How To Change Your Engine Oil and Filter
How to Change Your Engine Oil and Oil Filter
Changing your vehicle engine oil and oil filter is the single best thing you can do to ensure your vehicle runs efficiently and keep it running for years. Changing your oil is usually easy if you have the proper tools. This page will give you the instructions you need to change the oil on just about any vehicle with an engine.
Changing your engine oil and filter is extremely satisfying and will save you a great deal of money over the life of your vehicle. DIY oil changes also allow you to use better grades of oil than what is usually provided at quick oil change locations or even the dealership. Usually, the cost of better oil and filters will be less than what you pay to have someone else do it for you, plus you get the satisfaction of knowing it was done right.
NOTE: This page is meant to give you general instructions on the process to change your engine oil and filter. We recommend you do a quick internet search to familiarize yourself with the location of the drain and fill holes and your oil filter for your vehicle.
Process To Change Your Engine Oil and Oil Filter
1) Drain Your Old Oil Out of the Vehicle
2) Replace Your Old Oil Filter With a New Filter
3) Refill Your Vehicle with New Oil
It is this simple. Once you learn the process and secure the right tools you will be able to do this job for years.
Let's start with what you will need.
Tools Needed to Change Your Engine Oil and Oil Filter
A way to safely lift your vehicle and secure it so you can get underneath the engine. Don't worry, we will show you some options below.
- Disposable nitrile gloves or a strong soap to clean your hands.
- A wrench or socket to remove the oil drain plug.
- Something to drain the old oil into for recycling.
- An oil filter wrench to remove and replace the oil filter.
- Some paper towels to clean up spills.
You may have all of these items already in your garage or may be able to borrow them from a friend. If you have to purchase them, keep in mind that you will be doing this job at least 2 times a year so invest in quality tools that will last.
Step 1: Find a Good Place to Change Your Oil
You will want to find a level patch of ground to work. Ideally, this should be a level concrete pad. A garage is ideal, but you can do this job outside as well.
DO NOT EVER LIFT YOUR VEHICLE ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE. IT MAY FALL OFF THE JACK STANDS AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH!
Step 2: Run Your Car for About 1 Minute
You will want to start your car and let it run for about 1 minute. Why? This will allow the oil to heat up a little so it will run out of the engine smoothly and completely. You do not want the engine to get hot, just warm it so the oil flows nicely. This is very important if the car has sat in cold air.
Step 3: Put Your Vehicle in Park, Activate the Parking Brake, and Turn Off the Engine
Before you start, you will want to make sure your vehicle is not going to move or roll away unexpectedly. You will soon be lifting the front end of your car/truck and crawling underneath it so it mustn't move!
Step 4: Open the Hood and Remove the Oil fill cap.
Open up your hood and locate your oil fill cap. It will probably look something like this:
These usually just unscrew or in some cases just pull off. Set this cap somewhere safe so you can put it back on after you refill the oil in your engine.
You are removing this to allow the oil inside your engine to flow out easier.
Step 5: Raise and Support the Front End of Your Vehicle
While this is can be daunting, as long as you have the correct tools and follow the instructions, this is not as difficult as it seems. With that said, it is critical to understand that if this step is not done properly, serious bodily injury or death can and has occurred. Once you have done this task for the first time, it will make a lot of sense and become second nature. Just follow the instructions and the tool instructions.
The easiest way to do this task is to purchase a hydraulic jack and quality jack stands from an auto parts store or someplace like Northern Tool or Harbor Freight. It can be a little expensive, however, if you plan to do this job and other easy maintenance like rotating your tires, brake jobs, or changing differential fluid you will find this is a great investment that will more than pay for itself for years.
Hydraulic Jack. These look like the image below and are available in sizes based on the weight of the vehicle you will be lifting. Be sure to get a jack capable of lifting your vehicle.
In addition to this, you will need quality jack stands for the vehicle to rest on while you are under the vehicle. DO NOT JUST JACK THE VEHICLE UP WITH THE HYDRAULIC JACK AND CRAWL UNDER IT. THE JACK MAY FAIL AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH! Jack Stands prevent the vehicle from falling in the event your hydraulic jack fails.
These jack stands are available at the same places you purchased the hydraulic jack and look like the image below. Again, make sure the jack stands can hold the total weight of the vehicle to be sure they will not fail.
Follow all instructions included with both the hydraulic jack and the jack stands.
NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU LIFT THE VEHICLE BY THE FRAME AND SUPPORT THE VEHICLE BY THE FRAME OTHERWISE YOU WILL DAMAGE YOUR VEHICLE. See your owner's manual on the proper jack points or do an internet search for your particular make and model.
Step 6: Drain The Old Oil Out Of The Engine
Now we are getting down to business!
Position yourself under your engine and locate your oil drain plug. It will look like the image below and usually be at the lowest point of the engine. Some newer vehicles may have some sort of covering over the bottom of the engine. This is not a big deal and can usually be removed with a socket. Save these pieces to put back on after you are finished.
Before you loosen this plug, make sure you have some sort of container to catch the oil that is about to come out! We recommend an oil catch pan like the one below. This has a large area to catch the oil and can easily transport the old oil to the recycling center. You will use this over and over again so get a good one.
