How to Clean Dirty Car Oil
Running a car with dirty oil will eventually bring your engine to a dead stop. Oil is known as the car's most valuable fluid because it lubricates the engine and absorbs small pieces of debris that would otherwise gradually damage your engine. Motor oil can not be cleaned, but it can be replaced, and the process is very simple. Changing your motor oil will greatly extend the life of your engine and prevent costly visits to a mechanic. If the oil is black or has pieces of metal in it when you check it, it's time for a change.
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Instructions
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Drive your car around your neighborhood to heat the motor oil. Once the oil temperature gauge registers normal levels, drive home and park on a flat spot in your driveway. It is not necessary to rev the engine aggressively.
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Turn the car off, put the car in gear, and firmly apply the parking brake. Slide under the car and find the oil drain plug. It can usually be identified as the closest thing to the ground, and sometimes will even be labeled "drain plug."
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Place a socket wrench over the drain plug nut and firmly turn it counterclockwise. Once the nut begins to move freely, loosen it with your fingers. Only loosen the nut a few rotations, otherwise you might spill oil all over yourself or the ground.
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Spread newspaper under the car to ensure no oil reaches the road. Position a drain pan under the drain plug, and completely remove the plug. It should take about two minutes to drain most of the oil.
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Remove the oil filter with the socket wrench. Keep exposed body parts at a safe distance from this process as the oil filter will have hot oil in it.
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Slide out from under the car, open the hood and remove the motor oil filler cap. This will allow the engine to breath and drain oil quicker. For best results, leave the draining process to complete over a period of about an hour.
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Apply some oil from the drain pan to the rubber gasket on the bottom of the new filter. Wipe clean with a rag the area on the engine where the filter is to be attached. Thread the new oil filter onto its post, and tighten into place with the wrench.
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Thread the drain plug back into its hole. Tighten it into place with the wrench, being careful to not over-tighten.
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Funnel new oil into the engine according to manufacturer's specifications. Funnel the old oil from the drain pan to a sealable container, and place the old filter into a sealed plastic bag.
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Test the oil level. If the level is correct, replace the oil filler cap and start the car. Allow the car to idle for five minutes while you have a look around under the engine bay, checking for any leaks. Dispose of the old oil and filter at an official oil recycling center.
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Tips & Warnings
Never run your car in a closed garage. Carbon monoxide poisoning is fatal.
Do not incorrectly dispose of motor oil. The government can impose six-figure fines for this crime.
References
- Photo Credit luxury car - model toy car image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
