Depending on the model of your car and engine oil brand, you need to replace oil every 3000 to 5000 miles. The goal is to make sure that the engine of your car is properly lubricated. The task of changing engine oil is relatively easy to do and you can do it on your own. This is a good DIY project during the weekend and can save you up to $20. First of all, you need to prepare all the equipments, such the jack. If possible, you should use car ramps, because they are safer than jacks. It can be a disaster if you set up jack improperly and the car fall on you. Make sure that you have the right wrench to remove the oil filter. You also need a funnel, rag and bucket. Before you drain the oil, make sure that the engine is sufficiently warm. Cold oil is thicker and it will be harder to drain.
Obviously, if the engine is hot after a long drive, you need to wait for awhile, because hot oil can injure your hand. If you want to jack up the car, make sure that you understand all the safety precautions. Make sure that the car is on a level ground and the ground itself is firm. Whether you use ramp or jack, make sure that you engage the emergency brake, so the car won’t roll. Make sure that you follow any safety precaution to keep yourself safe. Even a small car is very heavy and can be hazardous if not secured properly while you are under it. After you are sure, you can start drain the oil from the engine. Look for the oil drain under the car and it’s usually located at the center of the engine. To make the task more comfortable to do, you can use a piece of cardboard, so it keeps you off the ground. This will also avoid staining your driveway with old engine old that can be difficult to remove.
Make sure that you have put the small bucket under the oil plug. Slowly unscrew the plug and let the oil to get drained into the bucket. It is a good idea to wear a glove, because it can be messy and the oil can be quite hot. Wait, until the oil no longer drips into the bucket. The next step is to remove rge oil filter using the right wrench. Put the bucket under the filter, because there’s also some old oil as well. Use a rag to clean everything up, before you install a new oil filter. Use some fresh engine oil to lubricate the filter, so you can install it easily. Clean up the oil plug as well and screw it back on. You should know how much engine oil that your car needs. Use the funnel to pour the right amount of oil to the engine. Let your car to run and idle for a couple of minutes and check the oil level using the dipstick.
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