Changing Your Oil and Filter



OK, your ready to change the oil in your car. Here's a check list of the things you'll need.

PUT YOUR CAR UP ON CAR RAMPS OR BLOCK IT UP ON BLOCKS . MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LAY UNDER THE CAR.
MAKE SURE THE ENGINE IS NOT HOT !
PUT YOUR DRAIN PAN UNDER THE OIL PAN AT THE DRAIN PLUG . LOOSEN THE OIL DRAIN PLUG AND TURN IT OUT WITH YOUR FINGERS. MAKING SURE THE DRAIN PAN IS UNDER THE OIL PLUG.
(Look at the picture on the right if your not sure where the drain plug is.It may differ a little for different engines (bottom middle,bottom right or left ,bottom back)
BUT THERE ALL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. AFTER YOU HAVE DRAINED ALL THE OIL OUT INTO THE DRAIN PAN . MAKE SURE YOU LET IT DRAIN FOR A GOOD 10 MINUTES AFTER ALL THE OIL HAS DRAINED OUT. CLEAN AND REPLACE THE DRAIN PLUG AND TIGHTEN IT. ALSO WIPE THE OIL PAN OF ANY OIL ON IT SO YOU CAN CHECK FOR LEAKS AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED.

OK , NEXT STEP IS TAKE YOUR OIL FILTER OFF. LOCATE IT AND TAKE YOUR OIL FILTER WRENCH AND SLIDE IT OVER THE OIL FILTER SO THAT WHEN YOU PULL ON THE HANDLE COUNTER CLOCK WISE. IT SHOULD TIGHTEN AROUND THE FILTER . IF IT DOESN'T. TAKE IT OFF THE FILTER AND TURN IT AROUND .

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE OIL DRAIN PAN UNDER THE OIL FILTER BECAUSE SOME OIL WILL COME OUT OF THE FILTER.

WHEN YOU GO TO PUT THE FILTER BACK ON . DIP YOUR FINGER IN THE OIL YOU DRAINED OUT OF THE OIL PAN AND RUB IT ON THE RUBBER GASKET ON THE NEW FILTER. THIS KEEPS THE GASKET FROM BUNCHING UP AND INSURES A GOOD SEAL.

WHEN YOU TURN THE NEW OIL FILTER ON AND THE SEAL TOUCHS THE BLOCK ONLY TIGHTEN IT 3/4 OF A TURN MORE. HERE ALSO WIPE THE OIL FILTER AND ENGINE BLOCK OF ANY OIL SO YOU CAN CHECK FOR LEAKS TOO!

AFTER YOU PUT YOUR OIL IN . START YOUR ENGINE MAKE SURE THE OIL LIGHT GOES OUT OR THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SHOWS PRESSURE. LET THE ENGINE RUN A FEW MINUTES AND CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND THE OIL FILTER AND OIL PAN PLUG.
IF THERE HAPPENS TO BE A LEAK THIGHTEN THE FILTER OR PAN PLUG WHEREEVER THE LEAK IS . AND WIPE THE AREA CLEAN AND RECHECK.

THAT'S IT !!! YOU HAVE JUST CHANGED YOUR OIL.


