Step by step oil change instructions

1. DIY Auto Maintenance Wiki

2.  Drain Pan
 Ratchet wrench with
appropriate sized
socket for the car’s
drain plug
 Oil Filter Wrench
 New oil—appropriate
amount as well as
appropriate type
 New oil filter—
appropriate size for
the automobile

3. The car should be started
and let run for 10 minutes.
Running the car for this
time heats up the oil, and
makes it easier to drain, by
becoming freer flowing.
After 10 minutes, turn the
car off. Open up the hood
of the car and remove the
oil fill cap. Warning: By
running the engine, it may
cause certain surfaces,
including oil to become hot.
Use caution while
performing oil change task
to avoid burns.

4. It is important to
catch all the oil that Oil
is drained from the Pan
car. If the oil spills, it
is very hard to clean
up and can stain
surfaces which you
are working on. Also
if the used motor oil
gets into the ground
water supply, it can
contaminate it.

5. The oil drain plug is
located under the
car on the oil pan.
Drain
It is typically
Plug
located towards the
front of the vehicle
under the engine.

6. Using a ratchet
wrench with an
appropriate sized
socket, remove the
drain plug by
turning the plug to
the left (ever hear
the term righty
tighty, lefty
loosey?). Allow the
oil to drain.

7. On most cars, the oil filter
is located towards the front
of the engine. When looking
under the hood of the
car, it is typically located to
the left, near the exhaust
ports on the front of the
engine.
However, sometimes it may
be located by the oil pan
under the car. The picture
to the right shows the
typical location of the oil
filter if it is towards the
front of the engine under
the hood.

8. After the oil filter is
located, using an
oil filter wrench
remove the oil filter
by turning it to the
left. Be sure not to
spill oil from it, but
allow it to drain
into an appropriate
container.

9. After the oil is finished
draining, the oil filter
can be replaced. Before
replacing the filter,
fresh oil should be
applied with your
finger to the rubber
seal of the new filter.
Tighten the filter by
hand until it stops.
Then, use the filter
wrench and turn the
filter one more turn to
the right to tighten it
down entirely.
Apply fresh oil to
this rubber seal

10. To replace the drain
plug, screw the plug
back in by hand by
turning it to the right.
After it is unable to be
tightened down by hand,
lightly tighten it with the
ratchet wrench, being
careful not to tighten too
much. Caution:
Overtightening the drain
plug, can cause the
threads to strip, and
complicate the removal
of the drain plug for
future oil changes.

11. Using the
appropriate amount
and type of oil
specified by the
manufacturer, add
the oil through the
oil fill cap on the top
of the engine which
was removed earlier.
After adding the
oil, screw this cap
back on by hand.

12. The car should be started
and allowed to run for
another 10 minutes.
During this time, you
should check for leaks
around the drain plug as
well as the filter. After 10
minutes, turn off the car
and check the oil level in
the car using the oil dip
stick. If it is low, more oil
should be added until it
reaches the appropriate
level.

13. It is important that
the oil and oil filter
are disposed of
properly. As stated
before, used oil can
contaminate water
supplies if disposed
of improperly. Many
auto parts stores
recycle old engine oil
and filters for free.

14. Works Cited
2 Car Pros. 2 Car Pros. 16 February 2012 <www.2carpros.com>.
Auto Zone. Auto Zone. 6 3 2012 <www.autozone.com>.
Blitz USA. Blitz USA. 6 3 2012
<http://www.blitzusa.com/products/fuel/Containment/enviroflo/118
38%2015%20Quart%20Oil%20Drain.jpg>.
The Geek City. The Geek City. 6 3 2012
<http://www.thegeekcity.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/09/recycle_symbol.png>.
Valvoline. "The Essential Guide to Motor Oil." Valvoline. 8 February 2012
<http://www.valvoline.com.au/pdf/Essential%20Guide%20to%20Motor
%20Oil%20Brochure%20FINAL.pdf>.