DIY Oil Change: Save A Little And Learn A Lot

Deciding to perform an oil change yourself can be really simple if you know the steps. It's great because it can save you a little money and you will be learning something new along the way. Of course you may want to do a little extra reading about your specific car to make sure there are no extra steps. But, for the most part it is a pretty straight forward process that nearly anyone can do for themselves.

First of all you will want to make sure you have all the supplies you need for the oil change. Of course the main supply is motor oil. Most times, you will need at least 5 quarts, but sometimes more, depending on the type of car. Check your owner's manual to be certain. However, you will also need to make sure that you have an oil filter, an oil filter socket, an oil catch pan, an oil filter wrench and ramps. This is kind of a messy job, so some rubber gloves are a good idea too. If you do not have all the right tools you could borrow some or make your own ramps with spare wood.

Now that you have all your supplies ready and easily accessible, you can begin your oil change. Start by driving your car up the ramps, turn off the car and put the parking brake on. Then secure both of the tires on with some cinder blocks or bricks. Open the hood and pull off the oil cap to make sure the oil drains more quickly.

Now you are ready to get under the car and release the used motor oil. Once you are under the car you will see the oil filter and the oil plug. Take your wrench and loosen both the plug and filter counter clockwise. Once the plug and filter are off your used oil will start to drain. Be sure to have your pan in place and ready to go, so you don't end up with a mess on your driveway.

Once the engine is completely drained of the used stuff, you can put the new filter on and secure the plug once again. Now it's time to fill the engine with oil, and it is always a good idea to double check the drain plug, because you don't want to lose all that new oil. Make certain you find the right place to fill the engine, and refer to owner's manual to be sure. Also, be sure to have a funnel handy with this part of the job, they are inexpensive and you don't want to make a mess under the hood or loose any new oil while pouring it in. Never overfill your engine, as it can cause irreversible damage to the car, and you want to save yourself money, not spend more.

Now that the hard part is done, you can take the car off the ramps. Check the oil with your dip stick to be sure that you have filled it with the correct amount, and you should be good to go.