Need Help with oil Change?

Question

I need to change the oil but have never done it before. I dont want to take it to someone for them to do it. I want to learn to do it myself. Can anyone give me tips on changing the oil. My oil is really bad. The oil has not been changed since at least February of this year. Do i just let the oil drain and then put in new oil or do i have to clean out the engine some how? If so how do i do it. A mechanic told me that sometimes when you go to one of the express oil change places after they change your oil your engine can lock up, is this true? I dont want to mess up my engine. Please help, any advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Located the oil pan. Its under the engine. There should be a screw with a 15mm hex head approx (just giving an average size). Take the screw out and drain the oil in a pan. Let it all get out. Take the oil filter off also and drain the oil out of that into the pan also. Don't!!! I say Don't get any oil on the ground. Its very toxic. After the oil is all out check the rubber gasket on the screw. If its fine insert and tighten. Take the new filter out of the box. Dip your finger into the new oil and just go over the seal on the new oil filter. Just get it wet all around with the new oil so it doesn't stick or tear when you take it off again. Screw it in. After its snug tighten another 1/4 turn. No more! Then fill it up with oil. Most cars its 4.5 quarts but make sure to check what the exact amount is for your car. If you overfill it you will damage your engine. Its not hard once you do it a couple times. But if you aren't all that mechanically inclined just spend the 15 bucks and take it to the oil change place. Just don't buy an air filter off them. They sell those at Wal-Mart for half of what they charge.

Answer 2

All you have to do is drain out the old oil, then pour in the new oil. You should also change the oil filter and, if you feel like it, the air filter. You don't have to clean out the engine.

If an oil change place were to drain your oil and not put in any new oil, your engine would be seriously damaged after driving for a few miles. No doubt some express oil change place has done this and your mechanic read about it. But the other 999999 times out of each million, the express oil change is just fine - and I'm sure there are ASE certified repair shops that have made this same mistake.

Important safety items:

1. Don't change your oil while it is hot.

2. Whatever system you use to get under the car, make sure there is no way for the car to fall on you.

3. The first few times you do this, you will spill some oil. Put down cardboard or have some other way of catching the spills.

4. Dispose of your old oil properly. Anywhere that does oil changes will accept your used oil for recycling. If you get the idea of pouring your old oil down a storm drain, or some other crazy thing - don't do it. It is illegal and unethical.

Answer 3

1. Buy yourself a case (12 quarts) of motor oil and two filters from any local store selling automotive items. They will have manuals to help you choose the proper filter for your car. As for the oil, buy the cheapest brand available. BUT, make sure the oil is API (American Petroleum Institute) certified. All certified oils will say so on the label.

2. Grab an old pair of jeans and crawl under the front of your car. You will notice a relatively large tank with a bolt protruding from the bottom or side of it. That's the oil tank.

3. Place a shallow pan (wide enough to hold 4 or 5 quarts) under the discharge bolt of the tank.

4. Remove the bolt making sure not to round the edges. If you do round the edges of the bolt, use a vise grip in the future.

5. Drain all of the oil from the tank. It will easily flow out into the pan you placed under the tank.

6. Screw the bolt back in, making sure it is good and tight.

7. Now, locate the oil filter. It is normally within easy access somewhere on the side of your engine.

8. You will need a filter wrench to remove the filter. They are pretty inexpensive.

9. Place the filter wrench around the filter, and gently rotate in a counter-clockwise direction.

10. Remove the filter. There is oil in the filter, so try to pour it inside the pan under the car.

11. Screw in the new filter. This time rotating in a clockwise direction. DO NOT over-tighten. Once the filter makes contact with the engine, only rotate an additional 3/4 turn.

12. Pour the new oil into the engine. The cap is located on the top of your engine, usually marked "oil." Check your owners manual for the proper amount, normally 4-5 quarts.

13. After you add all the new oil, check the dipstick to assure the proper amount has been added.

14. Check under the car for any leaks.

15. Start the engine and check for leaks again.

16. Dispose of the oil at your local gas station or auto parts store. NEVER throw used oil in drains or anywhere else where it is harmful to the environment.

