If you neglect to let the car sit, you could scald yourself when you drain the oil.
If you are unsure of the location of the jacking point on your vehicle, check the owner’s manual for specifics.
Ramps give you 2 points of suspension on your vehicle rather than just 1. They’re commonly used in mechanics’ shops for this reason. Driving your vehicle up onto the ramps won’t take more than 10 seconds and so shouldn’t heat up your engine much. Som it’s okay to do this right before you start changing the oil.
Push down on the hood 2 or 3 times to make sure that the vehicle is stable and won’t crash down on you as you’re working beneath it. If the car is unstable, it’s probably not evenly jacked up or situated on the ramps. Lower the car (or drive down off the ramps), make a couple adjustments and try lifting it again.
The oil drain pan should hold at least twice as much oil as your engine takes, so that none of the liquid will spill over the sides of the pan when it’s pouring out of the car.
Removing the oil cap before you drain the oil will allow the liquid to drain out quickly, since it will have airflow both above and below it.
You’ll find a metal washer between the oil pan and the drain plug. Remove this as well and set it on the ground next to you.
Put the washer that you removed earlier back in place. Then reinsert the drain plug and tighten it back in the oil pan by turning it clockwise.
Look at the replacement filter you purchased to have some idea of what to look for. Some vehicles such as BMWs, Mercedes, and newer Volvos may have a filter element or cartridge as opposed to the simpler spin-on type. They require you to open the cap of a built-in reservoir and lift out the filter element itself.
Make sure the pan is still under the car catching the spilling oil. There will be some trapped in the filter that will come out when you unscrew it. To avoid spilling too much oil as you remove the filter, you can wrap a plastic bag around the filter, which will catch any oil that escapes as you remove it. Let it sit upside down in the bag to drain as you complete the job.
You can also pour a 20-30 drops of oil into the filter prior to installing it. This will 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’s mounted at an angle, then a small amount of oil will spill just prior to spinning the filter on if you’ve filled it too full.
The filter will generally say how tight to tighten it; look to the specifications on the box for more specific instructions.
The amount of oil that you need is in the owner’s manual, usually listed under “capacities. ” Make sure you’re adding the correct oil. Typically, you can safely add 10W-30 to most cars in a pinch, but you should consult your owner’s manual or the experts at an auto shop before adding oil. [14] X Research source
Look under the car to make sure nothing is leaking. While it’s not dangerous to get a little oil on the crankcase as you’re pouring, it may smoke as the engine heats up, leading to that burning oil smell that can be momentarily frightening. It can also make your interior smell bad.
If you spot a leak, turn the engine back off and let it cool for about 10 minutes. Then crawl back under the vehicle and tighten the fill cap underneath the car. This is the most likely spot that oil will leak out from.
The dipstick should have markings on it near the end that indicate when the oil level is both “low” and “full. ” Different sides of the stick may give levels for both hot and cold oil.
Other options include old milk jugs, windshield washer-fluid jugs, or other plastic bottles. Be very careful anytime you’re using old food bottles to clearly mark the contents so no mistakes are made. Carelessness here can cause inadvertent consumption or disposal. Don’t put old oil in containers that held chemicals like bleach, pesticides, paint, or antifreeze. These will contaminate the recycling process.
If you need to dispose of the old filter, you can do that at most large automotive suppliers. In some locations, for example, retailers that sell more than 1,000 filters in a year are required to accept old filters. [citation needed] There are also facilities that accept all sorts of hazardous and valuable waste for special disposal, including electronics, scrap metal, and chemicals (e. g. motor oil and paint); research to see if any are in your area. [20] X Research source
If you need to dispose of the old filter, you can do that at most large automotive suppliers. In some locations, for example, retailers that sell more than 1,000 filters in a year are required to accept old filters. [citation needed] There are also facilities that accept all sorts of hazardous and valuable waste for special disposal, including electronics, scrap metal, and chemicals (e. g. motor oil and paint); research to see if any are in your area. [20] X Research source
If you need to dispose of the old filter, you can do that at most large automotive suppliers. In some locations, for example, retailers that sell more than 1,000 filters in a year are required to accept old filters. [citation needed] There are also facilities that accept all sorts of hazardous and valuable waste for special disposal, including electronics, scrap metal, and chemicals (e. g. motor oil and paint); research to see if any are in your area. [20] X Research source
Next time you’re shopping for oil at a local auto-parts store, ask if they sell recycled oil.
