- Oil change
- Do it yourself
Car Repair Guide 2018: How to change the oil of your car at home
Changing the oil of your vehicle is a necessity that you can’t ignore. Every time, after your car runs 3000–4000 miles unless you are using synthetic oil, its oil should be changed.
And when the time comes, you have to visit a nearby mechanic.
What if you can change the oil of your vehicle at home?
That’s possible.
What will you need?
- A good quality engine oil (good synthetic oil can last up to 10,000 miles)
- An oil filter
- An oil filter casket
- A container for used oil
- Funnel
- Latex gloves
- Jack and Jack stands or ramps (optional, depends on ground clearance)
Now, we just need to follow:
Simple steps for changing the oil of your car
Step 1. Park your vehicle at a suitable place.
Step 2. Open the hood.
Step 3. Start the engine, place your car in 1st gear, and run it for a few minutes in the exhaust. This will warm the oil and make it easy to drain.
Caution: Breaks should be applied during this time to prevent any mishap.
Step 4. Uplift your car above the ground using a Jack and keep it lifted using the jack stand.
Step 5. Remove the engine cover.
Step 6. Remove the oil cap so that the oil drains more smoothly.
Step 7. Get under your car while placing the accessories where you can easily reach them.
Step 8. Once you’re under the car, find the oil drain plug and loosen it.
But first, make sure the pan is under it so that the oil doesn’t leak on the ground.
Caution: Prepare to get your hands dirty. Also, the oil can be warm. To prevent this, you can wear latex gloves.
Step 9. Wait for the oil to drain in the pan completely.
Meanwhile, wipe the bolt and put it aside for reuse.
Step 10. Loosen and unscrew the filter cap. First, you might need to use a handle but later you can do using your hands.
Step 11. Slowly lift the cradle from inside and then pull the filter cartridge from its cap.
Step 12. Now, clean the filter cap carefully using a cloth, remove the old o-ring, and replace it with a new one.
Step 13. Push the filter into the cap and place inside the housing. Turn the filter until the O-ring creates a resistance.
Step 14. Close the drain plug. Make sure it’s tightly closed.
Step 15. Insert a half-cut empty water bottle inside the oil cap and fill the new oil.
Step 16. Close the cap, start the engine, and keep it running for 30 seconds.
Step 17. Shut the engine and check for leaks.
If there isn't any, put back the engine cover, close the hood, remove the wheel choke, and enjoy…
What to do with the used oil?
Take it to a nearby store or a recycling center for disposal.
So, it was pretty easy. Ain’t it? Using the auto repair guide, you just saved you about $100. Cheers!
Feeling overwhelmed about it and you want a certified mechanic to help you do it. Don't worry! Autolii has certified mechanics near you that can provide just the perfect oil change service for you. Visit us at www.autolii.com.