How to change the engine oil and oil filter on a car |Tips from AUTODOC

How to change engine oil and filter on a car – replacement tutorial

Things you may need:

                      Suitable engine oil
                    
                      A new oil filter
                    
                      A new drain plug
                    
                      A set of the necessary tools
                    
                      An oil filter removal tool
                    
                      A waste oil container
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Oil-resistant work gloves
                    
                      A cleaning agent

Buy tools

AUTODOC experts recommend:

Replace the oil filter every time when changing motor oil.

1.

You’ll first need to locate the main elements of the engine lubrication system
2.

The oil filler. This is located on the top of the engine
3.

The cap is usually labelled accordingly
4.

The oil dipstick. It is located in the engine oil pan and sends the data on the oil level to the dashboard via the ECU
5.

Instead of a dipstick, some vehicles are equipped with an electronic sensor

Important!
Vehicles with automatic transmission may have 2 dipsticks in the engine bayOne is used to check the engine oil level, and the other to check the transmission fluid levelDo not mix them up
6.

The oil filter. This can be designed as a cartridge that’s inserted into the housing on the engine block or made as a separate one-piece spin-on component
7.

The oil filter may be located on either side of the engine
8.

If the oil filter is installed on the underside of the engine, you’ll need to remove the engine splash guard
9.

On some cars, the splash guard doesn't need to be removed, because a special service cover is provided for easy access to the filter
10.

The drain plug. It is located under the engine in its oil pan
11.

To access the underside of the vehicle, use a car lift, or an inspection pit or ramp or a jack

Please note!
When using a jack you also need to use jack stands
12.

Make sure that the car is in a completely level position. This way, the oil can be drained evenly from all parts of the engine
13.

Oil filters from different manufacturers may vary in design. So it's advisable to use a universal wrench

AUTODOC recommends:
Change the oil while the engine is still warmWarm oil has a higher fluidity
14.

Unscrew the oil filler plug
15.

Pull up the oil dipstick
16.

Clean the working area
17.

Unscrew the oil filter cap or the filter itself
18.

Take the oil filter out of its housing

Be careful!
Prevent dirt from entering the filter mounting seat
19.

Place the waste oil container under the drain plug
20.

Clean the working area
21.

Unscrew the drain plug

Important!
Proceed with care to avoid spilling the oil
22.

Wait until the oil has completely drained from the drainage hole
23.

Clean the oil filter seat
24.

If the filter is a spin-on style one, lubricate its seal with some fresh oil
25.

If the filter is a cartridge style one, remove it from its mounting seat on the cap
26.

Remove the O-rings
27.

Clean the mounting seat of the cartridge
28.

Install new O-rings and a new filtering element
29.

Prepare a new drain plug with a new gasket
30.

Clean the working area
31.

Tighten the drain plug using a torque wrench to the manufacturer's recommended torque
32.

Remove the waste oil container
33.

Reinstall the engine splash guard
34.

Install the oil filter and tighten it using a torque wrench to the manufacturer's recommended torque
35.

Insert a funnel into the oil filler

Please note!
Only use the oil type approved by the car manufacturer
36.

Pour new oil into the engine in the amount recommended by the car manufacturer
37.

Check its level with the dipstick from time to time

AUTODOC recommends:
Check the oil level with the dipstick with the car standing on a flat, even surface
38.

Extract the dipstick and wipe off the old oil
39.

Insert the dipstick as far as it can go and wait for a few seconds
40.

Extract the dipstick and inspect it without turning it upside down
41.

Wipe the dipstick and put it back in its place
42.

Remove the funnel and screw on the oil filler cap
43.

Start the engine and let it run for 30 seconds
44.

During this time, the engine oil will be distributed throughout the system
45.

Shut down the engine and wait for a couple of minutes
46.

Recheck the engine oil level and correct it, if necessary

Please note!
The oil level should be between the Min and Max marks
47.

As soon as the procedure is completed, reset the service interval
48.

Alternatively, you can make a note of what mileage the maintenance job was done at
49.

If your vehicle is not equipped with an oil dipstick, the oil level is displayed on the dashboard