When and How to Change the Oil in Your Car

When and How to Change the Oil in Your Car

Maintaining a car, especially if you’re a first-timer, can mean a lot of things other than just keeping the car looking spotlessly clean from the outside. One such extremely important task at hand is changing the motor oil in your car regularly. The engine oil level needs to be checked at least once a month in order to ensure that everything is functioning just as it should.

Why is Engine Oil Important?

Engine or motor oil is crucial when it comes to maintaining the internal systems of your car. This oil not just acts as a lubricant that prevents parts from grinding against each other, but it also helps in keeping the engine cool since overheating can be threatening. If the oil in your car is leaking or if the engine is noisy and the ride is bumpy, these can all be signals of a shortage of oil.

That’s why it’s extremely important to check and maintain the engine oil aspect of your car if you really want to keep it healthy and efficient.

When Does the Oil Need to Be Changed?

There is no such rule as to when you might have to change the oil in your car. It doesn’t matter if your car is old or new, changing the oil and keeping a tab on the oil level is always important as a car user.

Make sure you check the oil levels in your car at least once a month to avoid any anomaly in the system. Follow the instruction manual that comes with your car since it might contain vital information that will guide you on how frequently the oil for your car model might have to be changed.

Another universally accepted way to go on about the process is to change the oil every 3,000 miles travelled or with every three months of vehicle use.

Here’s How You Can Change the Motor Oil by Yourself

Since changing your oil is a comparatively regular task that needs to be administered on your car, it is more economical to get it done at home by yourself. All you need is a new oil filter, replacement oil, a wrench, car jack stands and wheel locks.

1. The first thing you need to do is restrict any possible movement of your car with the help of wheel locks or tire restraints.

2. Use the car manual to help you determine how far you need to jack the car up and place a jack stand at that point.

3. Before unscrewing the oil cap in the engine, it’s important to place a drain pan underneath the oil plug on the underside of the car. Once you open up the oil cap and unscrew the oil plug with a wrench, let the old oil drain out in the pan for a couple of minutes.

4. Once this is done, take off the old oil filter and replace it with a brand-new one. Seal the underside by tightly placing the oil plug back and fill the motor oil tank with the new oil and put the cap on.

This is the most effective way to keep your car functioning well and running smooth for longer periods of time.