Oil is the life-support supply of your engine, but when it comes to cooling the oil, that's an area that's often neglected. Owners who change their oil themselves and are looking to extend the time between oil changes can safely switch to a 15,000-mile oil and make a lot fewer trips to the mechanic. Before you start raising your car to gain access to its engine oil drain plug, you have to secure all of your materials first. Your engine should be cool. I would never start it without oil. This helps prevent injuries secondary to oil burns. Here’s the thing about changing the oil filter. It becomes hotter because the oil isn't allowed enough time to cool down a little before it is required to go back into the engine and do its thing. Follow edited Oct 10 '18 at 13:03. Before you start the engine, ensure that all accessories, ... Let the engine cool, change the oil and filter, and check the coolant level. If you're asking for oil change instructions, you'll no doubt eventually run into someone that advises running the car to heat up the oil before you start. products! This helps loosen the contaminants in the oil so they’ll flow out into the drain pan. When these wear enough to let oil seep excessively (a bit of oil "blow-by" is normal in a turbo with some use), you may see excessive blue-like smoke from the exhaust. The filter doesn't remove all contaminants, most are of such a small size they'll pass between engine clearances without damage - the oil gets black and that's the contaminants in suspension. In turn, this saves you money on the backend allowing you to travel longer. How to Change Car Oil Overview: Tools and Materials Changing your oil regularly is the single best thing you can do to prolong the life of your car’s engine. That’s not multitasking, that’s just a terrible idea. Make sure that no sign of the old oil can be seen from the filter compartment. Now use an alligator-type hydraulic jack to raise your vehicle. There are a lot of popular myths out there on this subject, but here are some simple guidelines to follow. Always make it a point to run your engine for a couple of minutes after every oil change. You could already stop reading and full the right amount of oil into your engine and be on your way. If your car is hot or has been running, let it cool. Once that is done, you can screw the sump plug back. In the end, the most important thing is you change your oil. Oil should be warm before changing. Normally I’d start a cold engine, let it run for about 5–10 minutes and then turn it off and begin the oil change. Of course, if you don't change your oil on time and with the proper products, it could void your car's warranty.. So many answers explaining things you didn't ask. Check your car's parked on level ground, as a slope might give an inaccurate oil reading. Check out the 10 ways you're killing your diesel engine with these easily avoided common mistakes. If it was sitting cold - run it for a few minutes. It has an oil change indicator display in the information cluster, which doesn't call for a change until 12,000 km or so. Over time, your oil will break down and your filter will become clogged with contaminants. When it’s time to install the new oil filter, only hand-tighten … Next, check the oil level via the dipstick. Make sure to put your car in the Park position if it’s an automatic, or Neutral if manual. The Mobil 1 oil change had a price tag of $92.39. It’s a good thing some manufacturers already have recommendations for such instances. Make sure not to overfill your engine with oil as this can also cause problems in your car. If the vehicle has been driven, let it … Oil changes are just one of the many minor hassles of car ownership, but they're crucial to keeping your car in good shape. If you've just driven your car, wait for 5-10 minutes before you check your oil level, or check it first thing before you use the car. According to my manual I should change the oil every 7,000 miles and it has an indicator light when it’s time to change the oil. One of the main components in an engine oil is a dispersant which suspends contaminants so they don't settle in oil galleries as sludges and are removed with the oil at the oil drain. Always let your engine cool down completely before starting work or be prepared to get burned. Once warmed up, don’t drain the oil immediately. A break-in oil should NOT remain in the engine longer than necessary to complete its initial task. I’ve never undertook an oil change on a hot engine, but even the dealership will always let the car cool off before doing the work. Dan explained how you must let the engine idle a while to cool down after any long haul to prevent the manifold from cooling too fast. If your car has been running for several hours, make sure to lengthen the amount of time to decrease the oil temperature before attempting to drain the oil. You should never use a single jack only as this is quite risky. Clean oil makes your engine run more efficiently. Having always waited for my engine to cool, this sounded crazy so I wanted to do the research so you guys all know what's the best way to go. This is also a great chance for you to check for any leaks. As this happens, the oil will wear out faster. And no, do not put oil in the engine while it runs. Manufacturers recommend you change the oil every 200 hours of operation or once a year, whichever is more frequent. You want to read more, keep going. I have a 2011 honda accord that takes full synthetic 0w-20 oil. With the gearshift in park and the emergency brake on, check the transmission fluid level using the dipstick located at the rear of the engine. See why changing your filters, fluids, and warming your engine up can add to a long … Many people disagree about whether or not the oil should be checked hot or cold. How to check the oil. What tools do I need to change my oil? TOM: So, for that reason, here's what we recommend. We curate, you discover! Beyond that, you’ll have to dump the old stuff and refill every 50 or 60 hours. This essentially underscores the importance of changing the engine oil. This cooling process could take as long as 30-45 minutes, ... Change your oil regularly and have your fan checked