When changing the oil in your car, the first thing you should do is check your owner’s manual to see what oil the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. Although you can use almost any oil in any car, using the proper oil is highly recommended. Now when you get to the store there are many brands of oil. I’m not sure which one is the best. I personally use Quaker State. That’s what my dad used on all of his cars and that’s what I wanted to use. Now when you shop for your oil filter, there are also plenty of options. I choose to use Fram filters. They are a bit more expensive than some of the others, but have a proven track record of being a quality filter. You will need to know the year, make, model, and engine size of your vehicle to choose the proper filter size. Oil, filter and oil change interval is very important and an affordable insurance policy on your vehicle that lasts a long time. I know because I have over 200,000 miles on a 4 cylinder engine in a family mini van. It still works like a top.

Now, depending on whether you’re going to be driving the car onto ramps or just picking it up and putting it on stands, I always chock the rear wheels as another safety measure. I then put my drain pan under the car with the keys and rags I’ll need and of course the new filter. I start by removing the oil plug making sure I have the drain pan under the drain or else there will be a big mess. While that’s draining I make sure the drain plug is clean and there’s no dirt or anything because if it’s not clean it could cause a leak. Then the filter is removed. Now this can be a bit of a challenge depending on where the car manufacturer puts it. In my minivan it is very easy to get there. I use a small filter wrench to slowly loosen it and then unscrew it by hand and again making sure the drain pan is under the filter because some old oil will leak out of the filter. I clean the area where the gasket contacts the connection to make sure it is clean. I then replaced the drain plug, not tightening it too much, but enough that it doesn’t leak. When you put the new filter on, you’ll want to put a light coat of new oil on the gasket to make sure it seals properly. Now you are almost done under the car. The last thing I do is clean the area around the drain plug and filter so I can check it from time to time for leaks.

When you remove the oil filler cap, you should check for signs of moisture on the cap. You can tell if there is moisture because there will be a white film on the cap and possibly the fill tube. If there is a little, I wouldn’t be too worried about it. Just clean it all up and keep an eye on it. If it gets any worse, you’ll want to take it to a mechanic and have it checked out. Now it’s time to fill the engine with oil. You’ll need to check your owner’s manual again to see how much oil your engine will take. Place a funnel in the fill tube and the recommended amount. Wipe up any spills and replace the lid. Clean all your tools and put them in their place so you can find them the next time you need them. I for the old oil in the freshly used oil container to recycle. When I get some of them, I put them on Craigslist or take them to my local parts store.