While it’s always better to have your vehicle inspected and serviced by an expert, it’s always nice to know more about the maintenance process and how your car works. To keep yourself clean and your car in tip-top shape, have it routinely serviced at AV Bumper to Bumper. But if you’re in a pinch and looking to get a little dirty, here’s a step-by-step guide to changing your oil. Remember every car is different: only a qualified mechanic is trained to know what’s best for each one.
- Get equipped – You’re going to need a pan to catch the oil, a socket or wrench to pull the plug, as well as the replacement oil and filter. Make sure you have the right oil for your vehicle. Newer cars often require a more specific type, such as full-synthetic oil. Check the owner’s manual of your car to be sure. After you’ve gathered your tools, get ready to get dirty.
- It’s a good idea to unscrew the filler cap to increase airflow. Once you’re under the engine, find the drain plug and place your pan underneath. It’s important to be accurate, as cleaning up a spill can be more frustrating than the oil change itself.
- Unscrew the plug with your socket or wrench, catching it before it falls into the oil. Now let the oil drain. This is the easy part.
- Locate the oil filter on the engine by comparing it to the new replacement. There’s really no standard as to where it goes. Once you find it, carefully spin it off and remove the gasket, catching the remaining oil that might spill out with the pan.
- Now’s the time to replace what you’ve removed. Spin the drain plug back on, replacing the washer and gasket if they look too worn. Then, fill the new filter with some new oil, also smearing some on the gasket. Carefully spin the filter onto the engine. The filter or its packaging should tell you how much to tighten it after the gasket touches. You may also need to replace o-rings to prevent leakage.
- Fill your engine with the new oil according to the specifications in your car manual. Check the levels to be sure and give yourself a pat on the back.
The success of your work can be measured by how much cleanup there is to be done after!
Post by Ed Fawcett Jr
