How to Change Engine Oil

Engine oil is very important for the internal combustion process of the fuel in the car's engine. Engine oil plays an important role in cooling and lubricating the moving parts of the vehicle. Motor oils are gained from non petroleum and petroleum based synthesized compounds. They are mainly made by using organic compounds that consist entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Over a certain period of time, engine oil loses its grip and some contaminants get clogged over it. It largely depends upon the driving habit of the person as well.

For some people, necessity of changing engine oil can appear within just 3 months, while some people can drive well without having to change engine oil for more than 2 years as well. It is often recommended to change engine oil after every 3000 miles drive. Changing engine oil is necessary for the well-being of the internal moving structure of the vehicle and the durability of the same. But the frequency of changing engine oil can be a bit of hassle and costly. There is one simple solution to the problem of wear and tear caused due to the changing of engine oil and that is to learn how to change the engine oil.

Materials for Engine Oil Change

• Quarts of engine oil (as per the requirements)
• Wheel ramp
• Oil filter wrench
• Blocks (for wedging behind the tires)
• Funnel and a large plastic container
• Allen's wrench
• New oil filter (as per the design of the car) and a rag

Changing Engine Oil

There are some important things to consider before learning how to change oil. The most important among all of them is to know where to begin working on your vehicle, say car. Make sure you have an extremely flat surface to work on, a surface that is without any slope is a must. Avoid hilly areas to begin the process of changing engine oil.

• Put the wheel ramp under the front tires of the vehicle and drive up the vehicle on them so that they will be adjusted properly. Put on the emergency breaks of the car and place the wheel ramps behind the back tires of the vehicle as well.
• Open the hood of the vehicle and the oil filter. Find out the drain plug that will be situated at the bottom of the oil pan towards the back of the vehicle's engine.
• Catching the dripping oil out of the oil pan can be tricky, so one must do it very carefully. Place a plastic container and a drop cloth or a piece of paper under that container to avoid the risk of oil stains in the passage, garage or the driveways.
• Once the oil is drained fully, replace the oil plug and the oil filter as well. Place the new oil filter wrench around the older one and turn it counterclockwise. This you will have to do to unscrew the oil filter.
• After removing the older oil filter, just lubricate the edges of the new one with some oil and then set it in place of the older one. Do not over tight the oil filter, as it can barricade its movements.
• The most important step remains here, that is to put back the oil in the vehicle. You have to locate the orifice that will be at the top of the engine (it is easy to locate it, as it has letters OIL embedded on it). Place the funnel on its opening and fill up the required amount of quarts that your vehicle needs.

If you are not sure, how much of engine oil does the vehicle require, you can check it with help of the dipstick. After you are done putting back the engine oil in the vehicle, make sure you start the vehicle on the ramp itself. This process needs to be performed in order to see if there are any leakages into the oil filter and fix if any. All you have to do now is to drive the vehicle off the wheel ramps and you are done!

There is one precaution that you should take regarding the used engine oil, do not ever pour it on the ground and rather dispatch it in a place that deals with recycling the used oil instead.