BELTS


OK, WELL BELTS AND HOSES ARE REALLY EASY. YOU SHOULD CHECK THEM EACH TIME YOU POP OPEN THE HOOD. DOING THAT MAY SAVE YOU A LOT OF PROBLEMS LATER!!
AT LEAST MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THEM AT EACH OIL CHANGE. ON BELTS TAKE A LOOK AT THE UNDER SIDE OF THE BELT. IF THERE IS ANY CRACKS OR THREADS (that fray out from the sides) SHOWING YOU SHOULD REPLACE IT.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A SPARE BELT IN YOUR CAR.
ON V BELTS LOOK AT THE NEW ONE AND CHECK IT AGANIST THE ONE ON YOUR CAR. IF THE SIDES ARE REAL SHINNY AND THE V PART LOOKS THINNER THAN THE NEW ONE . REPLACE IT !!
THE EXTRA COUPLE OF MILES YOU'LL GET OUT IT IT'S WORTH IT. IF IT HAPPENS TO BREAK ON THAT COLD WINTER DAY ON YOUR WAY HOME FROM WORK OR ON YOUR WAY HOME FROM XMAS SHOPPING. YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
ONCE YOU REPLACE A BELT MAKE SURE YOU GO GET ANOTHER ONE TO KEEP FOR YOUR SPARE.
ON A SERPENTINE BELT (that's the one that looks like it runs a road rally course ) , IS THE ONE THAT'S FLAT HAS 3 OR 4 RIDGES ACROSS THE UNDER SIDE AND IS ABOUT 1 TO 1.25 INCHES ACROSS. IT'S A REALLY LONG BELT AND COST YOU AN ARM AND A LEG. AS WITH ANY BELT CHECK BUT MORE SO ON THESE TYPE OF BELTS . BECAUSE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST YOU ON A BREAK DOWN .(service stations and road service will most likly charge you alot more than what you could buy it for at a parts house)
ALSO THERE SHOULD BE A DIAGRAM UNDER THE HOOD OR CROSS MEMBER SOMEWHERE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO PUT THE BELT ON.
IF YOU DON'T FIND A DIAGRAM YOU SHOULD CHECK YOU MANUAL. BECAUSE THEY TAKE A WEIRD ROUTE.


HOSES


CHECK AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LEAKS AND CRACKS IN THE HOSES.
CHECK THE HOSES AT THE CLAMPS . BECAUSE THEY CAN GET BRITTLE THERE AND BREAK AND ALSO THEY CAN GET SOFT AND START TO BUBBLE(they look like there blowing up ). IF ANY OF THE HOSES DON'T LOOK GOOD TO YOU REPLACE THEM.
IF YOU HAVE TO REPLACE A HOSE.DRAIN THE ANTIFREEZE INTO A CONTAINER NOT ON THE GROUND.(It's against the law belive it or not.Ethylene Glycol based antifreeze is TOXIC and must be stored and handled according to hazardous materials guidelines.If these guidelines are not followed there are severe penalties.
A newer type of antifreeze a Propylene Glycol based antifreeze is nontoxic and has with no govermental mandates at this time but check the laws first. A little more expenses than the other.)

X-TIRES

WITH XING TIRES I USAULLY DO IT IN THE SPRING. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ROTATING YOUR TIRES.(a real pain in the butt if you ask me.I keep my best tires on the front . keep the front end lined up and all the tires balanced,but if you must here's how to do it). TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIAGRAM BELOW.


BATTERY

BATTERIES OF TODAY DON'T DEMAND MUCH ATTENTION. THEY ARE SEALED AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD WATER. JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE TERMINALS ARE CLEAN AND TIGHT.
IF YOUR BATTERY TERMINALS LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF COLORED STUFF GROWING ON THEM. THEY DO IT'S ACID. FIRST YOU HAVE TO NEUTRALIZE THE ACID. TAKE SOME BAKING SODA AND SPRINKLE IT ON THE ACID.(put it on pretty heavy) AND WATCH IT BUBBLE FOR 10 MINUTES OR SO THEN TAKE A GARDEN HOSE AND WASH IT OFF.(When you wash it off make sure you don't get any on your paint because it will eat the paint. So wash it down really good)
NOW THAT YOU HAVE THAT DONE LOOSEN AND TAKE THE BATTERY CABLE TERMINALS OFF. CLEAN THEM WITH A WIRE BRUSH OR A BATTERY TERMINAL CLEANER AND THE BATTERY POST IF YOU HAVE THEM. PUT THEM BACK ON AND MAKE SURE THERE TIGHT.
NOW I USUALLY SMEAR SOME GREASE ALL OVER THE TERMINALS. THIS HELPS KEEP THEM CLEAN FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.


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