With a small investment in tools, you can change your vehicle’s oil now and every 5,000 miles, saving yourself money. At Simply Autos, we know not everyone is handy under the hood, but an oil change is routine maintenance just about anyone can do.
Safety
You need either car ramps or jack stands to keep your car safely off the ground so you can work beneath it. Never change your oil using only a jack.
Tools
You also need a few other items, some of which need to be sized correctly to your vehicle:
- Large, old towel to catch spills
- Oil drain pan
- Car jack stands or car ramps
- Oil filter wrench
- Socket set with ratchet
- Oil — Match new oil to your vehicle’s needs; you could be using 5W-20, 5W-30, or 10W-30 in synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, or high mileage varieties
- Oil filter
- Funnel
Drain
Warm up your car for a few minutes if it has been sitting. This will make the oil flow better through the system. If jacking up your car, be sure to turn it off. Use car jack stands to ensure the car will not drop. If using car ramps, drive slowly up the ramps, engage the parking brake, and turn the car off.
Line up the oil drain pan with the drain plug to catch the old oil as it drains. Use the correct size socket and ratchet to loosen the drain plug enough that you can turn it by hand. Remove the plug. Let the oil drain; then replace and tighten the plug with the ratchet.
Filter
Use the filter wrench to loosen the oil filter, then use your hand to remove it. Keep the oil drain pan under the filter. Once you have the filter off, set it upside down to drain on the pan. Place a very small amount of fresh oil on the rim of the new filter and screw it into place. Tighten it by hand; do not use the filter wrench as may overtighten it.
New Oil
Now put fresh oil in via the top of the engine. If unsure where you add oil to your engine, consult your vehicle’s manual. Open the oil filler cap, put a funnel in, and add the required amount of oil (between four and five quarts is typical). Take the vehicle off the ramps or stands, and then let it run a few minutes, and check the oil dipstick. Add additional oil if needed.
The dealers at Simply Autos are also ready to help if changing your car’s oil seems too difficult. Contact Simply Autos today.