How to Change Oil
Oil Change Videos by Car
What's an oil change, & why is it important to me?
An oil & filter change in your vehicle prevents the regular maintenance services for vehicles. So, everyone must have an idea of how to change oil & filter. It is a simple process, & helps with increasing the age of your car.
How often do you need to change your oil & oil filter?
You should often change the oil in your vehicle & the same is recommended by the manufacturers. But you also need to know that every car is different. However, you can find the right information owner’s manual so you can schedule an oil change in your car.
If we look at the common instances then the oil needs to change every 3000 miles. But as already mentioned not in every car. The interval is increasing up to 5000 to 10000 & even higher in some cars. We suggest talking with the manufacturer to find the right time to change the engine oil & filter.
There are many vehicles that have an oil life monitor. Manufacturers usually say the same thing that it’s not about the number of miles but about the nature of those miles. If you use your vehicle to drive in extreme conditions then you need to change oil & filter more often. Such conditions include:
- Lots of short trips
- Extreme high temperature
- Extreme cold temperature
- High-Speed Driving
- Towing/Hauling
Usage of vehicles in such extreme conditions degrade the quality of life & requires frequent oil changes.
Things You'll Need
Engine Oil
The lubricates in engine oil helps in reducing the moving engine parts & keeping the engine cool.
Oil Filter
Such filters remove the impurities from the oil that includes dirt, particles & water so the engine can work smoothly.
Step by Step: Oil Change Instructions
1. Use the Car floor jack to lift the vehicle. We suggest you use the manufacturer’s recommended lift points to avoid damaging the undercarriage. Using other jack stands can sometimes damage the vehicle’s lower part severely.
2. Need to place a container to catch the old oil.
3. Then you have to remove the drain plug & let the old oil collect in the container you have put underneath.
4. Clean the drain plug & reinstall it. If you find the drain plug damaged then you need to replace it.
5. Remove the old oil filter. Now you have to place the new spin on the filter to the base & tighten until the seal ring connects with the base. You will see & feel it once it is connected. You need to be careful as overtightening can split the gasket or distort the filter.
6. Clean the base of the filter by whipping it a clean cloth.
7. Reinstall the new oil filter. In this process, you need to place the new spin filter onto the base & tighten it until the seal ring connects with the base & then give it a half-turn. You need to be careful in this step as overtightening can split the gasket or distort the filter.
8. Make sure the oil pan drain plug is reinstalled.
9. Now fill the engine of your vehicle with new oil. You need to make sure to use the manufacturer’s recommended-grade engine oil. This will make your car more efficient.
10. Dispose of old oil responsibly to an area where children can’t reach.
How Can I Check My Engine Oil Level?
Another important task that needs to be performed while changing the vehicle’s oil by maintaining the right level of oil in it. With low engine oil in your car there’s a risk of overheating the remaining oil, resulting in diminished lubrication. Even when the engine oil level is too high, it can lead to oil foaming & that will eventually reduce the lubrication & engine protection. Here is the step by step oil check instructions.
Step by Step: Oil Check Instructions
1. Firstly turn off the vehicle & let it sit still for 10-15 minutes. We suggest having a look at the owner’s manual & instructions on how long to wait before checking the oil in the car. It is because the oil needs to be cold, and oil sitting on top of the engine to drain into the drain pan.
2. Now, open the hood & find the oil dipstick, you can also reference your owner’s manual for the exact location.
3. Pull the dipstick out using the handle & wipe any oil residue off the stick. Again dip the stick until it’s fully seated, & pull out to see the oil level. Wiping it clean ensures you’re measuring the accurate oil level, not any false residue on top.
4. Check out the oil level to make sure it’s in the right operating range, you can find it by looking at the stick. If it’s low, top it off with the manufacturer’s recommended oil.