If you’re the adventurous DIY-er type, you may be wondering how easy and cost-effective it is to do your own auto maintenance like changing your own oil.
Generally, once you get the required steps down, putting new oil in your car can be a fairly painless process. Changing your own oil can also save money each time once you pay the initial investment in necessary equipment like jack stands, oil pans, etc.
Edmunds online suggests that changing your own oil is actually good for the whole car:
“More than anything, the basic oil change is a great way to connect with your vehicle and take some control over its maintenance. The time you spend under the hood and under the car affords you an excellent opportunity to look around and see if anything else needs attention.”
However, you want to make sure you’re doing vehicle maintenance correctly so that you don’t end up with a costly mistake. Let the following car tips be a guide to get you started.
Tip #1: Get the Right Filter and Oil
First, you’ll want to make sure to check the vehicle owner’s manual to see what type of filter and oil are recommended for your specific make and model. Some oil filters are only made to last for 3,000 miles while others are good for up to 6,000 miles, so depending on how often your particular car needs an oil change will determine what kind of filter you’ll need to buy.
There’s also a wide range of quality when it comes to filters, as this article from The Family Handyman explains:
“There’s a huge difference between an economy filter and a top-of-the-line version. But there’s only a small difference in price. If you use conventional oil and diligently change it every 3,000 miles, you can get by with the economy filter. But if you regularly “forget” and go beyond that mileage or use long-mileage synthetic blends or full synthetic, spend the extra bucks on a better filter.”
Tip #2: Gather All Required Tools and Supplies
Next, you’ll want to make sure you have everything you need before you start. In addition to the filter and oil, you’ll need to find out if your car requires a new oil filter gasket every time the oil is changed.
The tools you’ll need include: a wrench set, a funnel, an oil drain pan and car jacks (if the vehicle needs to be lifted). Some other recommended supplies are latex gloves, rags and safety glasses.
There are several things that can go wrong at this point, such as burns, oil spills, over tightening of the bolt or oil filter, using the wrong oil, not removing all packaging or gaskets before putting the new one on, etc. Be careful to recheck your work and double check everything before proceeding to change your own oil.
Preventative Auto Service gives several in-depth tips for preventing mistakes. One of those is to know where your tools and parts are at all times. For example:
“When you remove the oil filter make sure you know where the old gasket is. Check the filter housing, make sure it is clean and the old gaskets not stuck to it.”
You’ll also want to make sure you dispose of the old oil properly at a recycling center and clean up any spilled oil around your work area.
If this feels overwhelming, but you still want to save money, do not fret! NBC news actually says that not doing oil changes yourself and paying the professionals to do it instead may actually be the more cost effective way to go.
