Changing Oil
If you've decided to perform your own oil change, here are a few tips to make the job easier and less messy:
1. Safety should be your top priority, so apply the parking brake and chock the rear wheels. Then raise the vehicle high enough to be able to reach the drain plug. The best way to do this is by driving up a pair of ramps, but if these aren't available and you have to use the jack, slide jackstands underneath the car to take the weight. Jacks have been known to fail!
2. Oil flows better when it's warm, so run the engine for only a minute or so. Any longer and the oil will get too hot to touch.
3. Check you have the right filter and enough oil of the correct viscosity.
4. Get the tools ready. You'll need some kind of filter wrench and a wrench or socket to fit the drain plug. You should also have some rags handy for wiping up drips and spills. It's usually a good idea to lay some old newspaper on the floor to catch any stray drips.
5. Once underneath the vehicle, remove any shielding that restricts access to the drain plug or filter. It might seem time-consuming but it's a lot quicker than cleaning up spilt oil.
6. Position a large bowl to catch the old oil, then undo the drain plug and let the oil pour out.
7. Remove the old filter while the oil is draining and clean the machined surface of the engine block.
8. Pre-fill the new filter with oil as this reduces engine wear on initial startup.
9. Smear a thin film of clean oil over the rubber seal at the top of the filter. This will help it slide against the mating surface, reducing the chance of leaks. Then screw it onto the engine, but only hand tight. Do NOT use a filter wrench to tighten it up!
10. Wipe the drain plug clean, especially the sealing surface, and screw it back into the oil pan, taking care to avoid cross-threading. Tighten the plug to the torque specified in the manual, or if you don't have a torque-wrench to hand, just make sure it's good and tight.
Move round to the top of the engine and slowly pour in the clean oil. Give it time to run down through the engine before checking the level, and be careful not to overfill it.
12. Start the engine and let it run for a minute, then shut it off and look underneath for any leaks. If everything is in order, lower the vehicle to the ground and check the oil level again, topping up if necessary.
13. Finally, it's important to dispose of used oil properly. Drain the bowl into the empty oil containers and write on the outside so that everyone knows it's used oil. Then put them out for curbside collection, if that's done in your neighborhood, otherwise take them to an appropriate recycling facility. The same goes for the filter.
That's it: your engine has clean oil and you have the satisfaction of knowing the job has been done properly.
