| Changing the Oil |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-202 |
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Oil is the lifeblood of your engine, so you need to be concerned with its quality and longevity, says Ask DIY Car Care Expert Trisha Hessinger. Below, she answers five of the most commonly asked questions about oil changes: Q: Where is the oil drain plug?
A: Before you get to that point, from above the engine, open the oil filler cap to relieve the pressure so the oil will drain completely. Then raise the vehicle with ramps or jacks so you can work under it and use jack stands to support it (figure A). Now for the drain plug. At the base of your engine, you'll find an oil tank. The drain plug will either be at the bottom or to the side (figure B). First place a catch basin below the drain plug and then loosen it with the appropriate-size socket wrench ( figure C). Once all the oil is drained out, before you reinstall the drain plug, clean it up a little bit. Once the plug is back in place, add fresh oil from the top of the engine, and then replace the filler cap. Q: How often should I change my oil?
A: There's a lot of discussion on this. I recommend every 3,000 miles. Some people might think, "Hey, that's pretty often." But whether you use synthetic oil or regular oil, the reason you want to change it is not just to do away with the dirt that's suspended in the oil, but also metal particles that are suspended in the oil just from normal wear and tear on the engine. You want to get rid of those often, because the particles can cause premature wear in the engine if they continue to circulate. Q: I'm worried about safety under the car. Any advice?
A: For one thing, always wear safety glasses. When you jack the vehicle up, always use jack stands. Ramps are another way to lift the car so you can get under it. No matter which method you use, always chock the rear wheels to stabilize the vehicle. Q: What do I need to do to change the oil filter?
A: No oil change is a thorough job unless you also change the filter. That's because the oil filter is actually holding quite a bit of dirty oil. You may have to hunt around for the filter. Because they can be a little difficult to get to, there are a variety of special oil filter wrenches available. You can use a band-type oil wrench (figure D) by fitting it to the end of the filter and breaking the filter loose (with a catch pan beneath, of course). Then remove the wrench and loosen the rest by hand. When you bring the filter down, make sure its little rubber seal is still attached. If not, reach back up and pull the seal off the engine, or it will gum up the works. Take a moment to clean up the goop. Then lubricate the seal on the new filter with a little fresh oil before installing it (figure E). Hand-tighten the filter until it's snug, and then go about three-quarters of a turn more. Q: What do I do with the old oil?
A: Here's where we all have to be responsible and recycle. Take the old oil to the gas station or an auto parts store. If they do oil changes, they'll take your oil for recycling. Book: Chilton Easy Care Book
by Chilton Books
ISBN: 0801988528
Nichols Publishing
P.O. Box 6036
E. Brunswick, NJ 08816
Phone: 732-297-2862
Fax: 732-940-0549
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