Do It Your Self Oil Change

To maintain good engine health regular oil changes are necessary. Some may think of it as a daunting task to take on by themselves, but It is very simple do and well worth it in the end. The standard oil change should be done every three to five thousand miles. This is an easy task for someone looking to save a little money by doing it themselves instead of paying somebody to do it for them.

The first step is to go to an auto parts store and ask the clerk for the correct oil filter for your vehicle. The oil filter will depend on what make and model your car is it can also vary on what engine is in the car. So, make sure to provide the clerk with this information. The clerk at the store will find the correct oil filter for the car. The car will also need new oil. look in your owner’s manual to find out how many quarts of oil and weight of the oil the standard is usually 5w-30.

Tools needed will be an oil pan, ratchet, oil filter wrench, correct sized socket, and paper towels. First have an oil pan ready make sure it is large enough to hold the amount of oil that your vehicle is supposed to have. Once the oil pan ready find the correct size socket for your oil drain plug.

Then Locate the oil drain plug is usually relatively simple it should be at the bottom of the oil pan on the bottom of the engine block. Usually on the back side of the oil pan.

After locating the oil drain get the oil pan underneath then use the socket and ratchet to loosen the plug. Once lose it should spin by hand pretty easily then fully remove the plug be careful when doing so the oil may be hot depending on how long ago the vehicle was driven.

Then let the oil drain into the pan once it is done draining use the oil filter wrench to remove the filter. Make sure the oil pan is underneath the filter while taking off the oil filter. I would recommend having a paper towel handy to clean off oily hands after this step.

Before putting on the new oil filter. Dip fingertip into the new oil then run that around the seal of the filter. This will assure a good tight seal. Screw this on to hand tight and then just snugging it with the filter wrench will be just fine. Do not overdo this as it could strip the threads on the mount for the filter.

Next reinstall the plug next make it started straight in the threads then snug it down with the ratchet and socket. Then put new oil in the vehicle pop the hood and use a funnel to put the correct amount oil back in your vehicle. once the recommended amount of oil is in the vehicle. Check the dipstick and make sure the oil is within the suggested range. Then reinstall the oil fill cap and dipstick and close the hood.

To wrap things up reset the computers oil life sensor directions for doing so can be found in the owner’s manual. Older vehicles may not have this feature so just right down the millage that you need to change the oil again. With that make sure tools are put away and waste oil is disposed of and then the oil change is competed.