How To do an Oil Change--Miguel

 

Why pay for an overpriced oil change at a mechanic shop when you can do it yourself!? 

    When the Covid Pandemic hit, we were all forced to stay home and we were strongly urged not to leave. I didn’t mind it, one could even say I LOVED it; staying home, doing nothing all day every day, it seemed perfect to me. My parents, on the other hand, HATED it. They’re people who despise laziness, and have to be doing something at all times; they rarely take some time to relax. And my dad also hates paying people to do a service for him knowing he’s more than capable of doing it himself. He noticed I wasn’t doing anything during the pandemic and that angered him. He decided to teach me how to do many tasks: how to change a tire, how to change a lightbulb, and even taught me what he does for work, replacing a windshield on a car. But my favorite task he taught me was how to do an oil change. All the tasks were beneficial but doing an oil change stood out because it’s much simpler than one thinks.

The TOOLS you will need:

- A car jack 

- 2 or 4 jack stands (personal preference, see Step 2)

- Car creeper (optional) 

- Oil funnel

- An oil tray 

- Oil filter pliers 

- A socket wrench

 

- A socket (Most cars require a 14 mm socket or a 17 mm socket)

- An oil filter (specific for your car; additional info on Step 1)

- New motor oil for your car (specific for your car; check the engine cap on the engine)

Step 1: 

Acquire all the materials necessary for your oil change before you start. 

You will need: 

- To drive to your local AutoZone and locate the oil filters 

(Here you will find a book with information about what oil filter your car has.) - In the book, find the MAKE of your car, then the YEAR, then the MODEL of your car. 

        - The book is divided into columns and the first and second columns are used to find the oil filter for your car. 

- Locate the oil filter for your car, and purchase it 

*There are two different types of oil filters, a regular oil filter, and an XL oil filter; I recommend the XL because they last longer, but, both work fine. 

- On the engine of your car, you will find your car’s oil type on the oil cap 

        - You can also purchase this at AutoZone 

- You will need to get your car jack, as well as your jack stands (2 or 4) 

        - If you do not have access to these items, you can purchase these at AutoZone; yes, they will most likely be pricy, but, it’s an investment 

- Lastly, your socket wrench, socket, and oil filter pliers 

Step 2: 

Once you have acquired all your materials, this is where the fun begins!

     - Locate the jack points around your car 

    - There should be 2 on each side (front right, back right, front left, and back left), 1 in the front, and 1 in the back 

- First, jack the front of the car, using the car jack, high enough for you to fit under the car 

- Place the jack stands under the front right and front left jack point and once in place, lower the car jack

- Next, jack the back of the car high enough so your car is parallel 

    - Here, you can leave the car jack as it is, parallel, or place the other 2 jack stands under the back right and back left jack points

Step 3: 

Time to get your hands dirty! (I strongly recommend wearing gloves for this part) 

    - Get under your car and locate the oil pan 

- Using the socket wrench and the correct size socket loosen the bolt on the oil pan

- Loosen it enough to unscrew with your hands

- Get your oil tray and place it under the oil pan to catch the old oil 

    - Let it drain for about 10 minutes 

- After the oil pan is drained, loosen the oil filer using your pliers 

    - Again, loosen it enough to unscrew it with your hand 

- Place the oil tray under the filter as most of the time, the filter will leak oil 

    - Let it drain for 5 minutes 

Step 4: 

- Once everything is drained, screw the bolt of your oil pan back using your socket wrench 

- Place your NEW oil filter where the old one was, and using the pliers, screw it back on

Step 5: 

- Lower your car by placing the car jack on the front jack point of your car 

    - Lift your car until it lifts off the jack stands in the front right and front left positions 

- Remove the Jack stands then proceed to lower the car jack 

*After removing the front jacks, repeat the process but instead place the car jack on the back jack point and remove the back left and back right jack points. 

Step 6: 

Hang in there! You’re almost done! 

    - Pop the hood of your car open 

        - To open it, go inside your car and locate the hood lever; then proceed to pull it

- Once open, locate the oil cap on your engine and using your hand, unscrew it 

- Get your oil funnel, and put it right over where you unscrewed the oil cap 

- Carefully pour the oil into the funnel, and ensure that there are no spills 

- To see your cars oil capacity, look in the OWNER’S MANUAL

- Oil capacity is the amount of oil you should be refilling 

- After you fill your car up with the right amount of oil, crew the oil cap back on, close your hood, start the engine, and leave it running for 10 minutes 

After ten minutes, shut it off, and congratulations!! You just completed an oil change!