DIY Oil Change Guide: A Step-by-Step Guide for Car Owners

Changing the engine oil of your vehicle is an essential part of maintaining your vehicle’s smooth operation. The engine oil lubricates the moving parts of the car, reducing and minimizing unnecessary noise during operation. This guide will walk you through the process of changing engine oil, using simple language and providing helpful tips. One thing about changing your car’s engine oil is that it’s such a simple process that you can literally do it at home on days you feel too lazy to send the car to the vehicle shop.

Why Regular Oil Changes Matter

Benefits of Changing Engine Oil

Changing your engine oil regularly offers several benefits:

1. Improved Engine Performance: Fresh oil in your engine improves engine performance, reducing friction, wear, and unnecessary noise.

2. Better Fuel Efficiency: Fresh oil reduces your time at the fuel pump since there’s no extra consumption due to friction-tight parts.

3. Reduced Emissions: Regular oil changes can help reduce harmful emissions, making your vehicle more environmentally friendly.  

Tools and Materials You Need

Tools:

1. Oil drain pan: for collecting drained oil.

2. Filter Wrench: This helps in the easy removal of the oil filter.

3. Set of sockets or wrenches: These assist in the removal and fixing of the drain plug.

4. Funnel: This helps transfer the new oil into the engine without spills.

5. Dusters, Rags, or Paper towels: Mainly used for sanitation and housekeeping. 

Materials:

1. New Engine Oil: The owner's manual normally has instructions on what type of oil to use for the vehicle.

2. New Oil Filter: Ensure the filter to be used is compatible and fits perfectly with your vehicle.

Guide to Changing Engine Oil

Step 1: Prepare Your Vehicle

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface: Make sure your vehicle is parked on level ground and not on an elevated surface.

2. Kill the engine: It is advisable to turn off the engine, allow it to cool down before you begin, so you avoid burns.

3. Use the Parking Brake: Always use the parking brakes or handbrakes, as some call it, to ensure the stability of the vehicle.

Step 2: Lift the Vehicle (If Needed)

If your vehicle has lower clearance, that is, it has very minimal space between the body and the ground, you may have to lift it to be able to have access. This is how you can lift the vehicle.

1. Use a Jack: Place the Jack under the vehicle at the points that have been designated for lifting.

2. Secure with Jack Stands: Once elevated, place jack stands or parking for added safety.

Step 3: Drain the Old Oil

1. Locate the Oil Drain Plug: This drain plug’s location is normally shown in the manual. 

2. Position the Oil Catch Pan: Place it under the drain plug.

3. Remove the Drain Plug: Use a socket or spanner, or wrench to remove the drain plug. The oil might still be warm.

4. Drain the oil: Allow the oil to drain into the drain pan. This may take a few minutes. 

Step 4: Replace the Oil Filter

1. Locate the Oil Filter. It is normally around the oil pan. If confused, refer to the manual or look it up.

2. Use the wrench for the oil filter: There’s a specially designed wrench mainly used for removing the oil filter. Carefully fit the wrench around the filter and remove it. Note that there might be a little spillage. 

3. Make ready the new oil filter: Oil the gasket of the new filter to provide better sealing properties.

4. Install the new filter: Using the same filter wrench, screw in the filter, be careful not to over-tighten.

   
   

   Step 5:  Add New Oil

1. Find the oil fill cap, which is normally found on the engine block.

2. Remove the Cap: Set it aside.

3. Use a Funnel:  The funnel is ideally used to avoid spillage.

4. Pour in New Oil: Refer to the owner’s manual for the quantity of oil to be poured.

5. Replace the oil fill cap: Replace the oil fill cap when done refilling.

Step 8: Check Oil Level

1. Run Engine: After refilling, run the engine for a few minutes, then turn it off and wait for the oil to settle.

2. Check the Oil Level: To check the oil level, you use the dipstick. It has markings on it for measuring the oil level.

Step 9: Record the Oil Change

It is essential to keep records of the date and time of the oil change so you can determine when to change the oil again.

Changing the engine oil is an important activity that helps keep the vehicle’s moving parts healthy to avoid unnecessary issues and, therefore, must be taken seriously.