Raise the car, if necessary.
Find a flat surface suitable for changing your oil. Level driveways or alleys are ideal. Start by getting the car up on the ramps or jack stands (Note: many cars with a high ground clearance don't need to be raised, and you can just shimmy on under. This saves time and is safer; if the car isn't up it can't fall down! If you do jack up your car, be sure to put blocks behind the back tires to prevent the car from rolling backward. Allow the engine to cool off before continuing. (This is not required; however, it is a good idea.)
The oil drain plug.
Locate the drain plug for the oil pan. It is normally towards the back of the engine at the underside of the car, and is angled down. The bolt size will vary from car to car, is in the 13-30mm range. All Toyota and Lexus are 14mm (older models may be 13mm), all Mercedes Benz are 13mm, Jaguars are 30mm, older Volvo鈥檚 are 25mm, BMW's are 17mm, VW and Audi are 19mm, Honda and Acura are 17mm. All others are between 13 and 19mm. On some vehicles it will be necessary to remove a shield on the bottom of the vehicle to have access to the oil pan. All Mercedes have a plastic shield held on with six (6) 8mm screws and some pickups and SUVs will have steel skid plates. After locating the bolt, loosen it, but do not remove it from the pan.
Oil has a tendency to come out at an angle.
Position whatever you are ';catching'; the oil with under the plug. Oil has a tendency to come out of the pan at an angle, so make sure the opening on your container is pretty large. Make sure you lay something under the car to catch oil runoff. As the oil comes out of the pan at an angle, it can be tricky to catch, and may land on the ground. If this includes your driveway, you will want some newspaper or a dropcloth to catch it, or you risk an oil stain on your driveway or garage.
Removing the drain plug gasket.
Continue removing the bolt. Be careful not to drop the plug in the oil, it's a messy job trying to find the plug in the black stuff. (TIP: If you do drop it in the pan, you can easily find it with a magnet. Ideally use the type that is at the end of an expandable rod.) You may also wish to remove and replace the gasket under the drain plug.
The oil filler cap.
While your oil is draining, pop the hood of the car and open the oil filler cap on the top of the engine. This will help the oil drain easier. Some people prefer doing this step before working under the car.
Remove the filter, using a filter socket if necessary.
Tip the filter into your pan to drain the contents.
Locate the filter assembly. This can be a tough part. Filters are not put in a standard position on, and can be on the front, back and side of engines. Pre fill oil filters with the threads facing up as the engine is expecting the filter to remain full of oil. Look at the filter you purchased to replace the old one and look for something similar. Once you have located it, remove it from the engine. This can be tough, and often seems too hard. If you can't get it off by hand use an oil filter wrench. Keep trying, it will eventually come off. There may be some residual oil in the filter, so be careful not to spill it and have a pan underneath to catch the drips.
When removing the oil filter, make sure that the rubber gasket ring comes off with the filter. If you don't and it sticks to the car, the new filter won't seal properly and will leak.
Lubricate the gasket on the new filter with a bit of the old oil.
When installing the new filter, dip the tip of your finger in the old oil and smear it on the gasket ring of the new filter. It doesn't matter if you use the old oil because it won't be circulating with the new oil. The ring won't stick to the car and this saves you hassle next time.
It's a good idea to pour some oil into the filter prior to installing it. This can reduce the amount of time your car takes to regain proper oil pressure. If your filter is mounted vertically you may be able to fill it almost to the top. If it is at an angle, you may be able to get just a few tablespoons worth in just to saturate the filter media.
Replace the drain plug.
Replace the drain plug on the oil pan. Don't forget to install a replacement gasket. Take care not to cross the threads.
This would be a good time to wipe any debris or buildup off the surface where the gasket will seat.
Lubricate the gasket on the new oil filter with oil and carefully screw on the new filter while being careful to not cross the threads. With the paper cartridge filters they will always come with at least one o-ring some times as many as four different ones. Make sure to replace all of them to ensure that they will not leak.
A funnel will help.
Add oil to the car at the fill hole up to the specs in the owner's manual. You don't want to overfill! Add four quarts and check the dip stick and add more until it reads full.
If you hold the bottle with the spout on top, as shown, it will pour more smoothly, without bubbling.
Start the car and run the engine for about 10-15 seconds then check the oil level again and add oil to the full line.
Replace the fill cap and close the hood.
Start the engine, watching to be sure the oil pressure light goes off after start-up, and be sure to look under the car while the engine is running (put car in park or neutral with the parking brake on) to check for any drips. If the filter and drain plug aren't tight, they may leak slowly. Run the engine for a minute or so.
If this intimidates you, take it to the dealership.How do i change the oil on my car?
drive the car around really hard on a hot day
then park the car
then get under it and remove the oil plug
then drink the oil that falls out (mighty tasty too)
replace the plug
remove oil filter and drink what left over oil is in that too
refil with new oilHow do i change the oil on my car?
1. Find the oil plug -- it's basically a nut on the bottom of the engine.
2. Using an adjustable crescent wrench, loosen the nut, take it off, and drain the oil into a pan.
3. Find the oil filter -- it's a cylindrical filter near the bottom of the engine and is usually white or orange -- and using a strap wrench or an oil filter wrench, take the oil filter off.
4. Pull out the new oil filter, but before you put the new one on dab your finger in the oil of the old oil filter and smear some oil on the rubber gasket on the new oil filter. When you put the new oil filter on, tighten it as tightly as you can by hand -- DO NOT use the strap wrench to put it on or you'll overcompress the gasket or you could break the fitting.
5. Once all the oil has run out, put the plug back, tighten it by hand, then use the crescent wrench to tighten it 1/4 of a turn tighter BUT NO MORE. Don't want to break the oil plug!
6. Find the oil fill on the top of your engine, and using a funnel or being very careful when your pour, fill the engine with oil as specified in your owner's manual. Most engines take between 3 1/2 and 5 quarts of oil, so find out exactly how much your car needs and what grade (5W-30, 10W-40, etc.) it needs and DON'T overfill it.
7. Dispose of the used engine oil by taking it somewhere that takes used motor oil. DO NOT dump it in your back yard -- that's a good way for oil to get into your water supply and poison you and your neighbors.
8. Start your engine. The oil light should stay on for a few seconds, but once the oil pump has had a chance to circulate the oil it will go off.
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