockwise with a filter wrench. Complete the removal by hand, taking care not touch the hot exhaust manifold. The oil filter may feel slightly heavy because is filled with oil, so carefully ease it down and away from the engine and tip its contents into the drain pan.

Take your rag and wipe in and around the filter seat on the engine. Then take a new filter and carefully screw the new filter onto the threaded oil line, turning it clockwise. Once aligned properly, the filter will thread on easily. Tighten the filter by hand, taking care not to overtighten.
Clean the oil plug and drain set and then align and replace the plug. Screw the plug in by hand and finish by tightening it with a wrench. Take care to not overtighten.

You will find a cap that says "Oil" on the top of your engine. Unscrew the cap and proceed to fill the engine with the required quantity of oil, checking with the dipstick to assure proper fill level. Then replace the cap. The oil light should go out as soon as the engine is started. Run the engine for several minutes, then switch it off and check the dipstick once again to assure proper oil level. Last, check under the vehicle if there are leaks.