If you want to learn more about your vehicle, changing your own oil is a good place to start. An oil change at Jiffy Lube, 914 W. 23rd St., starts at $30, but with the right tools and a little know-how, you can change your oil in about 20 minutes for $12. According to Scott Memmer, professional mechanic and editor of the automotive Web site www.edmunds.com, you can save around $100 a year doing this procedure on your own.
Oil is the lifeblood of your car’s engine. It provides lubrication between moving parts, absorbs heat, and carries away dirt and other contaminants. Changing your oil on a regular basis is the single most important thing you can do to extend the life of your car. Matt Palmateer, parts specialist at O’Reilly Auto Parts, 1008 W. 23rd St., recommends changing your oil every 3,000 miles. Depending on the height of your car, you may need to use a jack to access your oil pan and filter—if this is the case, you may be better off going to a professional.
Note: Every car is different. The location of your oil pan, oil plug and oil filter will vary by make and model. These steps will get the job done, but please consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specifics.
Helpful Hint: Loosening the oil fill cap—usually located on the top or side of the engine block—will allow oil to drain faster.
Before you start, make sure you have the following items:
Begin by parking your car on a flat surface with the parking brake on. For good measure, put bricks or blocks behind the wheels.
Crawl under your car and locate the oil pan. The oil pan collects oil as it flows from the crankcase. At the bottom of the oil pan is the oil drain plug. Use an adjustable wrench, or the appropriate-sized socket wrench. Loosen the oil drain plug counterclockwise. Don’t unscrew it completely until you have your drain pan in place. Most of the oil will drain in two to three minutes.
Tip: Oil drains faster when the engine is warm, so plan on changing your oil after your next trip to the store. Oil will also drain quicker if you remove or loosen the oil filler cap on top of the engine before draining the oil.
Once all the oil has drained, re-install the drain plug. Next, locate your oil filter. Some filters unscrew by hand, others require a special oil filter
wrench that looks like a handle attached metal collar. Upon removal, oil will drain from the filter port, so re-position your drain pan accordingly. Once the oil has drained from the port, install your new filter.
Be careful when unscrewing your old oil filter because oil will drain from the filter port as you remove.
Now you can emerge from beneath your vehicle. If you don’t already have the hood open, do it now. Remove the oil filler cap, generally located on the top or side of the engine block. Put your funnel in the filling port and add the recommended amount of oil for your car—most vehicles will take between five and seven quarts of oil.
Clean up: You’re not done yet! You’ve still got a pan full of toxic, dirty oil to take care of. It’s illegal to dispose of used motor oil improperly, so don’t throw it in the trash. Both Jiffy Lube and O’Reilly’s accept used oil to be recycled, free of charge. One-gallon milk containers are a great way to transport used oil to a proper disposal site.
Once you’ve properly disposed of the old oil, you can hold your head up high, knowing you’ve ensured the health of your vehicle for another 3,000 miles.
Discussion
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Make sure you check to see the fluid capacities of your engine. I think that 5 to 7 quarts is quite high. I own 3 cars and 2 of them use less than 5 quarts.
Don't over fill because that can break the seals in your engine and you will have many problems thereafter.
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