How to Change Your Oil

Changing your oil is one of the easiest things mechanically you will ever do. changing the oil needs to be done regularly, about every 3,000 miles to prolong the life of your cars engine.

How to Change Your Oil, First Step.

Identify your oil pan,
Your oil pan will typically be black in color and have a hex head bolt in the center of a long sheet metal cover, this cover protects your crank, the pistons arms, and the bearings which they rotate on, as well as holding your oil.

How to Change Your Oil, Second Step.

Identify your oil filter,
Your oil filter is a cylindrical shaped canister, and will generally be near the fender of your car. This canister needs to be changed along with your oil. The canister is usually white or orange in color and it's job is to filter out metal flakes dirt and other corrosion.

How to Change Your Oil, Find a Pan.

You need something to drain your oil into, a slender short pan will usually work the best. Some vehicles may need to be jacked up at this point, while others may not. If you can gain easy access to the bolt in the center of the oil pan, and place your oil catching pan underneath your vehicle, you may skip jacking it up off the ground.

How to Change Your Oil, Purchasing Parts.

Your local auto parts store should be able to easily determine which oil filter you need, as well as what grade of oil will be best. Discuss this with them and make sure you have handy your 'make, model, and year of vehicle'. Using this information, the service attendant on duty can assist you in getting the proper parts and oil.

How to Change Your Oil, Changing Your Oil.

By now you should have everything prepared and changing your oil is as simple as,

1.)Remove the bolt from the center of oil pan and let drain into catch pan.

2.)Remove and replace oil filter.

3.)Replace oil pan bolt and poor 4 to 5 quarts of fresh oil in, checking your dip stick to ensure you do not over fill.

How to Change Your Oil, Getting Rid of Old Oil.

The same auto parts store that you purchased the parts and oil from, should also have a oil recycling bin. To get rid of your old used oil, simply poor it into the recycling bin.

How to Change You Oil, Closing statement.

Changing your oil really is that easy, and doing it yourself can save you a reasonable amount of money, as well as ensure that the job gets done right. Many times have I heard of Jiffy Lube or some other oil change station forgetting to put the pan bolt back in, and the poor customer having a dead motor because of it.

How to Change You Oil, Resources,

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/43788/article.html

http://autorepair.about.com/od/regularmaintenance/ss/oil_change.htm