simultaneously. I own a new truck which has a long service interval for the engine oil and filter. This is to allow the new oil to circulate throughout the engine including the oil filter and the journals. Tags: Engine Break-In, engine tech The first thing a car owner should do is check the owner’s manual. It is not dry inside the engine. Leave the car idle for 5–10 minutes to let the oil cool down. Working with hot antifreeze can cause severe scalding. That is why you need to crank up your engine and let it run for about 5 minutes to allow the oil to become less viscous. The oil will warm up to about 100 degrees, which is not hot enough to burn you, but warm enough that it will flow easily. If you have trouble finding your oil drain plug, refer to your vehicle manual. If your oil filter is the plate type – located at the bottom of the engine – then you can remove it after draining the oil. Once the engine is cool, pop the hood and squeeze the upper radiator hose to see if it's under pressure. Take this opportunity to clean the sump plug as well. Metal rubs on metal, quickly causing irreversible and expensive damage. More oil will have drained into the oil pan since it's been sitting longer. However, it’s not a task for everybody. Every time you change your engine oil, it is already expected that you’re going to replace the oil filter as well. Kitchenistic helps you find the latest and gratest Hotter oil will drain more completely from various parts of the engine, A recently run engine will be better lubricated upon restart, Warm oil filter seals may be easier to remove. YES ! Remember the pump is rotating at hundreds of times a minute. Radiators are generally located directly underneath the engine. Allow the car to cool - Let the vehicle cool down before attempting to check the oil. You just have to have the correct tools for the job and an understanding of how to perform the oil change and you should be doing great. I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4cyl 2.4l. Writing down the mileage of the recently-concluded oil change will give you an idea of when you should start checking your oil for a possible change again. In the past, manufacturers recommended changing the oil every 3,000 miles, however with the advancement of synthetic engine oils it is unlikely that your car will need an oil change quite this often. Here’s how. In case your car comes with a splash guard that protects the underside of your vehicle, then you have to remove this first to gain access to the sump plug. Warm/mixed oil could suspend more particulate and contaminants. Run a couple hard throttle accelerations up to about 5,000 rpm and once again coast back down to 20 miles-per-hour. If the cat is parked on a slope, drive your car to a flat surface before checking the oil. Oil change times are most commonly listed in terms of miles driven. Let the engine cool, change the oil and filter, and check the coolant level. If your car is hot or has been running, let it cool. To remove the sump plug, you’ll need a wrench to unscrew it. products you will love. Personally, i prefer cold, it gives me much more time to look around the engine components and look for other problems without worry of burning my hands or arms. And if you do this simple 20-minute job yourself, you can save money and know that it was done right.. 38.6k 38 38 gold badges 131 131 silver badges 268 268 bronze badges. Some mechanics may tell you that you should change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. My drive home from work is about 10 miles and I would like to change my plugs after work but I am not sure how long I should wait before working on the vehicle. Keep It Clean. It should be between the MIN and MAX markings on the dipstick, although some vehicle manufacturers actually recommend the dipstick oil level to be at the MAX. Step 1: Pre-oil Change. You can also use the dipstick to have an idea of the level of oil that you have already poured. It works more like a suction apparatus. Zaid. However, don’t try to drain the oil if the engine is hot. Changing your oil is paramount to prolonging the life of your engine. In this episode of Proctor Car Tips, Colby explains how to properly check the oil level in your car engine. Let it cool to avoid burning your hand. Keep reading to learn how. The purpose of turning it over is to get the last of the dirty oil out of the engine prior to adding new oil. In addition to checking your manual for oil and oil filter recommendations, make sure to prepare all the other tools and materials for the DIY engine oil change. Always use a funnel to facilitate filling your engine with new oil. Because these metal parts rub against each other, they require sufficient lubrication to keep the parts from heating excessively and to make sure everything works optimally. Find what works best for you and stick with it. Without much heat, metal in the engine does not expand quickly, and the engine takes longer to achieve its design tolerances—the optimal space between moving parts. The Importance Of Oil Cooling And Why You Need To Take It Seriously. Remember the pump is rotating at hundreds of times a minute. Add Tip Ask Question Comment Download. Some manufacturers recommend checking engine oil warm, and it's perfectly fine to do so as long as you're looking at … Most vehicle manufacturers recommend a change in oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles or every three months, whichever comes first. Reply Prev of … 3. Place the car in park, remove the keys and apply the parking brake. This helps remove oil from the filter and channel it into the engine to be added into the oil to be drained afterwards. To properly change motor oil in a car, the engine should be warm to thin the current oil, according to the National Automotive Parts Association. Minute airborne particles that escape past the air filter also contribute to oil contamination. Warning: Never check the oil when the engine is hot. Many people disagree about whether or not the oil should be checked hot or cold. Getting the oil up to temperature also burns off moisture that builds in it while it sits cool in the oil pan. 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