One way to extend the life of your engine is to use the right oil and change it correctly. If you typically take yours to a mechanic for this service, this might not matter as much. However, if you change your own oil, you might be doing it wrong.
How do you change your oil the right way?
- Make sure you have the right oil and the right amount
- Use a long extension bar to get the right amount of leverage
- Cool the engine or change the oil on an engine that has not been run for some time
- Add a new gasket when closing the system
- When you put in a new oil filter, make sure the old gasket comes off as well
- Pour slowly and check for leaks
There are a few steps that you can follow to make sure you are making the most of your oil changes, and Scotty Kilmer has tons of great videos on the topic.
Why Change the Oil in Your Vehicle?
The engine needs oil to properly move and to stay lubricated. When the system is not lubricated properly it can lock up, the gears can grind, and the moving parts that make up the engine are going to be less free to move about as needed. It is important to make sure that you are changing the oil at the right intervals to make sure that the engine is going to keep functioning properly.
Make Sure You Have the Right Oil and the Right Amount
Each vehicle is designed with a specific oil type in mind. Your car is designed to work best with a specific type and amount of oil. Your manufacturer will print the type of oil on the oil cap so that you can refer to it as needed when you are replacing it.
Most cars take 5W-30 or other common oil types. You can look up the amount of oil that your engine needs either online or in the owner’s manual for your vehicle. You should make sure that you have both the right type and the right amount of oil prior to starting your oil change to make sure you have all you need to complete the oil change.
Use a Long Bar Extension to Remove the Oil Plug
The oil plug can be hard to open up, but with a long bar extension, you can have the right amount of leverage to be able to completely remove the oil plug so that you can then drain the old oil. When removing the oil plug, you should make sure you have a pan under the car that is large enough to catch all the old oil.
Change Oil in a Cool Engine
You want to make sure that the engine in which you are changing the oil is cooled off. You are going to be working in close quarters and cramped spaces. When an engine is running for a long time, the oil does get hot and the other parts of the engine get hot. Working on a hot engine is only going to lead to getting burned and possibly seriously injured.
Replace the Oil Filter and Remove the Old Gasket
When you are changing the old oil filter it is important to make sure that the old gasket from the dirty filter is not still stuck to the engine. When the old gasket is left on, it leads to double-gasketing which can lead to oil leaks. Make sure that the old gasket is still on the dirty filter and that the new filter is properly lubricated so that the new filter will set itself and seal properly when you install it.
Pour Slowly and Check for Leaks
When you are putting new oil in, take time to pour slowly. If you pour too quickly it can lead to spillage, oil getting all over the engine, and oil that is going to get burned off when the car is started — which can be a real mess. Pouring slowly helps to prevent the mess and helps to make sure that the engine oil is in the proper place.
After you have poured the oil, you also need to make sure that the oil cap is on firmly and that there are no leaks. You should check under the car to make sure that there is no leakage and that everything has been sealed properly.
