How to Properly Change Oil in Your Car

Make sure your car is sitting on a level surface first. It is a good idea to have run your vehicle for a short while before changing the oil. The reason for this is that when the oil heats up it becomes thinner and is easier to drain out of your engine. Before we get started let's make sure we have everything we need to complete the job. You want to start by opening the hood, check all your fluid levels, hoses and belts, make sure the battery connections are clean and tight, and check the air cleaner to see if it needs replaced. When selecting an oil always use the same oil that is recommended for your engine. If you are not sure, check your owner's manual.

First you will want to raise the front of the car off the ground. This can be accomplished by using a hydraulic jack and Jack stands or a set of ramps that you pull the car up on. If you are using Jack stands make sure you place the Jack stands in the proper place to prevent any damage to your vehicle. Ramps will not work on all vehicles, especially if you have a spoiler in the front, the car will drag and damage will occur when trying to pull the car up on the ramps. Ramps also have a tendency to slide forward when you are pulling up on them, so be very careful.

As I'm sure you already know, you will need to go under the car to drain the oil, and change the oil filter along with the few other task. The creeper comes in very handy for this to task, if you do not have one an old blanket will work just fine. You will need a wrench to remove the drain plug from the oil pan, an oil filter wrench, a few rags, a drain pan for the used oil, a grease gun if you have any grease fittings that need greased, and possibly a can of WD-40. You will also want to have a work light, and open up the hood so you can see what you're doing under their.

Position the drain pan underneath the engine's oil pan so that when you remove the drain plug the oil will drain into the pan. Be careful not to drop the drain plug into the pan of hot motor oil. If this happens use a magnet to retrieve it to avoid burning yourself. Once you remove the drain plug you may need to move your drain pan in order to assure that the stream of oil continues to go into the pan and not on the floor.

While the oil is draining, if you have grease fittings take a rag and start wiping them off. You do not want to push dirt through the grease fittings as this will cause parts to wear out faster. When pumping grease into the grease fittings don't overdo it. Usually, three or four good pumps is plenty. Also keep in mind it is rather difficult to grease in the wintertime. When the parts are cold they just don't take grease very well.

Look for rubber grommets, body mounts etc. and lubricate them lightly with WD-40. It may be necessary to wipe these off prior to lubrication as well. Lubricating and the rubber components eliminates extra noises, and prevents the rubber from rotting out early. You will want to give the underside of a car a visual inspection, looking for any broken parts or things that may need attention.

Wipe the drain plug off, making sure the threads are squeaky clean. After the oil has drained, wipe off the oil pan of the engine and install the drain plug. Be sure to start the drain plug by hand, if you use the wrench to start the plug you may destroy the threads on the drain plug and the oil pan creating a major repair. Tighten the drain plug with the wrench until it is snug. Be careful not to over tighten the drain plug.

Wipe off and remove the oil filter after placing the drain pan underneath to catch the oil. Keep in mind the oil filter holds oil as well, so don't spill it all over yourself. The new oil filter will have a rubber ring to seal it against the engine block. Using a small portion of the used motor oil on the tip of your finger, lubricate the rubber ring, and install the new oil filter. Lubricating the rubber ring helps create a better seal and prevents leaks. Tighten the oil filter a quarter to half a turn past hand tight. This should conclude your work underneath the car.

Do not start the car yet. Fill the engine with the new motor oil, making sure not to overfill it. If you're not sure about the crankcase capacity, check the owners manual. Once you have new oil in the engine, check the oil on the dipstick and make sure it is full. Now you can start the engine and let it run for a few seconds, and shut it back off. Check the oil level on the dipstick again to make sure it is still full, because the oil filter holds some oil and sometimes your engine may require a little additional oil after it has ran.

Finally, top off all your other fluid levels, wipe everything off, and don't forget to record the mileage so that you know when your car is due for the next oil change. You may want to take a oil can and lubricate the hood hinges, the hood latch, and the door and trunk hinges. This will add a professional touch, taking the oil change, to the old school days where it was a lube, oil, and filter.