Automotive Oil Change

The Basics
The easiest way to keep your car in great mechanical shape is to perform an automotive oil change on a regular basis. Changing the oil helps to keep the engine running cleaner. As oil gets older, it becomes dirtier and breaks down, reducing its ability to protect vital moving parts. Every time you get your oil changed make sure the oil filter is also changed. Oil flows through the oil filter allowing the filter to capture any contaminates in the oil. Changing the filter regularly will prevent it from clogging.

How often
You should have the oil changed (and filter too!) every 3,000 miles. Some manufacturers recommend every 6,000 miles. Check your owners manual. Usually a manufacturer will have two schedules, one for light use, and the other for severe use. If you do a lot of stop and go driving, tow heavy loads, or drive in extreme climates (hot or cold), use the severe schedule.

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Do it yourself
Performing your own automotive oil change is one of the easiest Do It Yourself practices you can perform on your vehicle. It will also save you money.

What you'll need for an automotive oil change

New oil
New Filter
New washer for drain plug.
An adjustable wrench
A filter wrench for removing the oil filter
A drain pan
Two empty jugs with caps - to hold the old oil
A funnel for refilling the oil
Rubber gloves
A few rags to clean up and wipe off any dripping oil
Ramps or a jack and jack stands.
Blocks (wooden, or even bricks) to place behind the rear wheels to prevent the car from rolling back.

You're ready for an automotive oil change
Before you can start changing the oil, jack up your car or drive it up the ramps. Make sure the car is in park, the emergency brake is on and there are blocks behind the rear wheels. Your safety is critical. It's also a good idea to have someone around to help out just in case you need a hand or run into some difficulty.

Loosen the drain plug - Do not remove
Position the drain pan under the drain plug.
Now remove the drain plug and let the oil drop into the drain pan
Locate the oil filter. Use the filter wrench to remove it. It may be difficult to take off but keep trying. It'll eventually come off. Make sure not to drop the filter as there will still be oil in it. Also, make sure the rubber seal has come off with the filter otherwise it's stuck to the car and the new filter won't seal properly.
Once the oil has drained, replace the washer around the drain plug and reinstall.
Install the new oil filter. Lubricate the threads and rubber seal with clean motor oil. Screw it back on but be careful not to cross the threads.
Remove the engine oil cap and use the funnel to fill the engine with new motor oil. Fill it up according to the specifications found in the owners manual.
Screw in the engine oil cap.
Do a visual inspection before starting the car to make sure no oil is leaking.
Start the car. Let it run for a minute and check for any leaks around the drain plug and filter.
Check the oil level to make sure you've added the necessary amount of motor oil.
Empty the drain pan into the empty jugs using the funnel. Used engine can be recycled. Do not dump it.

You've completed an automotive oil change. You can take comfort in knowing that you've saved some money and you've done something good for your car. Always consult your owners manual before performing any maintenance on your vehicle.