Can you change your car's engine oil at home properly?

Tools needed to change the oil

In addition to buying the right type of oil and oil filter for your vehicle (some vehicles require a separate filter), you also need specialized tools such as an oil filter screw, a large oil pan, etc. You will also need a funnel, some clean rags, and a set of wrenches or sockets ranging in size from 19mm to 25mm.

Drain engine oil

You need to park the car on a flat hard surface, raise the front of the car and use jacks on both sides to get high enough for you to get under the car to drain the oil. Be careful not to drain the oil when the engine is still hot because the working area under the car is narrow, making it more difficult, and you may get oil splashed on you and cause burns.

In addition, when draining oil, you also need to put a large piece of cardboard on the floor to avoid oil splashing on the floor.

Drain oil

You need to take a little risk to get under the car where the oil drain screw is, turn it counterclockwise to remove the drain screw. Place the oil drain pan in line to catch the oil flow out, note that in some cases the oil drains very quickly so you have to catch the oil drain pan in time.

The oil that comes out of the engine is still very hot, so be careful when handling it. It usually takes about 2 minutes for all the old oil to drain out.

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

Use the correct size oil filter extractor to remove the filter. Once removed, empty the oil into the oil drain container and dispose of the filter in the correct waste bin. With the new filter, use your finger to gently lubricate the opening of the filter tube with a little new oil.

After cleaning the metal ring around the filter, screw the new filter tube in by hand about half or 3/4 turn according to the filter's instructions. Next, pour new oil into the engine. Open the filter cap with a clean rag and pour the oil through the funnel into the filter. Car engines usually need about 4 - 8 liters of oil (depending on the car) to reach the appropriate oil level for normal engine operation. Make sure to reinstall the filter cap correctly and tightly.

Engine oil filling

Consult your owner's manual for the amount of engine oil your vehicle requires, then add oil. Open the oil cap and add oil. Note that you should not add the exact amount of oil specified in the manual, but add a little less.

For example: the car is 4 liters, add 3.5 liters because there is still some oil in the engine parts and it does not flow out when draining. After adding oil, remove the dipstick and check, if the oil level is not enough, add more until you feel okay.

Start the car and reset the oil change timer

Restart the engine, now you should pay attention to the light signals on the control cluster to see if there is any problem with the system. With new car models equipped with an oil change inspection system, you need to reset the system.

This process varies slightly from vehicle to vehicle, so consult your vehicle's owner's manual.