by David Stephenson

Created on: January 27, 2007   Last Updated: April 10, 2007

One of my philosophies in life is to know your car. If you don't use public transportation you probably have a vehicle that you depend on to get you from place to place. You probably know that cars need regular maintenance to keep them going. This maintenance can be costly to perform. One way to keep these cost low is to learn to change your oil yourself. This is a fairly simple task that anybody can do with the right knowledge. First, determine the amount and viscosity of the oil your car requires. Viscosity is basically the thickness of the oil. Then locate the drain plug, oil filter, and oil filler cap. All information regarding your oil viscosity, filter, drain plug, and oil cap can be found in your owners manual. Once you have purchased your oil and filter you can move on to the dirty work. Just find some old clothes and a pair of rubber gloves and you will be fine.

Changing your oil can be broken down to three simple steps: draining the oil, changing the filter, and refilling. Each one of these steps are different but very easy to do. To drain your oil all you need to do is find your drain plug which is located on the very lowest part of your engine. Depending on your type of vehicle you may need to jack the vehicle up to gain easy access to the drain plug and filter. If a jack is required make sure to pull your emergency brake, chock your wheels and place the vehicle on a jack stand. Once the plug is removed let the oil drain into a container thats large enough to hold the volume of oil your car requires. When the used oil is finished draining, replace and tighten the drain plug. Be careful not to over tighten the drain plug. Over tightening the plug could cause damage to threads on the plug or your oil pan.

Next, remove and replace your oil filter. The oil filter is full of oil so position the drain pan under the filter to catch any oil that leaks out. Clean the sealing surface where the filter seals to your engine block. This will help create a good seal to prevent leaks. Twist the filter on and make sure that it is secure. The final step is to locate your oil cap on the topside of the engine. On most model cars the filler cap will be located on the valve cover. Use a funnel to pour your new oil into the engine. Once you have finished check your oil level with the dipstick. Remove the dipstick, wipe it clean with a paper towel to assure a proper reading. Insert the dipstick completely then remove it and check your oil level. The dip stick will be marked at the correct operation levels.

Its always good to double check your plug and filter as well. A loose filter or drain plug could result in loss of oil or major engine damage. Replacing an engine is a very costly repair. Its always best to be safe rather than sorry. Clean up and dispose of your used oil and filter. Your oil should be changed every 3000 miles or three months. That may differ depending on your cars specifications. Changing your oil is the best ways to extend the life time of your engine. Now, you have the satisfaction of doing the job yourself and saving a little money in the process.

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