How to Change Your Car's Motor Oil

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How to Change Your Car's Motor Oil

By Stephen Bucaro

First, let's answer the question; Why should you change
your own oil? Because you can save time and money. You
don't have to wait in line at the service garage or quick
oil change shop. For ten bucks you can get the best oil
and a brand new oil filter. And, it's so easy to do that
you could train a monkey to do it.

Changing your cars motor oil is a very simple three-step
process: 1. Drain the old oil. 2. Replace the oil filter.
3. Add the new oil. But before we go through the steps,
lets answer a few basic questions.

When should I change my oil?

Look in your cars owners manual. Most auto manufacturers
recommend changing the motor oil every 6,000 miles for
normal service, or every 3,000 miles for severe service.
I change my oil every 6,000 miles, and my engines run like
new when I trade my vehicles in with well over 100,000
miles on them. One thing that I do is change a new cars
oil after the first 300 mile break-in period. Then, after
that, I change the oil every 6,000 miles.

What kind of oil should I use?

You are not going to save money by using an off-brand oil
because your engine will wear out sooner. Use oil that
meets the American Pertroleum Institute (API)
classification SL. I use Valvoline, Quaker State, Pennzoil,
or Havoline brand oil. These quality oils contain additives
that make them work better and longer.

If you are changing your oil just before winter, use SAE
10W30 weight oil. This number means the oil will have a
thin 10 weight viscosity when the engine is cold, helping
the engine to start easier, and then the oil will thicken
to 30 weight viscosity when the engine warms up, protecting
the engine better. If you are changing oil just before
summer, use SAE 10W40 weight oil. The extra 40 weight
viscosity will protect your engine better when it's hot.

What's the First Step?

First let your engine cool off. Modern engines run at
close to 300 degrees (F) and hot oil will definitely give
you a severe burn. You shouldn't have to jack your car up
unless you have some kind of ground hugging sports car or
low rider. Almost all cars have enough space underneath to
reach under and change the engine oil.

Step 1: Drain the old oil.

Locate the oil drain plug and place a pan under it to
catch the oil. With a box wrench, remove the oil plug.

Note for newbies: To remove the drain plug, turn it
counter-clockwise.

- If you have a GM dual-overhead-cam EcoTec engine you may
have a difficult time locating the drain plug on all that
aluminum.

When the oil stops draining, reinstall the drain plug.

Note for newbies: To replace the drain plug turn it
clockwise. Start the plug with your fingers. If it seems
even slightly hard to turn, back it out! You are crossing
the threads.

Step 2. Replace the oil filter.

Move your oil catch pan under the oil filter. Using an oil
filter wrench to get it started, remove the oil filter.
(newbies: counter-clockwise, and you will get some oil on
your hand.)

- A strap type oil filter wrench is the best kind to use.
A socket type oil filter tool is used with a ratchet just
like a regular socket. The problem with the socket type is
that it tends to get stuck on the filter. Use the socket
type tool if you don't have enough clearance around the
oil filter to use the strap type.

With your finger put a thin coat of oil on the new filter's
gasket to make it seal better.

*! Now pay attention - here's were you can screw up royal!

With your hand, install the new oil filter. If it seems
even slightly hard to turn, back it out! You are crossing
the threads. Most filters have an instruction printed on
them to give the filter one more turn after the gasket has
made contact.

Here's what I recommend: screw the filter on until its
"hand tight". Then use the oil filter wrench to snug it up
another 1/8 to 1/4 turn. This is critical!

When the vehicle is running, the oil pump puts the oil
under pressure. If you don't install the oil filter tight
enough, the oil will come gushing out. If that happens shut
down the engine immediately! Without oil, an engine will
lock up within seconds.

The first time I changed my oil, I used the filter wrench
to tighten the filter as tight as I could get it. Wrong!
The next time I went to change my oil, I couldn't get the
filter off. Luckily I had plenty of room around the filer,
so I hammered a screw driver through the body of the
filter and used the handle of the screw driver to turn the
filter off.

Warning! Don't over-tighten the filter. Follow the
instructions above carefully!

- The GM dual-overhead-cam EcoTec engine has an unusual
oil filter located on top of the engine. Remove the engine
air intake hose. That's the oil filter canister just to
the right of, and below, the end of the open air intake
tube. Use a proper size wrench to remove the canister lid.
This engine uses a special filter cartridge.

Step 3. Add the new oil.

Locate the oil filler cap on the valve cover. I've seen
newbies pour motor oil in everything from the master brake
cylinder to the radiator cap. Make sure you have located
the the oil filler cap. Remove the oil filler cap.

When pouring the oil, you would be wise to use a funnel
between the oil can and the valve cover oil filler hole.

How much oil should you add? Look in your cars owner
manual. Most engines have a capacity of four or five
quarts. Don't overfill the crank case. When you run the
engine the extra oil will be blown out through the PCV
value, possibly stalling your engine.

Tip: If you don't know the oil capacity of the engine, add
four quarts, then check the oil level, if it's a quart low
add another quart.

Replace the oil filler cap.

Step 4. Start the Engine.

Yes, I know, I said there where only three steps. You're
finished, this is not really a "step".

Start the engine and make sure the oil warning light goes
off. Look under the vehicle to make sure oil is not leaking
out. Turn off the engine and let it set for a minute to let
the oil drain down to the crank case. Then use the dip
stick to check the oil level.

How to check the oil level: Remove the dip stick, wipe it
clean with a rag, reinstall the dip stick. Make sure the
dip stick is in all the way or you will get a false reading.
After a few seconds remove the dip stick and examine how
far up the stick is covered with oil. Most dip sticks have
a "full" mark printed on them.

Note: I find the best way to dispose of the old oil is to
use a funnel to pore it from the collection pan into the
bottles from which the new oil came. When I get a big pile
of used oil bottles I bring them to the oil recycling
center. Be sure to mark the used oil bottles so you don't
accidentally think they are new oil.

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