We all know how the engine oil is one of the most critical fluids in a car. From lubricating the moving parts, to cooling your beloved’s heart while maintaining its longevity, it gives your engine the care it deserves.
Over time, engine oils become contaminated with impurities. That’s why it’s important to change your car’s oil regularly. Why should you bother, you might wonder? It’s as elementary as asking yourself the following: do you want your engine to last? It might sound obvious but quite the chunk of people disregard an engine oil’s purpose in their daily commute!
In this article, we guide you through the process of changing the engine oil, so that the next time it’s due, you are able to do it all by yourself and save up on some cash in the process!
Here are 7 very easy steps to change your engine oil!!
Step 1: Lift the car on a ramp.
Before you begin, make sure that your engine has cooled down. You can lift the car on a hydraulic ramp or use a jack to raise it off the ground. However, we would highly recommend using the latter for better safety.
Step 2: Open the engine cover. The engine cover is usually present on the underside to help the car in smoothening aerodynamics as well as the first line of protection against road debris.
Step 3: Remove the drain plug.
The drain plug is usually located at the bottom of your engine oil sump. You can remove the teeny-tiny bit by rotating it counter-clockwise. Be wary of the old oil pouring out with full force right as soon as the drain plug is removed, so be sure to have a container ready right below it! Allow the oil to drain out completely, which should take no more than 5 minutes.
Step 4: Changing the oil filter. Twisting it off of your engine, make sure that the gasket is not left behind as it can create an air gap when the new filter is replaced. Fit the new seal gasket on and twist in the new oil filter, snug.
Step 5: Replace the drain plug and tighten it until it’s rigid, but make sure to not over-tighten. Doing so can and will spell doom for your engine!
Step 6: Fill the engine with new oil.
Once you have replaced the oil filter and drain plug, put back your engine guard and lower the car back to the ground. Open the bonnet and remove the engine oil cap, the one with a fuel-pan symbol on it. Using a funnel, fill the engine to the specified volume of oil.
Today we will be using Shell’s new Helix SP HX8 0W-20 (don’t get intimidated by the name, they’re just standards), their new fully synthetic oil that delivers excellent protection and fuel efficiency for your car! This new offering from Shell adheres to SP, the latest API (American Petroleum Institute) engine oil standard for passenger car motor oils, and can thus guarantee your car will be smiling a lot more the next time the firebreather comes back to life.
Step 7: Verify the oil level. After waiting a few minutes for the oil to settle into the pan, use the dipstick, usually located adjacent to the engine oil cap, to verify that the oil is up to a proper level. If it isn’t, just add more oil till it’s at the correct level, it’s as simple!
Changing your engine oil is a straightforward process that can be done at home with a little bit of effort and patience. If you followed the steps accordingly, congrats, you just did your first oil change and saved yourself a lot of money in the process! Just remember to not simply top your oil up instead of replacing it, for that can put a lot more stress on the older oil that is still remaining. So, make sure to replace the oil and you’ll be in the wind!
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