Changing Your Car Oil

Changing your own car oil and oil filter is an easy DIY project that will save you money as well as keep you in tune with your vehicle. Typically quick oil change special service centers charge approximately $19.00 to $39.00 depending upon the vehicle. This price may or may not include an oil filter. Oil cost approximately $2.25 to $3.00 a quart, depending upon where you buy it. The price for a Frame oil filter is approximately $3.00.

Most cars and light trucks require less than five quarts of oil. Adding that up you can change your oil for about $15.00, based on the average cost of oil and filter. That’s half price! Some experts suggest that you change your oil and filter every 3,000 miles which works out to be four times a year based on 12,000 miles of annual driving. Total cost by doing it yourself is $60.00 a year. If someone else changes your oil for you it will cost about $120.00 a year.

Your vehicle oil gets dirtier the longer it is used. Eventually the accumulated carbon and sludge prevents the oil from doing its job properly, causing it to gum up the moving parts of your engine. Most car manufacturers recommend changing your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. The oil change monitor in most new vehicles is based upon 5,000 miles of driving as well as local driving conditions.

Before synthetic oil became perfected we changed oil every 3,000 miles. In addition automotive engines today are a closed system which prevents unfiltered air (dust and other pollutants) from reaching the engine for combustion and internal cooling. This helps keep engine oil relatively clean, allowing you to get much mileage before an oil change is necessary. If you are changing your oil every 3,000 miles you’re wasting your money. I recommend that your consider increasing your mileage to at least 5,000 miles between oil changes.

The waste oil that is removed from your vehicle can be taken to your local recycling center or to a local service station for recycling. They will be happy to receive it as it is sold for recycling. Do not dump it down a drain or burn it in the back yard if you live in the country. Used oil is recycled into other petroleum products which save on the overall consumption of oil. Most automobile owner manuals provides instruction for oil servicing. They should be consulted before changing your oil. A few oil changing tips are provided below.

Gather the necessary tools.
Run the engine a few minutes to warm the oil to facilitate draining.
Park your vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake.
If your vehicle is too low to the ground to reach the oil drain plug use maintenance ramps. Do not crawl under a vehicle if it is not on a maintenance ramp or jack stands.
Drain the oil into a drain container and remove the filter.
Install the oil drain plug and a new filter.
Pour 4 to 5 quarts of oil into the engine, check service manual for amount required.
Run engine a few minutes and check for leaks around the filter and drain plug.
Make a record of the oil change and set the vehicles oil change auto reminder if it has one.

Changing your own car oil is an easy DIY task that will save you money and give you the satisfaction of maintaining your vehicle yourself.

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