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The engine oil is considered one of the most important pieces of maintenance you can do for your car. The oil works as a lubricant to keep the internal components of your engine running smoothly. The longer you wait on replacing the engine oil, the more it loses its lubricant component, which can cause some of the internal parts of your engine to wear out. Your engine features metal components moving at a very fast pace, failing to have the right lubrication can permanently damage the moving parts inside your engine, which would require you to do an engine rebuild to replace these parts. Your vehicle can give you a few signs, which can indicate low engine oil. The first obvious sign is the engine oil warning light; when you see this you should stop the vehicle immediately and check your engine’s dipstick. Another sign comes in the way of a knocking sound, which indicates the oil is significantly low in your vehicle. When your rods move as quickly as they do without having proper lubrication, they create the banging noise you hear, if you drive with that noise, your rods can easily get loose, which would require you to take the engine apart to fix them. The recommended maintenance interval for an oil change is approximately every 5,000 miles; however, if you take your vehicle on the track, then you are more likely to burn the oil faster. Track vehicles, whether you’re drag or circle racing, should have their oil replaced every 3,000 miles. Always get in the habit of checking your engine’s oil dipstick after a rough day on the track.
Read on to learn how to replace the engine oil in your car.
Tools Required:
• Drain pan
• Socket set
• Hex head (if applicable)
• Oil filter wrench
• Jack
• Jack stands
• Funnel
• Engine oil (Check owners manual for proper amount)
You don’t technically need to raise your vehicle; however, unless you’re replacing the oil on a truck or an SUV, it might be hard to fit under your car.
Use the proper jack points on your car to raise it with the jack, then secure it with at least two jack stands.
Never work under the vehicle without securing it with jack stands.
Most cars have their jack points along the frame rails, or on the front of the frame. Place the jack stands behind the front wheels since you’re jacking up the front.
Locate the drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan, under the engine. Depending on your car, the drain plug could need a socket to be removed, and if you own a newer vehicle, you may need a hex head to remove it.
Place your drain pan under the drain plug, and then slowly remove the drain plug, expecting oil to come out. Let the oil drain out completely, and then tighten the drain plug back in place.
The oil filter’s location can vary from one vehicle to another. However, they can all be found in the general area that is under the front of your car. Look for the oil filter around the engine from the bottom, and then use your oil filter wrench to turn it counter-clockwise. Remove the oil filter, and then rub some oil on the new oil filter’s rubber gasket, this will prevent it from drying out and causing a leak. Install the new oil filter the same way, and then turn it clockwise to tighten it in place.
Some vehicles could get tricky, like the newer Camaros, and will have the engine oil filter on top of the engine, located right next the engine oil’s filler hole.
Check your owner manual to learn the proper amount of oil your car needs.
An average Mustang would takes six to seven quarts of oil depending on the engine size.
A V6 Chevy Nova would require four quarts of oil, while the V8 would need five quarts.
In summary, you would need anywhere from four to seven quarts depending on your car, but the best thing to do is to check your owner manual for your specific model and year.
You can fill your engine oil through the filler hole on top of the engine, or you can use your funnel to fill it through your engine oil dipstick.
Check your dipstick a few times after to check the proper oil level. Top off if you need to, but don’t over fill it.
Pro Tip
You should never dump the old oil down your drain; this is both harmful and illegal. Most auto stores will dispose the oil for you without charging you any money at all. So just take your drain pan, which should have a cover on it, and ask your local auto store if they can dispose it on your behalf.
