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Repair Topics / Engine Oil and Filter Change-1 / Engine Oil and Filter Change-2
How to Change Oil and Filter
(always wear protective safety goggles and gloves before work begins)
A vehicles oil and oil filter are the life's blood of vehicles engine
components. Normal service is mandatory for long engine life. Now more than ever
today's engines have more power. Even more of a reason to change your oil at
regular intervals 3,000 miles or 3 months whichever comes first. If your car
uses synthetic motor oil you can extend mileage between changes up to 2,000
miles. Always use manufacturers specific weight motor oil, this information is in
your owner's manual. Also use OEM or better oil filter to protect the long life
of your vehicles engine.
1. Locate and Remove Oil Filter
To change your motor oil and filter, first locate the oil filter
it is usually located around the oil pan of the engine. Remove the oil filter by
turning it counter clockwise with a large locking wrench or an oil filter removal
wrench. (Wear protective gloves and eyewear when replacing.)
2. Drain Oil Filter and Inspect Sealing Gasket
After removing the oil filter, let it drain into the oil drain container.
Then clean oil filter seal surface on the mounting flange on block, make sure
the old oil filter's sealing rubber gasket is off mounting surface for the
oil filter seat. On the new oil filter install small amount of motor oil onto
the rubber gasket of the new oil filter. Then reinstall new oil filter by
turning it clockwise until tight. (note: only tighten oil filter by "hand")
(gloves suggested)
3. Removing the Oil Pan Drain Plug
Next, remove the oil pan drain plug using a wrench, turn the
drain plug counter clockwise. Be ready to grab the oil drain plug as it becomes
dislodged. (gloves suggested) note: Always use the boxed or completed end of the
wrench to avoid rounding of the drain plug hex. A socket wrench is also
acceptable.
4. Drain Engine Oil
Once the drain plug is dislodged inspect the sealing washer on
the plug, if worn, broken or the integrity of the seal cannot be maintained
replace the plug washer with new. Let oil drain completely, reinstall oil drain
pug and wipe clean with shop or paper towel. note: drain plug just needs to be
"snug" - not to tight your just holding oil in.
5. Adding Engine Oil
After the oil has been drained out of the engine and new filter
installed add motor oil to the engine oil fill port. This is usually located in
the valve cover of the engine and is marked "add engine oil" on the cap. If the
oil fill is in a difficult position you can use a funnel to help guide the oil.
(the oil cap is upside down in this picture to prevent oil drippings) Most car
and light trucks will take four to 5 quarts to fill to capacity. First add four
quarts and reinstall the oil fill cap. Then start the engine and let run for 1
minuet then shut off the engine and let stand for 2 minutes to assure all oil
inside the engine has descended into the oil pan for proper measurement.
6. Checking Engine Oil Level
After you have run your engine and let stand for two minutes
remove the oil dip stick level indicator to inspect oil level (the new oil this
photo has been darkened for visual effect, clean oil is difficult to see in
photos) make sure the oil level is between specified lines on the indicator, add
as needed to obtain proper oil level.
If you don't know when the last oil change you had on your vehicle and would
like to determine were you stand remove the oil level inductor and check the
clarity of the oil. If it is light color like tea you are ok, if it is dark like
cola it is time for service. We recommend top quality oil filters and motor oils
for you car or truck. In the course of driving 3,000 miles, an inferior style
oil filter will allow carbon particles to stay in your engine, causing
premature wear and possible catastrophic engine failure.
Oil filters will last up to 3,000 miles or more depending on the
type of driving you do. If you live in a dusty area like the desert or if there
is extreme moister you can expect to change your oil and oil filter more often.
Make sure to inspect your oil level at regular intervals to insure the safety of
your vehicles internal engine parts system.
Automotive Oil Filters
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Oil Filters remove carbon and other deposits that may have
contaminated the oil. Replacing your oil filter along with new oil at
recommended intervals will prolong your engines life and improve performance. |
Common problems:
1. low oil level can cause engine failure.
2. not changing oil and filter can cause engine failure.
3. using inferior oils and filters can cause engine failure.
Engine Motor Oil Change
Questions and Answers
This
category contains featured questions as
examples. They relate to most vehicles.
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Question:
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel mileage: 40,000. I can't
seem to get the oil filter to break loose. Is there
something I don't know about? The filter is on the
passenger side of the engine. I have a new filter that
seems to have R.H. threads. I bent the wrench on my
second attempt. This is no cheep wrench. HELP!
Answer: We have found that the
oil filters on some new cars are extremely tight and
very difficult to remove.
Question:
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera mileage: 98,000.
Where is the oil filter located? I'm changing the oil
and I can't find it.
Answer:
Your oil filter is behind the large drain plug in the
oil pan.
Question:
1999 Pontiac Grand prix mileage: 74,000. If the
oil filter falls off and I lose all my oil while
driving, does the oil pump burn automatically or is
there anything to save it? Is there anything
connected to the gas pump on my car that would turn my
engine off to save my oil pump? How much does is
cost to change the oil pump on my car and how long?
Answer: If the oil filter falls off, the
entire engine may be ruined. Nothing automatically
shuts off the engine.
Question: 2002 Volvo V40 Turbo
mileage: 52,000. The oil filter lid was not tightened
during a tune-up and I drove for one week with an oil
leak. The oil light flickered on 4 times (when I was
stopped or turning corners) on a 20 mile trip-Barely
long enough for me to be sure it was the oil light.
Well, I got it fixed- (I also had to add 2 1/2 quarts
oil when I got home-) Do you think any internal engine
damage was done from driving with oil too low? It sounds
fine-I just don't know if I should have stopped
immediately, but I could barely tell it was engine
light, it was so quick. When I got home the dipstick had
no oil on it-but I guess there was probably some oil in
the engine.
Answer: Driving a car with low
oil pressure in not good. Was any damage done to the
engine? Hard to tell without an engine tear down. You
mentioned the engine sounds fine. That is a good sign.
At this point what do you have to loose by just driving
the car and waiting for a knock to develop. You may luck
out and the engine may be okay..
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