It is that easy to change the oil in your combustion car.
He oil change It is a basic maintenance of every vehicle with a combustion engine. It is a recurring task that we should not let go of, otherwise, we will reduce the useful life of our engine. The oil functions mainly as engine moving parts lubricantalthough it also serves as refrigerant. Hence, driving with oil in poor condition can cause practically irreversible damage to our vehicle.
When we take our car to the shop for an oil change, we pay extra for labor. If you don’t know much about mechanics or don’t want to get lost touching things on your hood, leaving the car in the hands of a professional is the most normal thing in the world. However, doing this task is not particularly complicated, so you can save some money if you do it yourself.
What kind of oil should I use?
The specifications of the oil that your engine needs are detailed in the vehicle manual
Before doing anything, you must identify the type of oil What should you put on your car? You can search the internet, but everything you need to know is in the vehicle manual.
There are an infinite number of oils on the market, and they are all classified according to their goo. The oil that must be added to an engine depends on the characteristics of the engine itself and the climate in which it is going to move. In Spain, it is customary to use synthetic oils. This is because we have a very varied climate throughout the year, so we cannot gamble with cheap mineral oils, which do not maintain their properties with changes in temperature.
What do the oil numbers mean?
The values that are printed on the oil refer to the viscosity. Each oil has a minimum use temperature and a viscosity in use and at 100 degrees.
Do I have to change the oil if my car is going to change weather?
If your vehicle is going to experience a radical change in temperatures, it may be interesting to change the oil to another more suitable one. In any case, it is better to consult a professional so that they can recommend the right oil for your case and the way to make the change without putting the mechanics at risk.
Do hybrid and electric cars use oil?
Hybrid cars require oil changes exactly the same as vehicles that only have thermal engines. On the other hand, electric cars do not use oil to run. However, it is advisable to know all the tricks to take care of the battery of an electric car.
When should I change the oil?
In addition to oil, it is advisable to replace filters and other consumable elements
Each engine is different, so there is no specific number of miles or months between oil changes. Each engine has its times, so it is very important that we know what the manufacturer recommends and we comply with this to the letter.
Manufacturers usually express the figure in months and in kilometers. If the manufacturer recommends making the change at 10,000 kilometers or 12 months, we should change it as soon as one of those two conditions is met.
When making an oil change, it is also advisable to change the filters and the cap, as they also degrade with use.
measure the oil
Each vehicle has its peculiar method to measure oil
As we said, oil is a fundamental element in our combustion vehicle. In addition to making regulatory changes, it is very important that we keep an eye on it from time to time. Many older vehicles have small oil leaks, so if we do not check the level, the oil will fall below the minimum required. This can pose a risk to the engine.
Engine oil can drop from both leaks and evaporation. Therefore, it is essential that we check its level from time to time. For this you have to park the car on a flat area and let the engine cool down. Once we are sure, we will remove the dipstick and we will be able to measure the oil level, which must be between the maximum and the minimum. This verification must be done with a certain light, since it is important to also analyze the color of the oil itself.
If your oil is in good condition—that is, it still has miles or months of useful life left—but the level is dropping, you can fill out without fear. You just have to make sure you don’t exceed the maximum. Of course, you must respect the deadline that you registered with the oil change. No matter how much you fill up, you should not postpone the date of the next oil change. So you don’t forget, you can use a tag to record the mileage and the date of the last maintenance.
At this point there are also a couple of details that you should know. First of all, there are manufacturers that no longer use the dipstick, as with many modern BMWs. On the other hand, there are engines in which we are going to have to make the measurement with the engine hot. In any case, it is very important that we take a good look at the vehicle manual to know all these peculiarities.
Change the oil
Oil change should be done on a flat surface
We have reached the decisive moment. It’s time to change the oil. We will look for a flat place where we can work with some peace of mind. We must have the necessary oil bottles -in some large engines it may not come with just one-, and it is also advisable to have spare parts for the filters and the crankcase plug.
inside the hood we will locate the filler cap. It usually shows the word ‘oil‘. We will raise the car with a jack or with stands and we will locate the drain plug. We will need a wrench to remove it. Before loosening the cap, it is necessary place a container large bottom so that the oil falls inside. It will come out with some pressure, so position it with trajectory in mind.
We’ll let gravity do its job. Once everything is out we will wait about 10 minutes so that the oil that has stuck to the walls falls off. After time, we will use the wrench again to place the plug, either the original or a new one. In the event that we are going to replace the filter, we will take advantage of the fact that the entire circuit is empty to make the change.
Once we have everything well secured, we can fill with new oil. We will need a cloth to clean the rod and be able to accurately measure the level. It is very important not to fill above the maximum level. Don’t leave the level at the limit either, because when you start the engine, the oil will heat up and expand a bit.
Once we have finished, we will move with the vehicle and we will measure the level again. We must make sure that it does not exceed the maximum and that the oil is not below three quarters of the value marked by the dipstick.
What do I have to do with the leftover oil?
Oils tend to lose properties once they come into contact with air. Therefore, saving a drum from one year to the next is not a very good idea. You can buy small cans to minimize waste instead of a large jerry can.
What should I do with used oil?
Used oil is a real danger to the environment, so we will dispose of it responsibly
Motor oil is a highly polluting substance, so the most correct thing you can do with the used oil is to transfer it from the container to the empty carafe that you just used. Next, the most correct thing you can do is take the carafe to a clean point. They usually have a well-marked area to leave this type of polluting oil.