How To Change Your Car Engine Oil step by step

Over time, the oil in any vehicle’s engine will break down due to the change of temperature  and the various conditions the oil is exposed to.

Depending on the driving habits and type of car, most car manufacturers recommend an oil change every 15 000 to 20 000 km in order to maintain the health of your engine. Along with the oil filter which with time clogs up with contaminants from the internal combustion process and parts friction.

 

Engine oils are designed to lubricate the internal moving parts of an engine, which helps reduce friction, to avoid damage and keep your engine running smoothly. Each time your engine runs, by-products from combustion and parts friction are collected in your engine oil.

Luckily you don’t need to be a qualified mechanic nor an expert to carry out this task. Changing your engine oil and oil filter is both easy and inexpensive. This will not only help you save money, it will also give you the confidence to tackle more DIY work on your car.

Tools and Materials required

In order to successfully complete this task, you will need the following tools and material:

Tools:

Materials:

  • Engine oil (use the recommended engine oil for your vehicle)
  • Oil filter (a new oil filter with a new gasket)

Check out our wide range of DIY tools.

Before Getting Started

To begin with your oil change, start the car while it’s parked and leave it running for about 2 to 3 min, then switch it off. This will help for a smooth oil flow when draining.

  • Make sure to consult your owner’s manual to find out the recommended type and quantity of oil you need to put in your engine, as each vehicle requires different types of engine oil, oil filter and oil quantity.

  • Make sure that your car is parked and secured with the handbrake up on a flat surface.
vehicle-on-jack-stand

Step 1: Jack it up

Depending on the location of your vehicle’s engine (front or back ), you will need to have a good access underneath to be able to easily reach the oil pan and oil filter. With the help of the jack, carefully raise up your car and proceed by securing it with a jack stand.

Drain-the-old-oil-from-the-engine-through-the-drain-plug.-Changing-the-oil-in-a-car-engine

Step 2: Unplug and drain

After successfully lifting your vehicle, locate the oil pan draining point directly under the engine. The drain plug is often a size (M12- M17mm)  bolt. With the help of a spanner/wrench, slowly loosen the bolt by turning it counter clockwise but do not completely remove it until you have a drain pan below it. Place an empty container directly below it, preferably something large between 3-5L of capacity to be able to contain all the drained oil. Once your draining pan/container is ready, continue to unscrew the bolt by hand until it is completely off. Tips: Use a rug or gloves and get ready to move your hand away once you have completely removed the bolt, as this can quickly turn into a messy job.

removing oil filter

Step 3: Remove old oil filter

While the oil pan is draining, remove the oil filling cap at the top of the engine and situate the oil filter which in most cars is located beside the oil pan or on under the side of the engine. The oil filter contains oil, so make sure to place the draining pan/container under it to avoid a mess. With the help of the oil filter wrench, twist the oil filter counterclockwise and continue to loosen it by hand until it is completely off. Make sure to wipe and remove any gunk or piece of the old filter gasket that may remain stuck, then proceed by wiping dry the surroundings.

Step 4: Plug in and screw in the new oil filter

Now that the oil is completely drained, wipe the drain plug hole and carefully tighten the bolt by hand and finish off by tightening it with a wrench. Do not over-tighten it, as it might cause the oil pan to crack. If indicated in your owner’s manual, use a new drain plug gasket. Before screwing the new oil filter, fill it up with the new fresh oil and lightly coat its rubber seal, while making sure that it is properly seated in the filter. Then proceed by tightening the new oil filter by hand. New oil filters do not usually require to be tightened with a wrench, but make sure to check the new filter’s instructions in any case.

Step 5: Fill it up

With the oil filler cap open, use a clean funnel and slowly pour in the recommended amount of oil in the engine (see owner’s manual). We recommend that you pour in liter by liter to avoid overfilling. Check the clear measurement strip one the side of the new oil bottle for pouring measurement. When you have completed pouring in the specified amount of oil, make sure to close the filler cap and wipe off any excess or drips of oil around the engine.

Step 6: Run the engine and check for leaks

You are almost done. Before you put everything away, start the car for a few minutes and look around the draining pan bolt and oil filter for any signs of leaks. If you notice a leak, turn off the engine and correct it. And if everything appears to be correct, turn off the engine and carefully lower the vehicle back to the ground.

Step 7: Check the oil level

After running the engine for a few minutes and shutting it off, switch on the ignition to see if the oil warning level lights flashes. If the oil level warning light comes on, switch off the ignition and pull the engine’s dipstick off, wipe it off, put it back in then pull it  back out to check the oil level, which is filled properly should be at “Max”. If it’s not at “Max” slowly add the balance.

Step 8: Dispose of old oil and filter

Did you know that you can donate your used engine oil to the nearest petrol station? Engine oil can be recycled, so after having completed your engine oil change. Transfer the used oil from the drain pan to an empty container and make sure to properly seal it, and keep it away from any animal or infants along with the used oil filter.

Bonus Tips

  • After you change your engine oil, record the date and mileage. This will help you know when your vehicle is due for another oil change.
  • Before taking on any mechanical or maintenance tasks on your vehicle, we recommend that you consult your vehicle owner’s manual to find out any instructions or specifications recommended to avoid any kind of damages or hazard.
  • Make sure to know whether you are allowed to do maintenance on your car if it’s still under the manufacturer warranty to avoid any potential warranty void.

  • Keep used oil and old oil filter away from infants and animals.

 

Voila ! You did it. You have successfully changed your engine oil all by yourself, impressive right ?

We hope that this article was informative and has provided you with enough insight on how to change your vehicle’s engine oil and oil filter with confidence.

We at autosupply, provide you with a wide range of high-quality tools and equipment, as well as other car related products to help you work on your car with confidence. Make sure to visit autosupply.co.za to browse through our product range.

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