How To Change Your Car’s Engine Oil?

The oil change is essential for the care of the engine, the function of the lubrication system is to avoid the wear of the engine parts, creating a layer of oil between the parts, which are always in contact, The oils used for lubrication of the engines can be both mineral and synthetic.

The main conditions or properties of the oil used for the lubrication of engines are heat resistance, resistance to high pressure, anti-corrosion, antioxidant, and detergent.

To keep your car running in top condition, it’s important to know how and when to change your engine oil, as the oil deteriorates over time and the filter becomes blocked with contaminants. This process depends on driving habits and the type of vehicle.

The way to change the car oil will depend on the design of the crankcase, the type of filter, and the tools you have, below Moomez show a process to do it at home and an illustrative video with tips as well as a step by step to do it.

Oil Drain

1. Identify the type of oil. You can identify the type of oil on the oil cap, on the bonnet decal, or in the service manual, otherwise a dealer, authorized workshop, or Services can advise you on the recommended oil for the car. Every time the oil is replaced, it must be changed in conjunction with the oil filter, the air filter is changed every 10,000 kilometers or less if traveling on uncovered and dusty roads, and the evaporator filter every 20,000 kilometers, the fuel filter every 30,000 kilometers approximately or as determined by the manufacturer
2. Raise the car. They can be used, jacks, towers, or elevator. If you are going to use a jack, you must take into account the support point of the jack so as not to damage any lower part of the car. If a ramp is to be used, the handbrake and two blocks must be fitted to prevent the car from rolling or sliding. It can also be placed in a pit or put two wheels on the sidewalk.
3. Bring the vehicle to idle. In wintertime or if the car has not been started during the day, it is important to run for two or three minutes to get the oil to a temperature where it can flow. This also helps clean the crankcase.
4. Gather the necessary tool. To carry out this operation, we require a set of cups and rache, a wrench to loosen the filter, an oil spout or funnel, a screwdriver, tweezers.
5. Place the container to collect the oil. In the workshops or services they have carts to collect the used oil, and then take them to the place of collection of the used oil for final disposal. If you do not have this, a container with enough capacity to collect the oil that your the engine has and remembers not to pour the oil into pipes, nor to pour it into pastels or the road, it should be placed in specialized places for the final disposal of oils.
6. Remove the oil fill cap. Open the hood and search the oil cap on top of the engine. This is where you will add the oil after draining the one it already contains. Doing so helps make drainage easier because air can flow in while the crankcase empties.
7. Locate the engine crankcase. Look for a flat metal reservoir under the vehicle, closer to the engine than the transmission, that has a bolt or plug on the bottom. This is the plug that you have to remove to drain. Place the container and some sheets of newspaper just below the stopper.
8. Remove the crankcase plug. Loosen the cap with a socket wrench or with a spanner or expansion wrench if you do not have a set of cups. When removing the cap, the washer or gasket is removed, and if it is found to be correct, it can be reused. You must wait until all the oil they have inside fallen, you must be careful as it can splash a lot of oil in this process.

Oil Filter

1. Locate the oil filter. There are two types of filters, sealed and with a housing or filter element, the first ones are metal cylinders that have the filter element inside, the housing ones are made of paper or felt, its housing is regularly plastic, the cover must be removed from the casing where the filter is housed, the element is changed and placed back in the plastic casing. The sealed filter, as its name says, is sealed, it is adjusted with a thread, special wrenches are used on canvas or a chain if it is larger to loosen it.
2. Unscrew the oil filter. Get a good grip on it and turn it to the left slowly and firmly. The plastic coating and grease in the engine compartment often make the filter a bit slippery, but it doesn’t have to be tighter than by hand. You can use a mechanic’s rag or gloves with a grip to help you. A filter wrench is basically a rubber strap with which you grab the filter, which you can secure with an old tape or with the old strap of an alternator that you have in the garage. Check that the container is still under the car since unscrewing the filter will drain some oil that is trapped. When removing the filter, make sure the rubber gasket comes off as well. If it sticks to the vehicle, the new filter will not seal properly and will leak. So if it sticks,.
3. To avoid spilling too much oil while removing the filter, you can wrap it in a plastic bag. Place the filter upside down in the bag to drain while you complete the task.
4. Prepare the new filter. Dip your fingertip into the new oil and run it over the gasket of the new filter to lubricate it, create a good seal, and so you can remove it next time.
5. You can also pour oil into the filter before inserting it to reduce the amount of time it takes for the car to regain the correct oil pressure. If the filter is installed vertically, you can fill it almost to the top. On the other hand, if it is installed at a certain angle, a little oil will leak out before you can adjust the filter, but it doesn’t matter too much.

Apply New Oil

1. Put the oil through the filler cap. The amount recommended in the manufacturer’s manual and user manual. You can help yourself with a funnel, or apply with an oil spout.
2. Replace the fill cap. Check that you didn’t leave any tools around and close the hood. It’s a good idea to clean up spills as well as possible. While it’s not dangerous to spill a little oil into the crankcase when you pour it in, this can cause it to smoke when the engine heats up, producing that burning oil smell that can be scary for a moment. It can also make the interior smell bad.
3. Start the engine. Observe that the oil pressure indicator light goes off after starting the engine. Put the vehicle in park, or neutral, with the parking brake set to check for leaks and look for leaks under the car. If the filter and drain cap are not tight, they may start to drip slowly. Let the engine run for a minute or so to increase the pressure and make sure you installed everything correctly.
4. Resets the oil change indicator. This varies depending on the make and model of the vehicle, so you have to consult the owner’s manual for the specific steps to do so. In most GM cars, for example, you have to turn the vehicle off, turn the ignition on without starting it, and then press the gas pedal three times for ten seconds. The lights will reset when you turn the vehicle back on.