How to Change Oil and Filter

Changing the Oil and Filter on your Car

Owning a car is a huge responsibility and part of that is learning how to maintain your vehicle. There are many unexpected situations in which motorists can find themselves and having the ability and the knowledge to make basic repairs and to carry out basic maintenance is a boon.

Although some people may shy away from learning the basics due to fear of the unknown or due to a belief that they're “just not technical”, there really is no reason why anyone with reasonable strength and health cannot care for their vehicle’s basic needs in terms of repair and general maintenance.

Changing your own oil and filter can be a great way to gain confidence with basic maintenance as well as a money saving opportunity! Once you have opened up your car's bonnet and familiarized yourself with the whereabouts of the various parts, you will begin to see that the workings of a car are no great mystery. Most of the basic parts are simple to access and there shouldn't be any difficulty in managing oil and filter changes yourself.

Before you begin, you will need to have a few basic tools at your disposal; the first is an oil filter strap wrench to aid in the removal of the oil filter which will usually be too tight to remove by hand. You will also need some old rags, a funnel, an oil container as well as a container such as a washing up bowl to catch old oil and some protective gloves.

Begin by starting your engine; let it run for a few minutes to warm up the oil, this makes it thinner and easier to handle but watch it doesn't get too hot!

Loosen the drain plug and clean around it with one of the old rags, then place your container underneath and take the plug out. When the old oil has drained into the container, funnel it into an oil container.

Now it is time to locate the oil filter and replace it; oil filters are located on the right side of the engine beside the distributor and are quite difficult to reach which is why an oil filter strap wrench is usually required. Position your old container ready to catch the oil which will spill out when you remove the filter.

Before you fit the new filter, wipe a little oil on the rubber seal so that it is easier to screw into place…do this by hand. Finally, fill the engine with new oil and you're ready to go!

When you are dealing with old oil, always be sure to place it in a secure container and dispose of it at the local tip which will have a special container for it. Never tip it down the sink or leave where children or animals can access it. If you are unsure of where the nearest safe disposal site is, call your local council to ask for advice on the disposal of harmful liquids such as oil.