One of the responsibilities of owning a car is making sure your oil gets changed regularly. These days, the price of an oil change at a quick-lube shop isn’t much different than the cost of buying the oil and filter yourself, since the shops can buy their oil in bulk and their filters at cost. However, having worked in an auto parts store, I can tell you that quick-lube shops are notorious for screwing things up. Quite frequently, we’d have customers who needed to buy a new drain plug because the shop that changed their oil cross-threaded the plug. The only way to make sure that your oil is changed right is, of course, to do it yourself.
Changing your oil is pretty simple, and even the novice can quickly get the hang of it. You’ll need new oil and a filter, tools, and a drain pan.
Oil: There are many kinds of oil available. I’ve been told that oils such as Pennzoil and Quaker State, made from Pennsylvania oil, are wax-based and will leave a buildup in an engine when used regularly, and so should be avoided. Personally, I recommend Valvoline, but Castrol is a good brand as well. Do not buy a brand of oil simply because it is cheaper than the others. Cheaper price means cheaper quality, and it’s simply not worth shortening your engine’s lifespan simply to save a buck or two on an oil change. This is another reason why not to use quick-lube shops: most use cheap oil, which is how they maintain their prices.
Filter: There are also many kinds of oil filters out there, ranging from a few bucks to fifteen bucks, or more. I don’t believe getting the most expensive filter is necessary, but I do recommend going a step up from the basic filter. However, I recommend avoiding any filter that uses Teflon in the filter itself. Teflon can also cause build-ups in an engine.
Oil filter wrench: While you’re picking out your oil filter, you might as well find a filter wrench that fits. There are different styles of filter wrenches available, so you might want to take a look at your filter’s location before going to the store. Some cars don’t leave enough room at the end of the filter for a cap-style wrench, while others don’t have enough room around the filter to get any leverage with a strap-style wrench. It will help to know what kind of clearance you have around your oil filter before buying a wrench.
Basic tools: The drain plug should take a basic wrench, either American or Metric, depending on whether your car is American or foreign. A box wrench, open-ended wrench, or combo wrench will work just fine, although it will require more strength to loosen and tighten the drain plug. If you know you aren’t very strong, try a socket with a long handle (or “breaker bar”) attached to it. The longer the handle, the less strength you’ll need to apply.
Drain pan: There are several different types of drain pans available, and which one you buy depends on your needs and how much you want to spend. You’ll need to dispose of the oil somehow, most likely by taking it to an auto parts store or quick-lube shop that will dispose of customers’ used oil. An open drain pan – like a wide, shallow bucket – will be cheaper, but then you’ll have to pour the oil into containers. A drain pan with a lid is more expensive, but will facilitate transportation.
Other tips
When to change your oil: It’s a good idea not to change your oil when your engine is very hot, as the oil will scald you if it runs down your arm as you loosen the drain plug. At the same time, you don’t want to change the oil with the engine stone cold, as the oil won’t be as runny. Your best bet is to run the engine, and then let it cool for a while before draining the oil. Let the oil drain for a while to make sure it’s all out, and then replace and tighten the drain plug. Thread the plug by hand and make sure you get it straight – this is where many quick-lube employees mess things up!
Replacing the filter: If you have strong hands, you may be able to replace the filter without a wrench, but keep the wrench handy just in case. Place the drain pan underneath the engine where the filter attaches, as there will be some oil in there that will drain when you remove the filter. When putting on the new filter, rub some oil into the rubber ring on the end of the filter, to lubricate it and prevent leaks. Turn the filter until it seats, and then turn it one more turn to snug it up. If you notice later that the filter is not tight enough and is leaking, you can always tighten it up, but over tightening can ruin the seal on the filter, so be careful.
Finishing the job and checking for leaks: Once the drain plug and oil filter have been replaced, you can fill the engine with oil. Your owner’s manual should tell you how much the engine will take with a new filter. Once you have added the proper amount of oil, replace the oil cap, check the level to be sure it’s right, and then start the car, looking underneath for leaks.
Changing your oil should only take a short amount of your time, but it’ll be reassuring to know that it was done right – and the only way to know that is to do it yourself!