Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

An Essential Guide for How To Change Your Oil

Mark Stock
By
Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid
Porsche Cayenne

As the economy hobbles back to life, it’s still quite difficult to get back on track and do a lot of the things we once did habitually. Some things must be done, like grocery shopping, and we’re adjusting to the new ways. But what of less essential but still important tasks? Changing the oil in your car certainly falls in that category.

Changing the oil in your car is far from do-or-die but it is a useful and relatively easy way to keep your automobile working at max efficiency. Fortunately, you can do it on your own, in a short amount of time with little in the way of mechanical gizmos. Moreover, the method by which it’s done is pretty much the same across the board, whether your ride is a Honda Civic or a Porsche Cayenne.

Related Videos

What Do You Need to Change The Oil in Your Car?

For starters, you’ll need a bit of gear in the form of rubber gloves, a funnel, a pan (or five-gallon bucket), and an oil filter wrench. You’ll also need an oil filter from your area auto body shop or online. Of course, you’ll also need some oil and there are more than several options out there. Your owner’s manual or the web can help you in this regard. Lastly, you may need a few hand tools, which you or your neighbor almost certainly already have, to remove the protective covering over the oil tank and engine.

How to Change The Oil In Your Car

Man prepaparing to change the oil of his vehicle.

If your car has been idle for a while, run the engine for a few minutes. That will soften the oil some and allow it to exit your engine more easily, when the time comes. To get started, the car needs to be raised. Since you’re likely not an at-home mechanic with a sizable lift in your garage, you’ll have to be more crafty. Jacking the car up works just fine, so long as you’re careful. Obviously, do this on a flat surface. Make sure the car is high enough so that you can work beneath safely and keep in mind that you’ll be working next to your vessel which will be collecting the old oil.

Steps to Change the Oil in Your Car

  1. Remove any protective cover and position your bucket or pan beneath the drain plug, and loosen with a wrench until the oil starts running. Be prepared for a lot of liquid, as most cars spit out about a gallon or so during a typical oil change. And hold on to that drain plug or put it in a safe place, you’ll need it later.
  2. Next, locate the oil filter (cylindrical shaped and often labeled) and remove it with your special wrench (or some grippy equivalent). Some more oil will come out so make sure your receptacle is ready to catch. Keep track of the rubber gasket as you swap in the new filter. This is a good chance to wipe things down so you can detect any leaks when you fill it back up.
  3. Now, tighten the drain plug back up. Tight is fine, but don’t overdo it as you can cause some damage. With most cars, you can simply do so by hand. Apply a bit of oil around the filter gasket to help with the seal and put the new filter in place. Again, just tight is fine. Don’t overdo it. Put the protective cover back in place and lower your car back to the ground.
  4. Pop the hood, find the cap with the oil symbol on it, open it up, and fill it with the new stuff. Use a funnel, as it’s pretty nasty stuff and you’re not as good of a pourer as you think you are. As for how much, again, refer to your manual or a quick make and model Google search. Allow the new liquid to adjust to its new home for a few minutes and ready your dipstick. Check to make sure the level is appropriate and you’re just about done. To be safe, scan beneath the car for leaks.
Close-up of an adult man changing the oil of his vehicle.

If you’re more of a visual person, Car and Driver has a nice outline with GIFs that are easy to follow. Keep in mind the major mistakes people make when changing their oil at home, like:

  • Changing too often or too infrequently (most cars need a change in intervals of about every 8,000 miles)
  • Over-tightening the drain plug, lousing up the threading, and making it hard to release next time
  • Using the wrong weight of motor oil (again, consult the all-knowing owner’s manual)
  • Not documenting the change (making note of the mileage), leading to the first point on this list.

An oil change often coincides with a lot of other basic maintenance, like rotating tires and replacing wiper blades, so keep that in mind as you look to be more vehicular-ly self-sufficient. You don’t have to do it all, that’s why there are good mechanics out there. But you can change your oil on your own with relative ease.

