Ensure you wear protective gear and dress appropriately to protect your skin and eyes.
STEP 2
Raise the vehicle
Ask a friend to help you drive up onto your ramps. Slowly roll into a safe position and put the car in park with the parking brake engaged.
STEP 3
Turn off the engine and open the hood
Make sure the engine is off and the car has cooled. Open the hood and find the oil fill cap and screw it off.
STEP 4
Find the drain plug
Now go underneath the vehicle and locate the oil pan and the drain plug. To be sure of the location of the drain plug, refer to your vehicle’s user manual.
STEP 5
Drain the oil
Place a drain pan under the drain plug.
Very slowly, because that oil is going to run out of there fast, unscrew the drain plug using the box end wrench.
You’ll want to pull in a way that won’t obstruct the flow of the oil.
Give it a few minutes until all the oil has drained out.
STEP 6
Reinstall oil drain plug, and replace gasket if necessary
Once the oil has drained out, reinstall the oil drain plug, and replace the gasket if necessary.
STEP 7
Remove the oil filter
Now move the drain pan so that it’s under the oil filter.
Remove the oil filter with your oil filter wrench. Ensure the oil filter gasket comes off with the filter. If it doesn’t, remove it.
STEP 8
Prep the gasket
Coat the gasket with new oil to ensure a better seal.
STEP 9
Install the new oil filter
Install the new oil filter, and tighten it up according to your vehicle’s specifications.
Be careful not to over-tighten it, as it might be difficult to take off next time. Usually hand-tightening is enough!
Okay, stand up, dust off and head back to the engine bay. You’re ready to fill the crankcase with new oil.
STEP 10
Refill the oil
Remember to always use the type, grade and amount of oil recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
STEP 11
Start the car and lower the vehicle
Screw the oil fill cap back on, get back in the car and start it up.
While the car is running, take a quick look under the car to make sure there is no oil leaking from the filter or the drain plug.
If everything looks good, carefully back down the ramp.
STEP 12
Check the oil level
Turn off the car and head back under the hood.
Grab the oil dipstick, pull it out and wipe it clean.
Put the oil dipstick back in, and pull it out to see if the height of the film reaches the correct levels.
If it’s within acceptable limits, put back the dipstick. Don’t be afraid to add more oil as required.
