Oil Change DIY by civicexracer

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Oil Change DIY by civicexracer

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Honda Civic >> General Automotive >> DIY - Do It Yourself >> Drivetrain DIYs >> Oil Change DIY by civicexracer

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Oil Change DIY by civicexracer - 12/27/2005 1:34:46 PM

Patrick

Posts: 4306
Joined: 10/9/2004
Status: offline

Changing the oil and filter in your car is very simple, dosnt take up too much time, and will save you probably hundreds of dollars in just 1 year of changes.

Materials: Wrench, filter wrench, drain pan, old plastic jug, funnel, paper towels, and latex gloves.

1) Go to your local Wal-mart, auto store...etc and buy your oil and filter. most stores will tell you which kind of oil and filter to use. All this together will probably cost you no more than $15-20.

2) Park you car on a level area. Open your hood, if your engine is still hot, let it sit for a while so it is cool to the touch.

3) Jack your car up and set it on jack stands for safety reasons.

4) Place the drain pan under the oil pan/drain plug.

5) Put the latex gloves on so you dont get oil and grime all over your skin.

6) Now, take the wrench and unscrew the drain plug which is at the lowest point under your engine. Unscrew the plug slowly then pull it completely out and allow the oil to fall into the drain pan. Allow the oil to completely drain out, it will take a while.

7) Once all of the oil has drained, screw the drain plug back in tightly, but be careful not to over tighten it, as it can damage the oil pan. NEVER use a power wrench of any kind to put in an oil plug. Reposition the drain pan under the oil filter, remove the oil filter using the oil filter wrench or by hand. Remove it slowly and be careful, the filter can hold up to a quart of dirty oil.

8) Once all of the oil has dripped out, it is time to install the new oil filter. Follow the directions on the oil filter label and make sure that when you replace it that it is nice and tight, but always tighten your oil filter by hand. Overtightening by using a tool can damage the filter and the filter fitting on the engine.

9) After the oil filter and drain plug are both in securly and properly, open your oil filler cap located on the valve cover, place the funnel into the oil filler, and begin to pour the new oil in.

10) Pour most of the new oil in, then run the engine for about a minute to pump air out and oil into the new filter. Turn the car off, check the dipstick and then pour the rest of the new oil in to the proper level.

and you're all done!

As for the used oil that you have just removed, use a funnel and transfer it from the drain pan into a jug. Most shops that changed oil will accept used oil, and they re-refine it for reuse. Many places do their space heating with furnaces that burn used oil.

It is a good idea to check the oil every 1,000 miles. To check it, remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it, and remove it again. The dipstick will show you how much oil you have. The oil line should be between the "ADD" and "FULL" marks. Add oil if needed. You should do this when the engine is off but warm.

< Message edited by mxs -- 12/30/2005 5:50:07 PM >

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