How to: Change Oil

Table of contents iii

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ........................................................................................... iii

Introduction .................................................................................................... v

Part I: Getting Started ..................................................................................... 1

Items You Will Need ..................................................................................... 3

Optional Tools.............................................................................................. 5

Part II: Performing the Oil Change ................................................................... 7

Set Up ......................................................................................................... 9

Location of Objects ...................................................................................... 9

Performing the Oil Change ......................................................................... 12

Part III: Trouble Shooting .............................................................................. 15

Introduction v

Introduction Cars are complex pieces of machinery that need to be regularly maintained in

order to ensure they run properly and safely. You should change the engine oil

in your car least once a year (or every 7,500 miles) because it is vital to keeping

your car functioning. You can get your oil changed by professionals, or you can

do it yourself at home. In this manual, you fill find everything you need to

change your oil at home, including materials required, safety precautions, and

easy-to-follow instructions of the oil-changing process.

Part I: Getting Started

Getting Started 3

Getting Started

Items You Will Need

1. Oil

Make sure that you get the right oil weight for your car and choose a

brand that you will be satisfied with. Your owner’s manual should

have information on what type and how much you will need.

2. Socket or Crescent Wrench

You may need to use either one depending on how much room you

have and how tight the drain plug is on.

4 How to Change Oil

3. Oil Filter

As with the oil, your car’s filter has certain specifications, and there

are many different sizes and brands. Consult your owner’s manual to

determine the correct filter for you vehicle.

4. A Way to Elevate Your Vehicle

Usually, a car-jack or stands will work best for this; however, you may

also use the curb of a road, provided there is not a lot of through-

traffic.

5. A Pan to Catch the Oil

6. Disposable Rags

Getting Started 5

Optional Tools

Filter pliers

Band wrench

Filter claw

Part II: Performing the Oil Change

Performing the Oil Change 9

Performing the Oil Change

Set Up

Get the Car Lifted

Caution: Working on a car that is not properly supported could result in

serious injury.

Placing jacks or stands improperly could result in structural damage to

the vehicle.

You can use either jacks or stands to lift the car.

Make sure that the jack or stand is in position strong enough to support

the weight of the car.

You can pull the car onto an elevated curbside if you do not have jacks

or stands.

Before starting to work on the vehicle make sure that the emergency

brake is engaged and that the car will not move.

Location of Objects

Oil Cap

The oil cap is usually located on the upper part of the engine, and has

the words Engine Oil on it.

This is where you will add oil after the car has been drained.

Remove the oil cap to help the oil drain.

10 How to Change Oil

Dip Stick

The dipstick is usually in a long tube connected to the engine block.

It is usually yellow, but can also be white or orange, and has the words

Engine Oil on it.

Performing the Oil Change 11

Caution: Do not confuse the oil dipstick with the transmission dipstick

which is marked by the words Transmission Fluid

Look at the dipstick to get an idea of where the oil level should be; this is

how you will check the level after the oil has been added.

Replace the dipstick into its tube.

Oil Pan

Once you are under your car, look for a flat metal pan closer to the

engine than the transmission.

The transmission pan is usually connected to the bell housing.

12 How to Change Oil

There should be a bolt or plug toward the bottom, this is the oil plug

you'll need to remove to drain the oil.

Performing the Oil Change

Draining the Oil

Caution: During removal or replacing, if you suspect that your drain plug

may be stripped, stop the oil change and take your car to a mechanic.

Remove the oil plug.

Loosen the plug using the correct size socket wrench or crescent wrench.

Place your catch pan properly to catch the oil coming out.

Once the oil has stopped coming out replace the drain plug and tighten a

quarter turn past “hand tight.

Be sure to dispose of oil at a proper recycling station.

Replacing the Oil Filter

Now that you have safely drained the oil from the car, you can now replace the

oil filter.

Find the filter assembly.

Performing the Oil Change 13

o Note: The filter is either screw on or a cartridge.

Unscrew your oil filter, twisting it slowly counter-clockwise.

o Note: You may need to use a filter wrench for this part, if the filter

is slippery.

o Note: When you unscrew the filter, be use that your catch-pan is

still positioned beneath the car.

Remove the rubber gasket ring along with the filter.

Apply new replacement oil on the new filter’s gasket ring after you have

removed the old filter and gasket ring

Secure the new filter, twisting it slowly clockwise.

o Note: do not cross thread the filter onto the car.

Add New Oil

Caution: after changing the filter let the car off of jacks, or curbside.

Remove the oil cap and use a funnel to add the oil to the car.

Replace the oil cap and start the engine.

Keep an eye on the oil light marked by a red oil pan with dripping oil and

make sure it turns off.

Look under the car to make sure there is no oil leaking from the engine

with the engine still running.

Turn the engine off and check the level on the dipstick to ensure that it

is in the safe area.

o Note: If it is too low add enough to put it in the safe area.

o Note: If it is too much you need to drain just enough oil to put it in

the safe area.

After all of this is complete your car is now ready to be driven.

15

Part III: Trouble Shooting

Troubleshooting 17

Trouble Shooting

If you notice oil under the car:

You have an oil leak and should take your car to a mechanic for

inspection.

If you are having difficulty with the drain plug:

Caution: Driving your car with a stripped oil plug or pan will cause your car

to leak oil and could severely damage the engine.

Take your car to an auto shop to avoid stripping the threads on the plug.

If your filter will not loosen, or is in a difficult to reach place:

Try using a band wrench.

o This will do the least amount of damage to the filter when taking it

off.

Try using filter claws.

o Attach the claw tool to your socket wrench an turn it until the filter

comes loose.

Try filter pliers.

If your filter still doesn’t loosen:

Take the vehicle to an auto shop.

Caution: Never start the car without the oil filter attached and intact

because they will damage your car.