How to Change the Oil in a Mercury Cougar
Changing the oil on your Mercury Cougar helps you save money and ensure that the job's done correctly. The manufacturer recommends changing the oil every 5,000 miles. Check the owner's manual for the correct oil capacity. Use an oil with a viscosity of 5W-30.
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Things You'll Need
- Car jack
- Jack stands or ramps
- Oil pan
- 16mm wrench
- Oil filter wrench
- Cleaning cloths
- Filter
- Oil
Instructions
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Prepare Your Cougar for an Oil Change
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1
Lift your Mercury Cougar using a jack and then place the car on jack stands. If you don't have jack stands, drive the Cougar onto a set of wheel ramps.
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2
Pop the hood and remove the dipstick and oil filler cap. The dipstick is near the front of the engine between the engine and the radiator. The oil fill is near the dipstick.
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3
Gather an oil drip pan, 16mm wrench, banded oil filter wrench, cleaning cloths and a new oil filter. Slide under your Mercury.
Change the Oil
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4
Locate the oil filter and oil drain plug underneath the Cougar. The oil drain plug is on the bottom of the engine block. Access the oil filter from the passenger side front wheel well.
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5
Remove the oil drain plug using the 16mm wrench. Pull the plug out quickly and let the oil drain for 10 to 15 minutes. Check the gasket and threads for damage. Replace these parts, if necessary.
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6
Take off the oil filter using a banded oil filter wrench. Dump the old oil into the oil drip pan and put on the new oil filter. Tighten the oil filter by hand, and then replace the oil drain plug using the wrench. Clean off the excess oil.
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7
Go under the hood and add oil. Turn on the engine and check the oil pressure gauge to make sure it rises. Let the Mercury Cougar run for a minute.
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8
Lower your Mercury and turn off the engine. Take an oil reading on the dipstick. If the oil level isn't at full, add a bit more oil.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If the oil pressure gauge doesn't rise when you turn on your car, turn off the engine quickly and add more oil.
Never dispose of oil in the regular trash. Fill used plastic containers with the oil and drop it off at a gas station or auto parts store that has oil disposal units.