Once your catch pan is in place, loosen the oil plug with a sock or the correct size wrench. You may have to tap it a couple of times with a hammer or mallet to loosen it. Be careful as you unscrew the plug because oil may drip out. Once the plug comes to lose the oil will come out quickly. BE CAREFUL AS THE OIL MAY BE HOT! Also, try to notice if the plug has a washer on it. If it does, save that washer as you will want to reuse it or replace it if it is worn out.
Once the oil starts draining out, position your catch pan so it will catch all of the oil. Give this process about 10 minutes to get all of the oil out. Grab a cold drink or check your phone. You earned a little break, so enjoy it!
Step 7: Put Your Oil Plug Back In
Once your old oil finishes draining out, using a cloth, wipe down the hole where the drain plug goes into the engine. Wipe down the drain plug, and be certain to keep any washer that was on the plug before.
Put the drain plug back in and tighten it down. If you have a torque wrench, tighten it down to the torque setting required. If you do not have a torque wrench, tighten it down with the socket or the CORRECT size wrench, then give it a couple of taps with a hammer or a mallet. You want it on there tight enough that it will not back out and drain your oil out. We do NOT recommend using power tools to tighten this because if you strip this hole, you are in big trouble. Be safe and do it by hand.
Step 8: Remove Your Old Oil Filter
Locate your oil filter. It is usually not too far from the drain plug however it is usually located higher up on the engine. Again, a quick internet search for your vehicle will quickly show you where it is. If you are really lucky, it will be on top of your engine and very easy to get to. It will look similar to the picture below:
Your oil filter will usually twist off, however, you will most likely need an oil filter wrench to loosen it. Again, these are pretty inexpensive and once you buy it once, you will keep it for years and years. These can be found at most auto parts shops or places like Harbor Freight. Below are a couple of examples of what these tools may look like.
Simply grab the filter as close to the bottom (the part closest to the engine) and loosen it with the tool until you can loosen it by hand. WARNING: There will be oil in the filter so make sure your drip pan is below the filter to catch the oil coming out!
Remove the old filter and set it inside the drip pan so it can finish draining.
Step 9: Install Your New Oil Filter
You are now ready to put your new oil filter on. Almost finished!
Do not just slap the new filter on! Take moment to clean the old oil off the area where the oil filter sits against the engine. Also, clean off any oil that may have gotten onto the engine area when you removed the old filter. If you do not clean this off, you will smell burnt oil for a while.
This next step is CRITICAL. On your new filter, you will see a rubber ring on the bottom of the filter. It will look like the picture below:
This rubber seal ensures that the oil running thru the filter does not leak out of the area between the filter and the engine. However, the engine gets hot when your drive so this rubber could melt into the engine block, making it almost impossible to remove the filter when it is time for the next change. The answer is to put a thin coating of oil all around this rubber ring before you put the new filter on. You can dip your finger into the old oil or use some of the new oil. This is just a thin layer of oil and it is only needed on the rubber ring.
Your new oil filter is now ready to be installed. Simply put it on and spin it until it stops. Then using your oil filter wrench, tighten it down. Again, you don't want it loose so oil leaks out, however, you also want to get it off next time.
If your vehicle had any coverings you had to remove to get access to the oil plug and oil filter put these back on now.
Congratulations, you are finished under the vehicle!
Step 10: Lower Your Vehicle
Remove all of your tools, wipe everything down, and remove your oil drip pan from below the vehicle.
Following the instructions, remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle using the hydraulic jack.
Step 11: Put The New Oil Into the Vehicle
Locate the oil filling hole where you removed the oil cap in Step 4. Using a funnel, pour in the correct amount of oil required for your vehicle. NOTE: Your vehicle may call for an amount with or without a filter. Unless you filled the oil filter with oil before you put it on, use the amount needed with a new filter. Again, this information is found in your owner's manual along with the proper weight of oil recommended by your manufacturer.
Once you are done putting the new oil in your vehicle. Wipe up any spills and replace your oil cap.
You should be able to start your vehicle up now. Take moment while it is running and make sure you cannot see or smell any leaks coming out at the bottom. If you find some, go back and check the oil plug, the oil filter, or the oil cap.
If no leaks are present. You are all finished. Great job! You have just completed the single most important aspect of vehicle maintenance. You now have the tools and the know-how to do this yourself. Go ahead and post some brag shots, you deserve it!
Some vehicles may have different types of oil filters, however, the overall process is the same to change your oil and filter. Cars, light-duty trucks, motorcycles, and even some boat engines all follow the same process.
Final Note: Drive your vehicle for a few days and then check your oil level using the dipstick. If necessary, top off the oil to the correct level.
We hope you found these instructions helpful and will allow you to safely and confidently change your engine oil and oil filter safely and with confidence. We hope you will consider TriboDyn for your engine oil. TriboDyn is simply the finest oil you can purchase today. Full Synthetic or Synthetic Blend formulas with exclusive advanced additives including ceramic coating for almost any vehicle are available here at www.coolblueoil.com.
