How to Change the Oil in a Car

One of the most important things that you can do for your car is changing the oil. Oil helps the engine run smoother, but old oil can gunk up critical parts and eventually cause engine failure, which can cost thousands of dollars for fix. Below is the most basic instructions that you will need to change your own oil.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oil 4-6 quarts, generally WD-40
• Oil drain pan, usually made of plastic, costs around $3 at an auto store
• Funnel
• Wrench and sockets
• Oil filter
• Shop towels to clean up any messes

1. Make sure your car is parked position and cannot move. Set your emergency break.

2. Make sure the car has been off for a while. Hot oil can cause burns.

3. First you will need to remove the old oil from your engine. So, on the top of your engine, remove the oil cap (usually there is a picture of an oil canister on the cap).

4. Now, place your oil pan under your engine. This is where the old oil will drain into.

5. 
   The inside of a disassembled oil pan

   Now, locate your oil pan on your car. it is attached to your engine on the bottom. There will be a nut on the oil pan. Remove this nut using your wrench or socket. Oil will flow our fast, so be prepared and have your oil catch pan ready.

6. 
   Oil catch pan full of used oil.

   After the oil has come to almost a stop, it is time to remove the filter. If the filter will not unscrew by hand, you may need to purchase a tool to remove it for you easier. Expect more oil to come flowing out.

7. 
   New oil fiter with thin layer of oil around the seal.

   Now that the oil is completely drained, you will have to put everything back together. Take the new oil filter and put a thin layer of oil around the oil filter ring. This helps protect the filter. Put the filter back on the engine.

8. reattach the nut to the oil pan. Tightly.

9. Back on your feet again, put a funnel in the oil hole and begin refilling the oil. How much oil you put in depends on your car. Refer to your owners manual for an exact amount of how much oil you should put in.

10. Replace the oil cap back on the engine and start the car. Check for leaks around the filter and nut. If something is leaking, simply tighten it.

11. 
    Shop towels

    You are now finished. Use shop towels to clean up any messes.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the engine is completely cooled before you begin. Failure to do so can result in serious burns.
• Always wear safety gear.
• Always have a partner to supervise.

[mahnanc]

on 2/19/2009 Clear and detailed instructions. Thanks for the added caution from the other commenter too.

[Tabitha85730]

on 12/12/2008 That is super advice, thanks! Another thing you may want to look out for is when you remove the original oil filter, make sure that the gasket from the filter doesn't fall off and stick to the engine. If it does, and you add another filter, you will have two gaskets, and two is not better than one!

[Leitnin]

on 12/9/2008 A fairly common pitfall to an oil change is over-tightening the drain plug and stripping (chewing up) the threads in the oil pan.

Make sure the drain bolt is secure, but don't tighten it too much, or you'll cause a worse leak than you are trying to avoid.

A torque wrench is the best way (along with the torque specs from the service manual), but an 1/8th to a 1/4 turn past snug should be quite sufficient.

Its better to tighten a bit too little, and notice a small drip, and then tighten a bit more rather than to over-tighten and need a new oil pan. Just like measure twice, cut once.

Be sure to follow the tightening directions on the filter or box as well.