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We are a family that always tries to save money. If we can do things for ourselves we just do. So when it’s time to give my son’s car an oil change we always change it here at the house. It’s not hard and in the time it takes us to get to the oil change place we’ve already changed it. So it’s a total win for us to do it ourself! Why not check out my video where you can learn how to change the oil in your car.
How to change your oil in your car
So here’s what you need to have on hand to begin your oil change:
OIl
Oil filter
fiber washer (for our particular car)
adjustable oil filter socket
ratchet
jack
jack stand
oil drain pan
Here’s the steps to changing the oil in your car
Step one: put your parking brake on, put your jack under it and jack it up. Then add your jack stand. Put a couple of brick o blocks or something to prevent the tires from rolling in front of each tire too. Always be safe.
Step two: you can start your car and let it run for a minute or two to get the oil warm so it drains faster not necessary but sometimes helpful.
Step three: After the car is raised, slide under it and loosened the drain plug and then removed it to let the oil drain out into the drain pan.
Step four: Then we replaced the washer on the drain plug. Some you don’t have to replace so check your owners manual. Reinstall the drain plug and tightened it (not too tight and not too loose).
Step five: Loosen the oil filter and let it drain into the pan as well. After the oil has drained out then I take it out and flip the oil filter upside down and let it drain out of the old filter. Then you install the new filter. Take a little bit of new oil and lubricate the oil ring on the bottom of the oil filter. This way it doesn’t stick and it holds a good seal.
Step six: Remove the jack stand and lower the car back down. Then you put your new oil in your oil cap area. Ours calls for 4.5 quarts. On the cap is usually where you’ll find what weight oil you need. Start the car and let it run for a minute to make sure the oil gets distributed where it needs to be. Turn the car off and let it rest for two or three minutes. Let it sit so all the oil at the top of the engine can run down and get distributed to all the parts.
Step seven: Then check the oil level using the dipstick. You pull it out and there’s lines on it that tells you where the oil needs to be.
Step eight: Properly dispose of your oil and oil filter. You can usually take it back in your oil drain pan to wherever you bought it at. They will dispose of it properly for you. They’ll usually take your oil filter too. Car dealerships will take your old oil back and dispose of it for you too.
It’s such a good skill to teach your kids to do. You don’t have to pay for everything when you can do so many things for yourself. I bought our Pennzoil oil at Walmart online and had it shipped to my home. I love that they carry oil for high mileage cars like ours. The Pennzoil high mileage oil is for vehicles that have reached 75,000 miles. You know if you’re at that mileage then it’s time to make the switch to Pennzoil Platinum® High Mileage Full Synthetic motor oil with PurePlus® Technology for complete engine protection. PurePlus® Technology incorporates a revolutionary process that changes natural gas into pure synthetic base oil. By combining it with high performance additives means Pennzoil Platinum® High Mileage Full Synthetic Motor Oil has been proven to render less oil burn off than conventional motor oils made from crude oil. In addition Pennzoil Platinum® High Mileage helps to keep your pistons up to 20% cleaner than the strictest industry standards to help keep the engines smooth and the performance strong.
When you purchase your DIY Oil change items at Walmart you are also able to get the deal below! So get going and enter to win too.
- Receive $10 Ticketmaster Ticket Cash with Purchase- Just purchase any 2 qualifying Pennzoil Motor oil (in-store or online) & upload your receipt
- All entrants will also be entered into a sweepstakes to win tickets to a Guns N’ Roses concert as part of their “Not In This Lifetime” tour!
You know where you are? You’re in the jungle baby! Woot I want to win and go to this concert!
What other ways do you do things for yourself and save money? Don’t forget to head over to find the fun at our facebook page and pinterest too.
I am going to stick to bringing it to Walmart and let them do it, but this is great to know if I ever had an emergency and HAD to do it myself.
My dad always changed the oil in his car so I grew up watching him change the oil. I love that everything can be ordered from Walmart. What a great convenience.
Changing the engine oil in a timely manner is neccessary for the smooth functioning of the car. Your post is valuable and a good resource for people looking out to do this on their own.
So cool. My husband changes the oil in his truck sometimes. I really need to learn how to do it for my car. I think it’s an important thing to do.
My son is going to school for auto mechanics right now, so it is really helpful that he knows stuff like this! He’s not sure if he wants to keep doing it or not, but at least he’ll be able to have that knowledge to fix our cars!
I have to admit I have never even tried to change my own oil, though I do know how to check it (which I guess is something). I shall definitely try and give it a go next time though.
I have never attempted to change the oil in my car. I know it is possible I’m just not a very handy person. I will have to pin this an attempt to do it the next and my car needs oil.
My husband changes all the oil in our cars and trucks. He has used pennzoil because I have seen the bottles after he has used them.
I have never changed to oil in my car but it seems easy enough. I do know that synthetic oil like this Pennzoil is very important.
My husband typically does all of the oil changes for our cars. But I learned how to do it on my own before I got married, it is something we want our kids to know how to do as well when they get older.
My husband always changes the oil in our vehicles. He has offered to teach me how to do it too.
I can check my oil, but change it? Nope. I should definitely learn, but I have such little faith in car jacks.
I’m not going to lie, I have no idea how to check my oil, let alone change it. Thanks for the inspiration to do it myself…and for the coupon! Maybe I will be brave enough to change my own oil one day!
I love the convenience of having the option to shop for everything all in one place, from motor oil to groceries, if you choose. I remember when G&R first came out, Appetite for Destruction quickly became a favorite.
My ex-boyfriend showed me so many times how to do this. I still go to the mechanic to do this lol. But reading this post, I am confident I can do it myself! Thanks for sharing.
I always have my oil changed at the service center during maintenance periods. This tutorial would really be helpful for me as I really need to learn about changing oil.
We used to use Walmart quite often, but I have a newer VW Diesel so it only goes to dealership. Our older cars are done by my son, but Penzoil oil is used.
My friends all change their oil as a way to save money, and I’m totally ready to give it a shot myself. Thanks so much for sharing this video! And that’s a great idea to use Walmart.com to ship the oil directly to your home. #client
I actually changed the oil in a car that I owned once in my 20s! It wasn’t as difficult to do as I thought it would be.