Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

One of the main tasks for servicing your car is the timely replacement of engine oil and oil filter. Over time, the oil oxidizes and thickens, and sludge forms in the engine. The rate of oil production is determined by many factors (from three months to two years), the main one being your driving style. Usually, the oil is changed either according to the service book, where the intervals are indicated, or every year / every 10,000 km. Fortunately, changing the oil is not particularly expensive and difficult, so go ahead!

Steps

1. 1 Prepare all the necessary tools and consumables in advance. Looking for the right things while standing in a pool of oil under the car is not a good idea. Buy a filter at a car dealership specifically for your car or take the same one that you already have. When choosing an oil, follow the recommendations of the car manufacturer or consult your dealer.
   • Choose a place to work - the best way to do this is on a flyover, in a repair pit or on a lift.
   • WARNING: The engine oil can be very hot. Be extremely careful!
2. 2 Warm up the engine before replacing. Before draining the oil, stop the engine, open the hood and unscrew the cover on the engine (this will allow the oil to drain faster). Place a bucket or other container under the engine to catch the escaping oil. Now locate the drain plug on the bottom of the engine (see the vehicle manual for the location). Remember: the oil will be hot, do not put your hands and take care of your face!
3. 3 Unscrew the drain plug. The designs of the plugs can be different - prepare a set of wrenches (or adjustable) and hexagons. If it is hard to unscrew, use a lever (for example, a piece of pipe). Do not drop the plug into the drained oil bucket!
   • If you did drop the cork into the oil, you can get it out with a magnet.
   • You can also catch the cork with a funnel.
4. 4 On some cars, replaceable cassettes (BMW, Mercedes, Volvo) are installed instead of the usual oil filter. To work with such a filter, read the instructions for the car.
5. 5 Find the oil filter. the filter may be located in different places on different machines. If you find it difficult to find it, refer to the instructions for the machine. Unscrew the filter using a special wrench (or available tools). Drain the oil into a container.
   • The new filter must be supplied with a sealing gum. Don't forget to throw out the old one.
   • When installing a new filter, lubricate it with new oil, especially a rubber band.
   • You can also add oil to the filter.
6. 6 Screw on the drain plug. Do not over tighten.
7. 7 Screw in the new oil filter carefully. Hand-tighten or use a special wrench. Make sure the filter is tight and not leaking.
8. 8 Refill with new oil. The amount of oil to be added depends on the specific engine. Usually, if you take a 5-liter canister, then 4 liters is enough (1 remains for refilling). Later, check the oil level with the dipstick when the engine is cold and top up if necessary.
   • Hold the canister with the neck up to avoid spilling or splashing the oil.
9. 9 Screw the cover on the motor, remove the tools from under the hood and close the hood.
10. 10 Start the engine. Check that the on-board computer is displaying no errors. Look under the car and make sure there are no oil leaks (drain plug and filter).

Tips

• Buy a filter specifically for your car in the store, say the model, make, year and engine size) and prepare all the tools and materials in advance. Running to the store in the middle of work is a pleasure, especially without a car.
• Buy oil that meets the requirements of the car manufacturer. the seller can also help with the selection of oil. In general, synthetic oil is recommended for older cars.
• Remember to clean up after yourself if oil spills on the floor. Do not dispose of used oil in the trash!
• It will be safer if you are assisted by a person with experience in oil change.
• Special valves are commercially available as a replacement for standard drain plugs. Purchasing one will make oil change easier.
• If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, it’s easier to take the car to the service, where they will do everything for you. True, it will cost more, and no one will give you a guarantee. If you want everything to be done efficiently - do it yourself, it's not so difficult.
• Do not allow hot oil to come into contact with your skin. In this case, a burn is almost guaranteed to you, and if it splashes in your face, the consequences can be critical. If you unscrew the plug and filter carefully, you will avoid problems.Do not keep your hands under the filter / plug, and when they are unscrewed, quickly remove them (then the oil will immediately flow downward in a stream, and not splash on you).
• If the filter cannot be unscrewed, and there is no special key at hand, pierce it with a screwdriver and unscrew it.
• The engine must not be started until the drain plug, filter (intact) and engine cover are in place and screwed on.

Warnings

• Do not mix up the necks - oil should only be poured into the engine, otherwise the car could be damaged.
• Do not pour used oil on the street or waterways, do not throw it in the trash! Store it or send it for recycling (usually services take it for free).
• Use the right tools. If you rip off the drain plug, you will have to look for a new one in the shops.
• Be careful when using additives. Oil manufacturers strongly discourage the use of additional additives, because modern oils have a carefully calibrated and balanced composition. Additives can damage the oil and thus the engine.
• It is not recommended to use engine flush. Along with the sediment, you will remove the existing engine grease and thus damage the engine. It is best to change the oil filter after changing the oil after a while (after a week, for example). This will remove sediment from the old oil. When replacing only the filter, the oil does not need to be changed again! There is no need to unscrew the drain plug! You will only lose the oil in the filter, which is about a glass. Then just top up to the desired level.
• Do not use bricks or jack! Never climb under a jack-up car!
• Even with the engine off, the oil and other parts of the car are still hot for a while. Be careful!
• Take your oil selection seriously. This is a key point that affects the life and technical condition of the vehicle. If you are not sure about the choice, consult with experts.
• Do not overfill the oil. Use the dipstick as an indicator.
• This article only gives a general idea of ​​how to change the oil. In each specific case, study the instructions for your car for the location and design of the vehicle organs.

What do you need

• Engine oil. Usually a volume of 4-6 liters is used. If you do not know what brand and type of oil you need, ask a specialist for advice.
• Set of Wrenches (wrenches and hexagon wrenches, on some vehicles an asterisk wrench may also be used). also take a screwdriver with you, they can come in handy if you have a cover on the engine.
• Oil filter (purchase specifically for your car).
• Filter wrench. There are different types of keys (by material and size).
• Work space - overpass, pit, lift. Never use a jack! it is life threatening!
• Waste oil container and drain funnel.
• Oil cleaning rags.