Basic Steps To Changing Oil In Your Car

When changing the oil in your car the first thing you want to do is look in your owner's manual to see what oil the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. Even though you can run pretty much any oil in any car, it is highly recommended to use the proper oil. Now when you get to the store there are many brands of oil. I am not sure which one is the best. I personally use Quaker State. That is what my Dad used in all of his cars and that's what I wanted to use. Now when you buy your oil filter there are many choices as well. I choose to use Fram filters. They are a little more expensive than some of the other's but they have a proven record of a quality filter. You will need to know the year, make, model and engine size of your vehicle in order to choose the right filter size. The oil, filter and interval between oil changes is very important and an inexpensive insurance policy of your vehicle lasting a long time. I know this because I have over 200,000 miles on a 4 cyl engine in a family mini van. Still runs like a top.

Now depending on if you are going to drive the car up onto ramps or just jack it up and put it on stands, I always block the back wheels just as another safety measure. Then I put my drain pan under the car with any wrenches and rags that I will need and of course the new filter. I start with removing oil plug making sure I have the drain pan under the drain or else there will be a big mess. While that is draining I make sure that the drain plug is clean and that there is no dirt or anything because if it's not clean it could cause it to leak. Then it's on to removing the filter. Now this can be a little challenging depending on where the car manufacturer puts it. In my minivan it is real easy to get to. I use a small filter wrench to loosen it up slowly and then unscrew it the rest of the way by hand and again making sure the drain pan is under the filter because there will be some old oil come out of the filter. I wipe down the area where the gasket comes in contact with the fitting to make sure it's clean. I then replace the drain plug, not getting it to tight but tight enough not to leak. When you put the new filter on you will want to put a light coat of new oil on the gasket to make sure it will seal properly. Now you are pretty much done under the car. The last thing I do is wipe down the area around the drain plug and filter so I can check it from time to time for leaks.

When you take off the oil fill cap you want to check the cap for signs of moisture. You can tell if there is moisture because there will be a white film on the cap and possible in the fill tube. If there is a little bit I wouldn't be too worried about it. Just clean it all off and keep an eye on it. If it gets worse you will want to take it to a mechanic and have them check it out. Now its time to refill the engine with oil. You will want to check your owner's manual again to see how much oil your engine will take. Put a funnel in the fill tube and pour the recommended amount in. Wipe up any spills and replace the cap. Clean all your tools and put them back in their place so you can find them the next time you need them. I pour the old oil in the just used oil container for recycling. When I get a few of them I put them on Craig's list or take them down to my local parts store.