What You Need for an Oil Change

You love your car, but giving it an oil change can be an intimidating task. What to buy? Will I break anything? Maybe, but that's why you should do your research so you can do everything right—the first time! Getting some basic information on the different parts involved should make this a bit easier.

First, you need tools and equipment. Dig your car's manual out from your glove box or wherever you hid it, and see if it lists specific tools. The basic needs are a special wrenches, a drain pan, a funnel, and either jack stands or ramps. You should also get a plywood board or some large cardboard strips to put under the changing area as to avoid staining your workspace and hurting the environment.

Did you notice the two different wrenches you'll need? Good! The first wrench is a ratchet wrench, also known as an open end wrench. You will also need an oil filter wrench, which looks more like a can opener than your typical wrench. The choice between jacks or ramps is relatively personal—they both hold things up, but some of us feel safer with ramps. Driving onto ramps is easier with two people, but those who work on cars alone may find jacks to be easier to work with.

The drain pan is next. It does a pretty clear-cut job: keeping the funk off of your garage floor or driveway, and allowing the auto owner to safely transport its contents to a recycling center. It's extremely important that you properly dispose of any used motor oil and avoid dumping it in your nearest river or on your annoying neighbor's azaleas. Bring it to a certified collection center so it can be recycled. The stuff can be recycled and re-used as long as you didn't mix it with other automotive fluids or other strange substances. Check your vehicle's guide to see how much is going to drain out of your oil pan (which, by the way, is not the same thing as the drain pan.) The oil pan is where your oil hangs out in your vehicle, and if you don't check to see how much it holds, you may get a drain pan that can't accommodate the drainage.

Aside from tools, you'll need parts and pieces, including a new filter and oil. As far as oil goes, you will probably need about 6 quarts for the oil change, most of which will go into your vehicle during the change. It's okay to switch from regular to synthetic but don't mix anything with pure synthetics.

Now that you've got the basics, you'll also need some rags and maybe a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands clean. Read your vehicle's manual before proceeding to the actual oil change. Research your bits and pieces to find the best ones for your vehicle and driving style.