You Will Need
* Your car's owner's manual
* Car jack and jack stands
* A catch pan
* A disposable plastic container with a lid
* An oil filter wrench
* A towel
* An open-ended wrench
* A new oil filter
* Motor oil
* A funnel
* And a clean rag or a paper towel
Changing your own oil can be dangerous. If the car is jacked up incorrectly, you can hurt yourself and/or damage the car.
Allow car to cool : Allow the car to cool down completely. To be safe, it’s best to let it sit overnight.
Check owner's manual : Check your owner’s manual to make sure you have the kind and amount of oil your car needs.Make sure the oil you buy is API, or American Petroleum Institute, certified.
Park on level surface : Park the car on a level surface and apply the emergency brake to prevent the car from rolling away. Lack up car : Jack up the car underneath the front wheels at the jack point. If you’re not sure where that is, check your owner’s manual.
Slide jack stand under : When the car is high enough, slide the jack stand under so the weight is supported by it and not the jack.
Slide catch pan : Slide the catch pan underneath your car, right under the engine.
Open drain plug : With the open-ended wrench, open the drain plug underneath the engine by turning it counterclockwise.
Remove plug : Remove the plug with a towel—it will be hot if you didn’t allow your car to cool down long enough—and place it down.
Allow oil to drain : Allow all of the oil to drain out of the car. Screw on drain plug : Screw the drain plug back on.
Pour used oil into container : Pour the used oil from the catch pan into a disposable container with a lid.
Locate oil filter : Open the hood and locate the oil filter, which is usually in the lower half of the engine block.
Turn oil filter : With the oil filter wrench, turn the oil filter counterclockwise.
Remove oil filter : Slowly and carefully remove the oil filter from the car—it contains oil.
Lubricate rubber gasket : Take the new oil filter and notice the little rubber gasket around it. Lubricate that part with a tiny amount of your new oil.
Fill filter w/ fresh oil : Fill the new oil filter with the fresh oil.
Install oil filter by hand : Install the newly filled oil filter by hand, turning it clockwise.
Make sure it’s in securely, but if the filter is screwed in too tightly, it can become damaged.
Jack car higher to remove stand : Jack the car just slightly higher to remove the jack stand, and then lower the car back to the ground and remove the jack.
Take off oil cap : Find the oil cap in the engine and take it off. Most oil caps will be marked with an icon that looks like a pouring Aladdin’s lamp.
Insert funnel & pour oil : Insert the funnel into the engine and pour the proper amount of oil into the funnel.Most cars require 4 to 6 quarts of oil.
Replace cap & start car : Replace the cap on the engine. Start the car and let the engine run for about a minute before turning the car off again.
Find oil dipstick : Find the oil dipstick and pull it out.In most newer cars, the handle off the dipstick is shaped as a cross bar and is painted yellow.
Wipe oil off stick : Wipe off the thin line of oil that remains on the stick using the rag or paper towel. Locate marks : Look at the stick and locate the marks “Add” and “Full.”
Slide dipstick back into slot : Slide the dipstick back into its slot and make sure it’s pushed down all the way. Then pull it out again.
Check oil level : Notice where the line of oil falls on the stick—it should be somewhere between Add and Full. If you need to add more oil, reinsert the funnel into the engine and add a little more. If not, return the dipstick to its proper place.
Close hood & drive : Close your hood and take it for a spin. First stop: an automotive store, to drop off your used oil container and old filter for proper disposal.
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