Doing oil changes yourself is both fun and cost-saving. Because every car is different, I’ll detail how to change your car’s oil with generic names and locations, but you’ll have to find the specific parts yourself.
You need:
- Ratchet wrench
- Oil catcher
- Funnel
- New oil
- New oil filter
- Jack and jack stands
Before you start:
- Make sure your car hasn’t been running for a couple hours. Hot oil can burn you.
- Make sure your oil and oil filter are acceptable for your car.
- Check how much oil is needed in your car.
- Make sure the area around you is clear and safe.
The oil change:
- Jack up the car, enough so that you can look underneth
- Place jack stands to support the car. Do not go under a car supported only by the jack.
- Find the oil pan under the car (should be under the engine) and place the oil catcher underneath it.
- Remove the plug in the oil pan and allow the oil to drain into the oil catcher.
- Replace plug when all the oil has drained out.
- Locate your oil filter. Some are located underneath, while others can be reached from above (under the hood).
- Remove the oil filter.
- Rub some oil on the new oil filter’s rubber ring.
- Fill the new oil filter to about 2/3 full.
- Place the new oil filter in and screw it into place.
- Unscrew the oil cap (located under the hood) and place the funnel into it. Pour the oil in, but not all at once. Check your dipstick here and there to mark your progress. When the oil has reached a level between the min and max lines, that’s enough.
- Put your oil cap back on, lower your car, clean up, and you’re good to go!
