Beginner’s Guide: How to Change Car Oil – Step-by-Step Instructions
Beginner’s Guide: How to Change Car Oil – Step-by-Step Instructions To change your car oil, follow the steps outlined below: Park your car on a level surface and gather the necessary tools: a wrench, an oil pan, a funnel, and new oil and filter. Locate the oil drain plug underneath the car and place the oil pan beneath it. Unscrew the drain plug and allow the old oil to completely drain into the pan. Once drained, replace the drain plug, remove the old filter, and install a new one. Finally, use the funnel to pour the appropriate amount of new oil into the engine. Remember to dispose of the old oil and filter responsibly.
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Table of contents
- Introduction
- Locate the dipstick
- Make checklist
- Maintenance schedule
- Use a ramp to lift the car
- Drain the oil
- Refill the brand new oil
- Recycle
- For any driver, Knowing how to open a car’s hood is a fundamental yet important ability. Understanding how to reach the engine compartment is essential whether you need to top up the washer fluid, check the oil, or perform periodic maintenance.
- Look for a lever inside the car, usually located near the driver’s side dashboard or floor area, it have a picture of car or may have different color of latch. so pull it, then walk to the front of the car to open the secondary latch because primary latch don’t open it fully.
- push or slide the latch to fully open it. Lift the hood and secure it with the prop rod if your car has one, or the hood struts will hold it open automatically.
Locate the Dipstick
First and foremost put the fender covers on both the sides. After that locate the dipstick it is usually brightly colored (red, yellow, or orange) typically positioned near the engine block, it may have a loop or a T- shaped handle for easy gripping. Before pulling it out put on the pair of hand gloves for your safety. After that slide it out and clean the dipstick with a rag and dip it back in again and pull out now you can check the oil level.
Make checklist
Mark the oil level on the checklist For instance oil level, brake fluid level, coolant level, and some cars have hydraulic power steering fluid so check for power steering fluid, and last top up washer fluid. check for the Air filter .
Maintenance schedule
Honda:
Oil life 15% stands for remaining oil life is 15%, it’s good to change 0W-20 full synthetic oil for maximum Honda’s with oil filter like VGA 4610, Valvoline VO 106, FRAM PH7317 Extra guard or go with OEM type.
Oil life 5% stands for remaining oil life is 5%, you should have your oil changed and filter replaced as soon as possible.
Oil life 0% stands for remaining oil life is 0%, you’ll also see a mileage display that indicates how far you are from your next scheduled service. Bring your vehicle to service center to prevent wear or damage.
Symbols:
A. Engine oil need to be replaced.
B. Indicates engine oil and filter need to be replaced. inspection of various system and components should also be done.
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Numbers:
1. Rotate tires and verify correct tire pressure and condition.
2. Replace the air cleaner element, inspect the drive belt, and replace the dust and pollen filter.
3. Replace transmission fluid and transfer fluid (if equipped).
4. Replace spark plugs and timing belt (if equipped), inspect the water pump, and inspect valve clearance.
5. Replace engine coolant.
6. Replace rear differential fluid (if equipped).
7. Replace brake fluid.
Recommended oil change is 6000 km for maximum Honda’s.
Use Ramp to lift the car
so, use these ramps to lift your car for oil change and ask someone to guide you.
Safety: Always place the ramps on a hard, smooth, and level surface. DO NOT use on an uneven surface, sloped, dirt, grass, gravel, sand, or any other loose or unstable surface.
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Drain the oil
Firstly, lie on the creeper and slide under the car with some rags with you, then place the oil drainer pan directly under the oil drain plug to catch the old oil.
Note: some cars have skid plate underneath, I will post some pictures and process to remove skid plate. you require small impact gun to open it.
Then use the appropriate socket to open drain plug after opening the drain plug it takes few minutes to drain all the oil. Next, step is to locate the oil filter mounting and remove the filter with plier, some care has upside filter in order to open that there is a different tools and sockets.
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Before installing the new oil filter, apply a small amount of new oil to the rubber gasket on the top of the filter. Screw the new oil filter onto the engine by hand, turning it clockwise. Do not overtighten; it should be snug but not overly tight.
Once the old oil has fully drained, reinstall the drain plug and tighten it securely with your socket set. Do not forget to change drain plug gasket. I will give some links of original gaskets. Last but not the least torque the drain plug with recommended torque refer your car service manual.
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So, what happen sometime the gasket get stuck into the drain plug so, it require some tools to remove that gaskets. For instance, Channellock and cutters.
Refill brand new oil
- Refer your owner manual for which oil your car use and quantity, mostly Honda takes around 4.2 or 4.3 L and there Honda CRV takes 3.5 L.
- Mostly grade is written on oil cap or inside the hood, then remove the oil cap and place the funnel and start pouring new oil.
- After, pouring the slowly remove the funnel with rag and use brake cleaner to clean the spilled oil then reinstall the cap and place your car on flat surface and start it for few seconds then check bottom side and ensure everything is fine nothing is leaking then turn off the engine.
- check the dipstick and ensure oil level is good if low pour some oil in it.
Recycle
It’s imperative to dispose of spent motor oil properly to preserve the environment and abide by local laws. This tutorial will show you how to properly recycle your spent motor oil so that it doesn’t endanger the general public’s health or the environment. so, contact your nearest mechanic shop they definitely have contact for recycling team.