Changing the Engine Oil

The Basic Process

The objective is to empty the oil from the engine and change the filter with as little mess as possible. This might sound daughnting at first to a beginner, but if well thought out the process can be easy and accident free. I strongly recommend reading the tips at the end BEFORE changing the oil for the first time, even if you are a seasoned oil changer.

1. Prepare. You will need at a minimum:

-Something to catch the oil in
-New oil and a filter (the assistant at the auto store will tell you what type of oil and filter you need)
-A wrench or socket the same size as your drain plug(s) (picture of drain plug below)
-A rag

2. Make sure you are in messy clothes and all of your supplies are close by.

3. Locate the oil filter and the engine oil pan drain plug(s). As seen below on a 1992 Ford Explorer. All drain plugs on the pan will need to be opened.

4. If necessary, support the car with jack stands to provide adequate space to comfortably position ones self under the car. Make sure to follow all safety guidelines for jacking an automobile up.

5. Position the catch pan directly under the drain plug. Open it cautiously, especially if the engine is hot. The oil will initially flow with a decent amount of force. Repeat if multiple plugs are present.

6. Allow the engine oil to drain out completely, during this time you should be preparing your new filter.

7. Using your finger smear a film of oil onto the oil filter's gasket.

8. Now that your engine oil is drained from the pan, screw the plug back in and tighten it with a wrench.

9. Proceed to reposition the pan under the oil filter. Unscrew the oil filter being careful not to burn yourself on the exhaust pipes if the engine is hot.

10. Once the old filter is removed, the new filter can be installed. First wipe the old mounting surface clean with the rag. Then tighten the filter hand strength until it becomes difficult to difficult to turn with one hand, then back it off about 1/2 a turn. If in doubt follow the instructions on the can.

11. Fill the engine with the new oil until the dipstick reads "full". The car's manual should list the quantity required.

12. Start the car up and immediately check for leaks. If the engine does not smell of burnt oil and it is not leaking, the oil change was succesful. If it is leaking most likely the filter is installed improperly.

13. Make sure to dispose of all waste properly!

Tips

Buy a filter wrench, they save alot of busted knuckles and time. Sometimes they are even required. Do NOT tighten the oil filter using a filter wrench. This will typically lead to over tightening and leakage.
Purchase a catch container that can be resealed so the oil may be disposed of easily at the auto parts store. Look for a deep catch pan with a large hole with something to block the drain plug from falling inside.
Run the engine prior to changing the oil. Warm oil flows easier and traps more contaminents. Make sure not to burn yourself on the hot oil or the exhaust pipes.	Prepare the new filter by filling it with oil to the rim. Wait for the filter to suck the oil up and repeat until saturated. This will ensure that oild is present as soon as the engine cranks, protecting it from any possible damage.
Make sure the filter mounting surface is COMPLETELY clean. The old gaskets like to stick to the engine. If the filter is tightened with the old gasket and new gasket in place, the engine will promptly dump all of the new oil onto the ground at first start up.	Do NOT tighten with two hands. Do NOT over tighten. This makes it difficult to remove at the next oil change and causes leaks. The filter typically does not need to be installed nearly as tight as one might think.
	Changing the oil every 3,000 miles is excessive under normal driving conditions. Even 5,000 is quite frequent. Research has shown that the MOST wear occurs right after an oil change. Changing more frequently actually HURTS the engine. Obviously changing too infrequently can be even worse. Aim for 5,000 to 7,500 for conventional oils and 6,000 to 9,000 for synthetic oil under normal conditions.
Be careful of synthetics on older engines. They can make leaks appear or worsen already active leaks. A synthetic blend might be the best option for an older engine.	NEVER run an engine without oil in the crankcase. To make sure that oil makes its way into the engine leave your keys in the same bag/area as the fresh oil. This provides a helpful reminder.
An oil filter with a "drain back" or similarly labeled valve can be a big plus. These filters claim that they do not let engine oil on the valves return to the crankcase. Thus as soon as the car starts up it has fresh oil on the valve train.

NOTE: This guide is merely a suggestion on how to change the oil. Obviously the procedure and cautions are going to vary between certain cars. Always use common sense and put safety first.