Changing the oil on your vehicle is one of the most basic, yet most important, routine services you can perform on your vehicle. It’s also one of the easiest. With a little spare time and the proper instructions, virtually anyone can do it. Just follow these easy steps to learn how to perform this routine vehicle maintenance.
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing your oil every three months or 3,000 miles. And if you follow these recommendations, your vehicle is likely to perform more efficiently and reliably. If you’ve got the time, changing the oil on your vehicle can be an easy way to save a little bit of cash. If you’ve never changed the oil before, if you follow these step-by-step instructions, you’ll be a pro in no time at all!
Preparing your vehicle. The first step in changing your oil is to start
your vehicle. By doing this, you will be able to reach a normal operating” temperature for the oil, making the oil easier to drain.
Once your vehicle has been running for a few minutes, drive the vehicle onto ramps or use a jack and jack stand to prop up the vehicle. You’ll also want to secure the vehicle’s position by setting your parking brake and placing wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Be sure to turn your vehicle off before proceeding with this project.
Now that your vehicle is secured, you need to drain the oil. Be sure all your tools are easily accessible. To drain the oil, put on your MidWest Gloves® Leather Work Glove and position yourself under the vehicle. The drain plug should be located on the bottom of the crankcase oil pan. Once you’ve located the drain plug, position the Hopkins™ 7 - Quart Drain Pan under vehicle.
Draining the oil. Carefully unthread the drain plug and let the hot oil drain into the pan, making sure that the hot oil does not touch your exposed
skin. While it is draining, examine the plug, gasket and washer for dirt, debris, cracks or excessive wear. While dirt and debris should be cleared away, cracks or excessive wear indicate the need for a new drain plug to
avoid potential leaks. Once the oil has fully drained, rethread the plug into the oil pan and tighten securely with the proper wrench, making certain to not over tighten.
Removing the old oil filter. Although the oil filter location varies from
vehicle to vehicle, it is typically located near the oil pan. Locate the filter on your vehicle, place the filter wrench on the used filter and turn counter-clockwise to loosen it. It is normal to have the loosened filter leak oil. Allow the filter to drain a bit and then finish removing it by hand turning it counter-clockwise. Place the old filter in a drain pan or a
separate container and allow it to completely drain before discarding.
Installing a new oil filter. When installing your new oil filter, we recommend placing a light film of fresh motor oil on the filter’s rubber gasket located on the bottom end of the oil filter. This helps to create a seal. To install your new filter, simply hand-tighten it into the appropriate location. We recommend tightening the filter by hand instead of using
a filter wrench. This avoids over tightening.
Adding fresh motor oil. Refer to your vehicle’s owner manual for the
proper grade motor oil as well as the oil pan’s capacity. To add the new oil, remove the oil filler cap, typically clearly visible and marked and located on a valve cover. Next, place a funnel in the opening on the valve cover and pour in the fresh motor oil, allowing it to completely drain. Continue doing this until the oil pan’s capacity is met. Remove any dirt and debris from the oil cap, examine it for excess wear then put the oil cap back on the valve cover. If need be, replace the oil filler cap with a new one.
Lower your vehicle. Lower the vehicle by reversing the vehicle off of the Peterson Tru-Cut Automotive Ultra-Ramps® UR6500 ramps, or by removing the jack stands and jacking the vehicle down. Be
sure to also remove the wheel chucks.
Check your oil level. Now, on a level surface , you will want to check the oil while at a standard operating temperature. Let the vehicle run for a minute or two allowing the oil to drain back into the crankcase. Turn the vehicle off, then remove the oil dipstick, wipe it clean and replace it, seating it firmly. Remove the dipstick again and hold it horizontally to prevent oil from running. The oil level should read between the “Add” and “Full/Safe” marks. If your oil is not reading above the “Add” line, add additional motor oil and recheck the oil level until reaching an acceptable level.
The Clean Up. Be sure to place the used drained oil and filter in a proper container for disposal and clean your tools. Any spilled oil should be properly cleaned up using an oil absorbent or cleaning solution. Congratulations! You have completed your first oil change. Be sure to check your oil levels on a regular basis, ideally at each fuel stop or once per week. 