17. Note the mileage on the car and repeat every 3000 miles.

Answer 4

Is your oil really really dark?? If it is, your best bet is to change it twice. The first time, change it with a conventional oil. Drive it for a week, and then change it again with a more expensive synthetic oil.. De-sludging an engine as a great thing to do, because it tries to remove deposits and varnish from inside the engine. You haven't mentioned what kind of car you are driving or it's age. To do-it-yourself, but an oil drain pan and an oil filter wrench, but first make sure that your filter and drain plug are easy to get to. Figure out what size drain plug you have, and get a wrench that will loosen it without stripping it. Your best bet is to go to a 5 minute oil change center and ask the teshs if they will let you get under the car and watch how they do this. It's a good investment for the future. The best oil change flushing chemical I've ever seen is from Germany. It's called "oil sludge remover" and is made by the Lubro-moly Company. Try to find it on the web, it's totally worth it. The chances of your engine locking up after an quick lube are minuscule. However, it also depends on the age of your car and who manufactured the engine. Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

mechanical books for learners are available from all libraries free of charge. Easy to join but can be read at library & fotocopied without joining. Easyer to do 2nd time. Make sure you buy a quailty brand and you put it into the engine (NOT the radiator) most cars need 4liters. An empty softdrink bottle with the bottom cut out makes a good cheep (free) disposable funal to pour oil into engin not over it. clean off all spills & make sure caps are back on or you will have a very smoky engine/car. SAFETY make sure engine is cool before opening caps . THis also doubly applies when checking water in radiater to protect from serious burns. The oil change takes 10 <20minutsis not hard& saves money but plz get a friend, neighbour or workmate to show you the first time.--- Happy motoring & Merry Cristmas

Answer 6

First thing to do is to warm your engine *this helps the oil empty out better* also park your car so it's flat & not on a hill.
You should also change your oil filter every time you change your oil.
I've never heard of anybodys car engine locking up after an oil change from express oil change places or anywhere else for that matter, however that doesn't mean it hasn't happened to someone. Do it yourself & you wont have to worry about that & you'll save yourself a bit of money.

Answer 7

open the oil plug and catch the old oil in a pan (dispose of properly).
change the oil filter using a filter wrench
replace the oil thru the filler cap on top of your engine (uses about 5-6 qts). Do not over fill.
a messy job that can be done for you for $15-$30.

Answer 8

first go to your local autozone, napa, auto parts store and select the correct amount and type of oil and oil FILTER. they usually have books to direct you to what you need for your vehcile. also you may want to spend $5-10 on a oil filter wrench, this loosens and tightens the oil filter (they say to hand tighten it but when your hands are cold and oily and you have to reach way down its easier to just use the wrench)

park it, preferrably you shoudl set it up on some lifts but is not necessary if you can get under the vehicle (setting it up also helps more oil drain because of the angle your vehicle is sitting at, you want every last bit of the black oil out but is not essential). under the vehicle is a drain plug located at the end of the oil pan, its usually directly under the engine itself. it also is usually a 5/8ths inch bolt. set up a pan or a milk jug to catch the oil, it will come fast and there is more than you think. unscrew the plug with your fingers after you have loosened it. let he oil drain for about 10 minutes to ensure all of the oil is out.

now you have to change the filter. it is located under the hood on the engine setting perpendicular to the engine. it may be bright colored depending on what brand it is. it looks like a big cap about the size of a softball. use your hand or wrench to unscrew it making sure you are going lefty loosey and not righty tightey. oil will drop out of this filter after it is unscrewed, you will need something to catch this oil, its messy. make sure you have the filter off as well as the gasket or washer that seals the connection. the new filter comes with a new one, look and you will see.

once the oil is drained, filter is off put the new filter on. IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE THE GASKET FROM THE OLD FILTER IS NOT STILL ON THE CONNECTION, IT WILL RUIN THE NEW GASKET AND LEAK OIL. screw the new filter on and use the wrench if you have one. do not over tighten. make it snug. now make sure you have put the drain screw back in under the vehicle and made it snug as well, over tightening things are a pain in the *** so be careful not to break, strip or ruin these parts. once you have the filter on and the plug in pour the correct amout of quarts into the engine under the hood. you have to trust that you know how many quarts to put in, do not under fill and especailly do not over fill. if you do over fill you will need to drain some out. once the oil is in check the dipstick so make sure its correct before driving. you should now have refreshed your vehicles "blood supply". record your milage and do the same after 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

this is more work and initially more expensive (the filter wrench, oil pan) than just taking it to the shop but at least this way you know that you put good oil in your vehicle. you never know what these shops are putting int there because once the oil is in your engine thats it, you take the mechanics word. oil is so important to a vehicle. after a few times its simple, just follow the steps.

Answer 9

Many newer vehicles have a sensor that tracks how long it's been since the last oil change. The guys at the shop are supposed to be knowledgeable enough to know which vehicles have these, and to know how to reset them. Sadly, many of them don't know which vehicles have them, or, if they do know, they forget to reset them. Therefore, the sensor thinks the car is still using old oil and it turns on the oil change light.

Answer 10

all you need to do is take the oil plug out ....let the oil drain out... remove the filter ....put on the new filter... put the oil plug back in and replace the oil... EASY
wait where is my EASY button....