It is possible to change your car's engine oil at home correctly.

Tools needed for an oil change

Besides buying the right type of oil and oil filter for your car (some car models require a separate filter), you'll also need specialized tools such as an oil filter wrench, a large oil drip pan, etc. Additionally, you'll need a funnel, some clean rags, and a set of wrenches or sockets ranging in size from 19mm to 25mm.

Drain the engine oil.

You need to park your car on a hard, level surface, lift the front of the car, and use jack stands on either side to create enough height for yourself to crawl under the car and drain the oil. Be careful not to drain the oil while the engine is still hot, as the cramped space under the car makes it more difficult and you could get burned by the oil splashing onto you.

Additionally, when draining the oil, you should also place a large piece of cardboard on the floor to prevent oil from splashing onto the floor.

Collect the drain oil.

You'll need to take a bit of a risk to crawl under the car where the oil drain plug is located, and unscrew it counterclockwise. Place a pan in a straight line to catch the draining oil, noting that in some cases the oil drains out very quickly, so you need to catch the oil in time.

The oil draining from the engine is still very hot, so you should be careful when handling it. Usually, it only takes about 2 minutes for all the old oil in the engine to drain out.

Remove the old oil filter and replace it with a new one.

Use a tool that fits the oil filter size correctly and remove it. After removing it, empty the oil from the filter into the waste oil container, then dispose of the filter in the appropriate trash bin. For a new oil filter, gently lubricate the filter opening with a small amount of new oil using your finger.

After cleaning the metal ring surrounding the filter, manually screw the new filter tube in about half or three-quarters of a turn, following the filter's instruction manual. Next, add new engine oil. Open the filter cap with a clean rag and pour the oil through a funnel into the filter. Car engines typically require 4-8 liters of oil (depending on the vehicle) to reach the proper oil level for normal operation. Make sure to reattach the filter cap correctly and tightly.

Add engine oil.

Refer to your owner's manual to determine the correct engine oil level for your vehicle, then proceed with adding the oil. Open the oil filler cap and add the oil. Note that you should not add the exact amount of oil specified in the manual, but rather add a little less.

For example, if the engine capacity is 4 liters, add 3.5 liters because there is still some oil remaining in the engine parts that doesn't drain completely when you drain it. After adding the oil, pull out the dipstick and check the level. If the oil level is insufficient, add more until you feel it's adequate.

Start the car and reset the oil change reminder.

Restart the engine, and at this point, you should pay attention to the indicator lights on the instrument cluster to check for any system malfunctions. For newer vehicles equipped with an oil change check system, you may need to reset the system.

This process varies considerably between different car models, so it's advisable to consult your car's owner's manual.