Change Oil Filter
Changing the oil filter is one of the most important things you can do to your car to make it last longer. There are several different ways an oil filter can be attached to the engine's lubrication system, also. Most engines have a spin on oil filter that screws right on an adapter on the engine block. On four cylinder engines in front wheel drive vehicles, the oil filter is usually on the front side of the engine block just under where the exhaust pipe goes. On other engines, the oil filter is usually under the vehicle towards the back of the engine. Do not be fooled though, the oil filter can actually be located anywhere on the engine, so locating it should be the first thing you do. If it is in a location where you can get to it while the engine is hot, then that is better because the oil is more free flowing when it is hot. Just be careful not to get burned when you loosen the filter and the hot oil comes out from it.
Other designs of oil filters, like on some diesel engines, involves a paper filter element that goes inside a 'glass bulb'. To change this type, you must remove the cover, and then drop in a new paper element. This is not a very common setup, but it does exist, and is something you should be aware of, if you plan on changing a lot of oil filters. Anyways, here is what you need to do in order to change the oil filter on most cars.
The first thing you need to do is gather up all of your supplies. This includes things like a drain pan to catch the oil, a few rags to clean up any mess, oil filter, oil filter wrench, some fresh oil, and anything necessary to get to the oil filter like a jack and jack stands. Getting to the filter is the first step, and this should be fairly self explanatory. You might have to use the jack and jack stands, or a set of ramps and wheel blocks, if you do not have access to a car lift. Then you would place the drain pan under the filter, and get the oil filter wrench to loosen the filter. Once it is loose, you can finish removing the filter, and drop it in the top of the drain pan. You will want to remove it from the oil and recycle it separately from the oil. Anyways, once the old filter is out of the way, you can get your rags, and clean up any extra mess that may have spilled, and wipe off the engine where the filter goes. Once everything is cleaned up, you are ready to put things back together.
Putting the oil filter back on your engine is not that big of a deal. All you have to do is put some oil on the rubber seal on the top of the new filter, and then screw it on until it is snug. Once it is snug, just give it another quarter to half a turn extra. You really do not need the oil filter wrench to put the new filter on, unless you are a 40 pound weakling. It can be done by hand. The only reason you need the wrench to remove it is because of the 'seal' that is created while the engine heats up and cools off.
Of course, there are a few things you can do to make the job go a lot faster, and they are to make sure you have your materials ready before you get started, and that they are the right ones for the job. There are different sizes of oil filters and oil filter wrenches. There is more than one mechanic that knows how frustrating it is to have too small or too big of an oil filter wrench. If this happens, you can either grab it with a big set of channel lock pliers, or run a screwdriver through it to use as a handle. Hopefully you never have to do anything that drastic, but now you know what has to be done if you have to.
