Changing the Oil in Your Personal Vehicle

Introduction

For most motor vehicle owners, changing g the oil in the family car is a matter of driving up to the local chain store or dealership, then waiting for others to do the job. However, there may be a time when the car owner will need to know how to change the oil in the car. This short manual is for these people, not for the professional. An oil and lube center will already have its own manuals. Since this is aimed at the general public, male and female from 15 to 100 or so, no jargon will be used in this manual. All directions are written in plain English.

Why You Need to Change Your Oil

Oil lubricates various parts of the internal combustion engine. As it flows through the engine it picks up sludge, dirt, little bits of metal, and other contaminants. In addition, motor oil will eventually break down into a nasty dark liquid that is not just dirty, but it is not slimy like oil should be, so it really cannot lubricate the parts in your engine very well. This happens because it is used over and over again and because it gets heated each time. The oil filter helps to keep the oil clean, but it eventually gets full of stuff and needs changing too.

When the Oil Should be Changed

Your use and care book from the original manufacturer of your car will say how often you should change your oil. Most automobile manufacturers recommend an oil change every 5000 miles or once per year. If you live in a very hot climate or a very cold climate you will need to change your oil twice each year, because you may need to use a different weight of oil in the summer and the winter. If you use synthetic oil, such as Shell’s Fire and Ice or Mobil One, you will only need to change your oil once per year or every 10,000 miles.

Preparation for Changing the Oil

Get your supplies and tools

Research your Needs

• The first thing you need to do is to find out what brand and weight of oil you need and how much oil your auto needs, plus the type and brand of oil filter you need. You will find this information in your manual for the car and on the door jamb of the driver’s door. Open the driver’s door and look for a sticker either on the body or on the part of the door that is not seen when the door is closed. This will tell you what weight and brand of oil you have been using. It will say something like 10w-40 or something like this. If you need to change the weight of oil (these numbers), then consult your manual or call the dealer. Buy the same brand you have been using. Do NOT EVER mix regular oil with synthetic oil and it is also not good to mix different brands or different weights. Buy a quality oil filter. This is more important than your oil brand since it is responsible for keeping the oil clean.
• Pick a flat spot where you can change your oil in comfort: level, clean and warm

Collect your Tools

You will need the following

• 1 oil filter wrench: This is a specialized tool for removing the oil filter from the car. It looks like a metal band closer used on hoses with a large handle
• Bucket or shallow tub to catch the oil and a funnel to fill the car with new oil
• Car jack and big blocks if possible or a set of oil change ramps and wheel chocks: you need to raise the car up a little and put two of the wheels on something level and solid to hold it high enough for you to comfortably get under the car.
• One set of wrenches, open-ended or the closed type which fit over the bolt and tightens automatically. Check the illustration figure 1-a
• 1 or 2 lint-free rags, cotton, or flannel is good. You can buy rags like you see in garages for using in auto service. Two old gallon milk jugs or something else to hold the old oil so you can recycle it.
• Wear your old clothes and use rubber gloves if you can
• A creeper to lay on and slide under the car. If you do not have this you can improvise with a tarp or some other covering you can slide on or an inexpensive small child’s toy for sliding on snow, not a sled, just the this plastic rectangle.

Procedures

Prepare equipment and supplies and put car in place. Use Chocks under the rear wheels to insure safety.

1. Run the car a few minute to circulate the oil, but not so long it gets hot. (You can get a burn from the crank case.) Open the hood and loosen the oil cap. It is labeled.
2. Get under the car and remove the plug from the oil pan with a wrench. Be sure the catch basin is in place and you are not in direct line with the drain hole. The oil will start to flow immediately. (Remember the screws and bolts always go left to loosen and right to tighten: lefty loosey and righty tighty). Safety goggles will protect your eyes from splashing.
3. Wait until the oil flow stops. Replace the plug and tighten with your fingers first, then tighten with the wrench.
4. Use the oil filter wrench to remove the oil filter. Some oil will drip, so catch it in the basin.
5. Rib the rim of the new filter with a little clean oil on your finger and put the new filter on exactly where you removed the old one. Tighten more with the filter wrench.
6. Using the funnel, pour the new oil into the engine through the opening under the hood. Then replace the cover and close the hood.
7. Start the engine, check for leaks under the car, and check the oil.
8. Put away your equipment, including the ramps and chocks.
9. Pour the waste oil into your old containers or back into the now empty oil jugs, label them used oil and take them and the filter to an oil recycling depot. Do not throw the oil and filter away. They are toxic.
10. Record your oil change in your manual or on a sticker to put over the old one. Include the oil weight, date and odometer reading. (That is the mileage from the gauge on the dashboard.)