And recycle the old oil! It’s gross stuff, for certain, but it’s all the grosser in a landfill or slathered upon some ocean beach. Many municipalities recycle the stuff in some form or another. You can also inquire with your local mechanic or auto body shop. Either way, old oil can be re-refined anew and help power marine craft, diesel engines, industrial equipment, and much more.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia brings haute fashion to cars
Rolls claims that the one-off is the most complex Phantom ever made
Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia side profile in a studio with purple swirling lines in the back.

Amid the electric vehicle revolution and the introduction of more semi-autonomous technology, automakers are eager to change their bios from traditional automakers to tech companies. Rolls-Royce, well, Rolls-Royce is different. While the iconic British marque has introduced its first EV with the Spectre, Rolls-Royce really does expand its reach beyond the world of cars as a luxury marque. Case in point, the latest vehicle from Rolls-Royce is the Phantom Syntopia. It was made in collaboration with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen and blends the worlds of high fashion and cars.
You may not think that fashion and cars belong together, but the Syntopia certainly makes a case for more collaboration across the two industries. The Syntopia is very purple and is inspired by the concept of “weaving water.” The automaker, which has created some stunning vehicles over its extensive history, calls the Syntopia a “bespoke masterpiece.” Heavy words from a brand that’s known for going above and beyond with some of the most bespoke vehicles on sale. But we believe the company certainly went to great lengths to make the Syntopia, seeing as how it took Rolls-Royce four years to perfect.

Previous

Read more
BMW’s latest all-electric concept is a beach-ready scooter with a surfboard
The battery-powered scooter is the resulting lovechild from BMW Motorrad and Vagabund Moto
BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept parked in the middle of a studio with a man looking at the scooter.

Based on the photos that BMW Motorrad, BMW's motorcycle arm, released of the BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept, one would assume that it’s an art piece that’s meant to sit front and center in a Los Angeles apartment. But that’s not the case. The CE 04 is the latest concept from the two companies and is an all-electric scooter with an eye on urban mobility, but somehow, it has a rack to carry a matching surfboard. Yeah, we’re a little confused by the concept, but in a good way.

If you’re familiar with the Austrian-based Vagabund, you’re probably not surprised by the CE 04 Concept. Vagabund Moto is a design studio that’s created some pretty radical car and motorcycle concepts, many of which utilize BMW’s bikes as the base. The team at Vagabund have a history of making some incredible concepts, so the CE 04 Concept fits right in with their theme of urban machines with an eye-catching design. 

Read more
Mercedes just integrated TikTok into its in-car entertainment system (really)
The third-party app will displayed on the 2024 E-Class’ enormous and high-tech Superscreen
2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Superscreen close up on TikTok application.

Mercedes-Benz is consistently at the forefront of innovation. Depending on who you ask, Mercedes-Benz was the first to introduce the modern automobile, to place brakes on all four wheels of a car, and come out with crumple zones for safety. Not sexy, but definitely innovative stuff. Mercedes just gave the world the first glimpse at the 2024 E-Class, and the midsize sedan is an absolute powerhouse on the tech front. The automaker's best seller arrives with a new Superscreen system and native third-party access to popular entertainment apps like Angry Birds, Zoom, Vilvadi web browser, Webex by Cisco, and TikTok.

While GOP leaders in red states are trying to ban TikTok in the United States, claiming that the app provides the Chinese government with sensitive information, Mercedes-Benz has pulled a hold-my-non-alcoholic-beer moment by bringing the app to the new E-Class with its new MB.OS operating system. Obviously, Mercedes doesn’t want you to access TikTok while driving, because recording how you’re going to steal a Hyundai or Kia, which is something you probably learned on TikTok, from behind the wheel of your Mercedes E-Class just isn’t safe. Owners will be able to access TikTok, and other apps, through the infotainment system when the car is parked. Since the E-Class’ dashboard has two screens, your passenger can join in on all the fun that TikTok offers.

Read more