ALT-1 How to Change Oil
Learning how tochange the oilin a car is within the possibilities of the average car owner. But it's also a way to end up with oil leaks and costly repairs-and lots of wasted time. Not knowing how to prepare the engine for an oil change, how to remove, check, and replace the drain plug and oil filter can cost you much more than what you can actually save doing it yourself. Still, you can follow a simple procedure to successfully change the motor oil in your own garage in about an hour.Before you change the motor oil* Don't buy any brand of motor oil just because it's cheaper, it has more additives or a special formula. First, check your car owner's manual (or service manual). Pay special attention to the recommended oil viscosity and service rating-which designates an oil as suitable for your specific vehicle year model. However, if you are working on a high mileage engine, you may want to go with a higher viscosity oil. Equally important, note the amount of oil you'll need.* Buy a new oil filter and gasket for the drain plug-if the plug uses one-so you can replace them too. Ask the store clerk about it.* You'll need a wrench or ratchet andsocket wrenchto remove the oil drain plug; a filter wrench; a couple of ramps or a jack and a couple of jack stands; shop rags; some old newspapers or piece of cardboard to cover the floor underneath the engine; and a large catch pan.* Locate the oil filter and the oil drain plug to speed up the process. Depending on your particular vehicle model, you may find the filter on one side of the engine or towards the front. Locate the drain plug on the oil pan below the engine.* Finally, find a safe, level ground where you can work on your car.Changing the motor oil* When ready, start and warm up the engine for about ten minutes so the oil collects and suspends all the particles and debris that have accumulated in it. When hot, oil also flows easier out of the engine.* Lift the front of your vehicle-secure it on jack stands, if you are not using ramps. Engage the parking brake and block the rear wheels.* Open the hood and cover the floor-under the engine-with newspaper or a large piece of cardboard. You don't want to end up with oil stains on your garage floor. Then, slide under your car and place the large catch pan under the engine oil pan, toward the drain plug.* Carefully unscrew and remove the drain plug using a wrench or socket wrench. Rounding off or damaging a drain plug's head is real easy to do. So use the correct wrench size for your plug. As you unscrew the drain plug, hot oil will begin to flow out, so be careful (tip: after removing the drain plug, you may want to loosen the oil filler cap to help the oil drain faster. This cap seats-usually-on top of the engine, on the valve cover, and is possibly marked with the words "Engine oil").* In the meantime, clean the drain plug threads with a shop rag and/or wire brush, and replace the gasket.* After draining the oil, reinstall and tighten the drain plug by hand. Then, use the wrench or socket wrench and ratchet to finish tightening the drain plug just enough to seal the pan's drain hole.* Now, slide the catch pan under the oil filter and remove the filter with the filter wrench. Drain the oil out of the filter, into the catch pan, and allow the residual oil to drain from the filter mounting base. Check that the old filter still has the rubber ring attached to its base-the side that makes contact with the mounting base. If not, remove the rubber ring manually from the mounting base.* Coat the new oil filter rubber ring with new motor oil using your finger and install the filter. Don't use the filter wrench to tighten the new replacement, unless you have to. Using the wrench may lead to an over tightened filter-and potential leaking problems later. Read the installation instructions on the new filter package.* After installing the filter, remove the catch pan and tools from under the car and lower you vehicle off the jack stands-or ramps. Remove the oil filler cap and use a funnel, if necessary, to pour the new oil. Then, replace the oil filler cap.* Start the engine to circulate the new oil, and check under the engine and around the new filter for leaks. If necessary, slightly tighten the drain plug and/or filter and check again for leaks.Changing the motor oil makes an excellent weekend morningcar maintenanceproject. It doesn't require special skills and you only need minimal tools. Even more, if you take care of your engine following the recommended oil service intervals, your engine will reward you with fewer repairs and thousands of extra miles of faithful service.
