Auto Repair in the Know

People all across the country are learning how to change their own oil.  Do you want to save hundreds of dollars each year and feel satisfied after the job is complete?  Of course!  It will not be easy the first time you change your oil, but with practice, comes ease and success.  Try to continue this process,  before deciding to go back to the dealership or car service company.  First, the tools you will need for the job include the following:

• a 3/8-drive socket set

• a combination wrench set

• an oil filter wrench

• a pan to catch the old oil

• a funnel and a one quart freezer bag

• old newspapers and old, dirty rags

• dirty work clothes

• a new oil filter (check owner’s manual for requirements)

• enough oil to refill the engine (check owner’s manual for requirements)

Driving your car around the block will heat up the oil and make it thin.  This will help drain the oil completely from the engine.  Next, park the car on a flat surface, either on your driveway or street.  It’s necessary to add blocks or rocks behind the wheels, so your car does not roll when you are underneath it.  Wearing old clothes and a hat is recommended as you roll underneath the vehicle to locate the oil drain plug. Place old newspapers underneath the car, where the oil will come out.  This will protect the driveway or street from oil stains.  Then, pull the pan under the oil drain opening to catch the old oil.

Now, you can pop the hood of the vehicle and open the oil filler cap.  Opening this cap will help the oil drip better from the bottom of the car.  Let the oil drip out of the car for at least an hour to make sure all of the oil leaves the engine. Once an hour has passed, insert the new oil filter to protect the vehicle.  You should also place a new washer on the oil drain plug for better protection. Once the oil drain plug is back in place, begin inserting new oil into the engine, as many quarts as the automobile manufacturer recommends. which is found in the owner’s manual.  Turn the engine car on and let it idle for five minutes, while checking the car for possible leaks.  Put all of the old oil in a protective container that will not spill, such as a milk container with a screw on top.  Once the job is complete, take the old oil in the protective container to a local oil recycling center to dispose of it properly.  It is against the law to dump oil down the sink or into water drains in the street.  Many national chains of vehicle service companies will take your old oil and dispose of it properly and legally.

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Learn more  about auto repair demonstrations on our blog.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 8:15 pm and is filed under DIY Auto Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.