Regularly changing your oil can add life to your engine, but a lot of us don't even change it when we should because of what the mechanic charges.
Here's how to do it yourself, in eight easy steps.
1. What oil? Anything Else I Need?
Find out what oil your car needs from the manual. You're looking for a code like 10W50, 5W40; something of that nature. You'll also need to buy an oil filter. Look that up too, and if you still don't know never fear. Drive to your local auto store and buy the oil, and while you're there ask the storeman what fitler you need. They'll either know or they'll be able to tell by looking at your engine. The other thing you need is a sump plug/oilpan plug washer, ask your helpful friend again if you aren't sure. Driving to the store and back is actually doing two things for you, as driving to the store heats the engine up and makes the oil change easier when you get home.
2. Old Oil Out
Give the engine about 15 minutes to cool down a bit, and still be careful as the oil will be hot. Look under your car and locate the sump plug or drain plug. Its a large nut /plug screwed into the oilpan/sump at the bottom of your car. Put a container under this that can hold as much oil as you bought. Break the tension on the plug with a wrench and then protect your hand with some rag and undo the last part by hand, so that you can undo it quickly. This prevents the oil from spurting out in all directions if you take too long to take the plug all the way out. Be sure to move your hands quickly out of the way when the plug is out, as the oil will still be warm, and it does get you dirty after all!
3. Oil Filter Off
Firstly, unscrew the oil filler cap on top of your engine while you're up here. Your oil filter will generally be accesible from the top of the engine. If you aren't sure which bit it is, it looks like the new one the storeman at the auto store sold you. Undo it by turning it anti-clockwise. A rag for extra purchase helps here, or you may need to use a wrench. This filter is full of oil, so keep the open end facing upwards till you can pour it into the container under your car with the rest of the oil.
4. Oil Filter On
Open your new oil filter, and notice how it's got a rubber circle around the face where it attaches to the engine. This 'gasket' is what seals the oil in when it's on the engine. Open your new oil and smear a little of the new oil onto the oil filter gasket, to help with the seal. Now screw the oil filter, clockwise, onto the engine. You should only do it as tight as you can by hand, as any tighter squashes the rubber gasket more than enough and can lead to an inferior seal. Also, doing it firmly hand tight only means it'll be easy to get off next time!
5. Oil Pan Plug Back In
The oil pan plug washer works the same way the oil filter gasket we just talked about does, but since this one is usually a lot smaller, you don't need to smear it with oil. In fact, you need to wipe the oil off the area where it screws into, since the oil oil that came out might have left some gritty residue there that would prevent a good seal. So wipe the area, and screw in (clockwise) your newly washered oil pan plug.
6. Oil In
Since your oil is already open and your oil filler cap is already off, this step should be a breeze! The things to note here though are feel free to use a funnel to make life easier, and also pour slowly. This new oil is cold and as such it's thicker and will take some time to get from the top of your engine down.
7. Run Your Engine for 5 minutes, Wait 5 minutes
This will warm the oil, move it around the engine, then let it settle back into the oil pan so we can accurately measure if there is enough in there.
8. Check & Top Up Oil
Check the oil now that is has settled and make sure it is right around the "FULL" marker on your dipstick. The thing to know here is that not enough oil hurts engines badly but a little too much oil never hurt anything, so err on the side of caution.
About this Author
Sean Watkins is a freelance online journalist who written on subjects as varied as online gaming to Hiking Shoes. Following inspiration from a recent Tasmanian trek, his newest website can be viewed at www.hikingshoestore.com.
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