Changing The Oil In Your Car, A Simple Task

Although this topic of changing the oil in your car sounds like something quite complicated, it is certainly much simpler than it seems. And yes, you can do it yourself at home having the necessary tools; As long as you don’t have a problem getting your hands a little dirty. In this way you will give an important care to your car. It is advisable to change the oil in a car every 5,000 km if the oil is mineral, and every 10,000 km if it is synthetic.

Having a car is also a responsibility, since certain maintenance tasks are necessary for its proper functioning. One of the most important issues in this regard is that it must always be well lubricated for optimal performance and durability of the engine.

What do I need to change the engine oil?

• 2 jacks or 2 portable ramps.
• Wedges for extra braking, in addition to the handbrake.
• A container to collect old oil.
• A spanner or spanner.
• New oil for your engine.

• An oil filter with the measurement for the model of your car.
• A wrench for the oil filter (filter removes wrench).
• A funnel to put the new oil in the engine.

It is also very possible that you get stained, so it is recommended that you use vinyl gloves (never latex), an old cloth and clothes that you do not mind spoiling; and you can use it later for more car tasks.

Tips for changing the oil in your car

The right temperature for the engine : Under no circumstances can you do this job if the car has just been used. The engine and oil would be boiling, and therefore very dangerous to handle. It is recommended that the day you are going to perform this task, you start the car for 5 minutes so that the temperature warms a little and the oil is heard more easily.

Prevents the movement of the car : To carry out the immobilization of the vehicle, you need the aforementioned wedges. You must place them on the rear wheels and thus prevent movement when you raise the car for accidents.

Raise your car : For this you need either the jacks or the portable ramps. We raise the car since we need space to be able to get under it, find the oil tank cap and be able to operate more comfortably.

The container to deposit the old oil must be large. We must place it just under the oil cap before starting to loosen it, thus avoiding spilling oil on the floor and making cleaning the work area more complicated afterwards. You also need a container to place under the filter.

Starts the oil change process

Once the aforementioned guidelines have been taken into consideration and carried out, it only remains to start changing the oil in your car by following the steps below.

• With the optimum engine temperature, the car raised and secured, we must proceed to remove the oil cap and let it come out until it is completely empty.
• While the oil is being poured into the container, we can proceed to remove the filter. Using the filter wrench, we loosen the piece until we can turn it using our hands. We can only wait to finish draining all the old oil out of the engine.
• When the old oil has been drained, we proceed to place the new cap and the new filter. Before fitting the filter, lubricate the gasket with a little fresh oil to prevent sticking when it needs to be removed again. After this, screw and tighten both the filter and the cap.
• Now, with the help of the funnel, we pour the new oil into the engine. Depending on the type of car, the number of liters of oil varies. It is recommended to educate yourself on the amount of oil your type of vehicle needs so that it is not lacking or in excess. Also, to make sure the engine has the required amount of oil, it can be checked with the dipstick housed in the engine.

• Then check that everything is tight under the car and that there are no oil leaks.

An extra recommendation is to change the cap screw for a magnetized screw. This screw will trap debris and keep the oil cleaner and keep the engine in perfect condition.

A simple task

Changing the oil in your car is an easy task that we should all know. Even if you are not a mechanic, this action will make you learn more about your car, take care of it and save money. You simply have to follow these tips to the letter to avoid accidents and keep our car in excellent condition.