Oil changes generally cost between twenty and forty dollars every couple of months. If you learn to change your own oil it is easy to save both time and money for most used cars.
Benefits to Changing Your Own Oil
One of the major advantages to changing your own oil is the convenience. It only takes about ten minutes and you never have to set another appointment or wait in line for an “instant” oil change. It saves time and money after shelling out all that money on your car loan, every penny counts.
In fact, most people save between ten and thirty dollars by changing their own oil. This depends mainly upon the type of oil purchased.
How to Change Your Oil
- First, purchase the correct type and amount of oil. This can be found in the owner’s manual.
- Second, drain the old oil. Do this by popping the hood then opening the oil filler cap. Next, remove the drain plug from the bottom of the oil pan. A few notes: a wrench may be required to remove the plug and you may also need newspapers or other clothes to prevent oil stains.
- Next, find and remove the filter assembly. Locate this using the owner’s manual and twist until it comes out.
- Now it is time to install the new filter. Since all filters are slightly different be sure to read the instructions on the package.
- Replace the oil pan, drain plug, and attach the new filter. Take your time to make sure everything is safely and securely back in place.
- Next, add the new oil into the fill hole. You can check levels with the dipstick but also read the owner’s manual to be sure you are adding the correct amount.
- Finally, screw the cap back on tightly and you have fresh oil.