How to Change the Oil in a Car

Doing regular maintenance to your vehicle helps to insure that it runs smoother and last longer. For those that like to do things on their own, this how to article will walk you step by step through the process of changing your oil.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• new oil filter
• new oil recommended for your vehicle
• car ramps
• a wrench

1. You begin the process of changing the oil, by finding a level spot to put the ramps.

2. Carefully, pull your vehicle onto the ramps and pull the emergency brake. Place something under the back tires to help insure it doesn't roll back.

3. Lift the hood to your vehicle, allowing it to cool if it has been run long enough to warm up. Once it is cooled down, remove the oil cap.

4. Now that you have the vehicle on ramps. The hood is raised, the oil cap removed. You need to gather the new oil, oil filter, wrench and something to place the oil in.

5. For those that don't like to lay on bare ground, finding cardboard and placing it on the ground will help.

6. You will now need to climb up under the vehicle.

7. You will look for the oil pan (this can be easily found by looking for something that actually looks like the bottom of a cooking pan bolted to the bottom of the vehicle). the pan will have a bolt in the bottom of it. Sometimes this bolt can be on the side but mostly it is centered on the very bottom.

8. Place something underneath the pan, to catch the oil as it comes out.

9. From a side approach, use the wrench and remove the bolt, careful not to drop it into the container the oil is going into.

10. You can now move out from under the vehicle and wait until the oil has drained.

11. Once the oil drains and it is no more than a drip, climb back under the vehicle to locate the oil filter.

12. Remove the oil filter and wait for this to completely drain as well.

13. Once the oil has completely drained, using the new oil, stick your fingertip in it and wipe new oil around the gasket of the new oil filter.

14. Put the new oil filter on your vehicle, screwing it on hand tight. This doesn't mean barely, this means using hand strength force to tighten it not wrench strength.

15. Now your oil filter is on, it is time to replace the bolt removed from the oil pan. This will need to be put back on with the wrench. Make sure to not over tighten though, it could cause the bolt to strip.

16. Now it is time to come back out from under the car and add oil to it. Checking the owners manual will insure you don't overfill your car. It is best to add 3 quarts of oil, then checking.

17. When you are close to getting it filled. Back the car down from the ramps and check your oil again using the dip stick. Adding as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Having a cloth nearby to clean up any spilled oil helps to keep the work area from becoming slippery.
• Never be afraid to ask for help
• Women can do this, just the same as a man, have faith in yourself
• If you happen to spill some of the oil, cat liter can help absorb it
• Over filling your car, can cause problems, keep a close eye on it waiting a few minutes each time to allow it register the correct level!

[evgnspaces]

on 7/12/2009 Great step by step instructions for Car oil changes. Also, read the car owner's manual for additinal tips on type of oil to use, etc.

[sonni57]

on 7/11/2009 Good detailed article on changing oil I may need someone to point at this or that.

[Mindee94]

on 7/9/2009 Great step by step instructions. May have to just give this a try. Maybe with a little supervision the first time though. lol. Thanks for the great info. Mindee