If you are new to servicing your own car there are a few things that you will need to purchase now.
1. The first thing that I recommend that you get is a good set of ramps to drive your car up on. These ramps aren’t all that expensive. Ramps rated for a gross weight of 8,000 pounds can be had for less than $30.00. Working on a car supported only by a jack isn’t safe and a set of auxiliary jack stands will cost you almost as much as a set of ramps. Believe me, you will feel much more secure crawling under a car on ramps.
2. You will need an oil drain pan. I recommend buying one that’s also a sealable container which will allow you to safely transport the old oil to a recycle center. Most auto parts centers, like Advance Auto, Auto Zone, NAPA, etc will recycle your old oil free of charge.
3. You will need to purchase an oil filter wrenches which will costs about 4 to 5 dollars.
4. You will also need a 10” adjustable wrench to handle removing and replacing the oil drain plug. A quality wrench will run you 8 to 9 dollars.
5. Goggles
6. Mechanic’s gloves
7. The most important tool for you to acquire at this point is a good service manual for your car. I recommend one by Haynes because they are written with the DIYer in mind and not written in a language that only the professional mechanic understands. Check out the Hayne’s manuals online at
http://www.haynes.com/products/sfID1/3/sfID2/5
Now, with tools and supplies assembled we are ready to begin.
1. Have someone guide you as you drive your vehicle up on the ramps. Take it slow and easy because you want the tires centered on the ramps and the tires resting in the wells when you stop.
2. Let the engine idle for a few minutes to bring the oil to normal operating temperature. The old oil will drain best when hot.
3. Position the oil drain pan carefully under the engine oil pan drain plug before loosening the drain plug. Remove the plug slowly, remember the oil is hot.
4. After the oil has drained completely, replace the drain plug securely but be careful to not over tighten the plug and damage the threads on the engine oil pan.
5. Reposition the drain pan under the oil filter and then loosen the filter using the filter wrench.
6. Finish unscrewing the filter by hand and place it upside down in the drain pan to finish draining.
7. Wipe the oil filter mounting flange off with a clean rag.
8. Coat the gasket on the new filter with new oil before screwing it in place.
9. Hand tighten the filter. It is not necessary to use the filter wrench to tighten the new filter.
10. Pour in the required number of quarts of oil. Check your owners manual or your newly acquired service manual for the number of quarts required. As a rule you usually have ad an additional quart when you change an oil filter but your owners manual or service manual will state that.
11. With the car still up on the ramps, run the engine for a couple of minutes and then check to make sure that the new filter isn’t leaking. If there is a leak, use the filter wrench and give the filter another ¼ turn to seal the gasket. Generally, you will not have to use the wrench because there wont be any leaks.
12. Making sure that the oil drain pan and all your tools are out from under your vehicle, back it slowly off the ramps. Cap off the oil drain pan. Clean up your tools so they will be ready for your next oil change and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
13. Finally, as soon as possible take the oil to the auto parts store
