How to SAVE $400 and Change the Oil in your Car, by ChrisFix on YouTube. 2 min 37 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 37 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Run the engine for a few minutes to warm the oil, then switch it off. Warm oil drains faster and carries more dirt out with it, but give it a few minutes so it cannot burn you.
Park on flat ground, set the parking brake and chock the rear wheels. Lift the front on ramps or a jack and lower it onto jack stands before you go underneath.
Slide the drain pan under the sump and loosen the drain plug with the right socket. Keep light pressure on the plug as the last threads come free so the oil does not shoot sideways.
Let the oil drain fully while you move the pan under the oil filter. Loosen the filter with a filter wrench and spin it off by hand.
Wipe the filter mounting face clean. Rub a little new oil around the rubber gasket of the new filter, screw it on by hand until it touches, then turn it about three quarters more.
Refit the drain plug with a fresh washer and tighten it firmly with your hand on the wrench. Overtightening can strip the thread or crush the washer.
Pour in the amount your manual lists using a funnel, adding most of it first. Pull the dipstick, wipe it, push it back in and check the level before adding the rest.
Start the engine for about a minute and watch the plug and filter for drips. Switch off, wait a few minutes and check the level again, topping up if needed.
Reset the oil life monitor if your car has one, and pour the used oil back into the new bottles to take to a recycling centre.
Tips and common mistakes
Buy the exact oil grade and capacity from your owner's manual, since the wrong grade can affect how the engine runs.
A stuck filter usually gives way to a proper filter wrench rather than gripping it with pliers.
Never get under a car held up by the jack alone, always use stands or ramps.
Used oil is hazardous, so keep it in a sealed container and never pour it down a drain.
Questions
How often should I change the oil?
Many cars are fine at the interval in the owner's manual, often around 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Short trips and dusty driving mean you should change it sooner.
How much oil does my car take?
The exact figure is in your owner's manual and is usually between 4 and 6 litres. Add most of it, then top up slowly while checking the dipstick.
Do I need a new drain plug washer every time?
On most cars the crush washer should be replaced at each oil change so the plug seals properly. They cost very little and often come with the filter.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
