Midas Swellendam features a step-by-step guide on how to change your motor oil and filter.
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What is the current going rate for having your motor oil changed? R1200 or there about? It would be much cheaper if you changed the oil yourself, this would give you a sense of pride and self-confidence, not to mention upskilling yourself.
Besides, with a little grease smeared here and there, everyone thinks it’s sexy to work on a car.
When do I change my motor oil?
You have probably been advised to change your oil every 5000 to 8000 Kilometres, but you must keep in mind, that a newer car can handle longer distances than an older model.
The best advice would be, always revert to your owner’s manual for the milage intervals between oil changes, neglecting to do so can permanently damage your motor vehicles engine.
What materials will you need to have on hand?
Motor oil
Once again it is highly recommended that you consult your owner’s manual for the correct viscosity of the oil and how many quarts you will need. Usually, it is about 4 to 6 Litres.
Oil Filter
Whenever you change the oil, you must also change the filter, different cars require different oil filters.
If you are unsure which filter will be the correct one for your vehicle, you can call your local Midas Swellendam and they will be able to assist with purchasing the right one, when providing the make and model of your vehicle.
Socket Wrench
You will require a 6-Point socket wrench to loosen the drain plug. Please keep in mind that European and Japanese cars work on the Metric system.
Pliers or an Oil Filter Wrench
Make sure that you buy the correct size pliers or oil filter wrench, purchase this item at the same time you buy the oil filter, this way you cannot go wrong.
Car Jack or Car Ramp
You will need a car jack or a car ramp to get your vehicle off the ground.
Plastic Bottle, Funnel and Drain Pan
The drain pan is to catch the old oil and the funnel is used to pour the oil into a plastic bottle for transportation to a recycling facility. 1 Litre of used Oil can contaminate 1 Million Litres of Water.
For more information on recycling your used motor oil, please follow the link: https://rosefoundation.org.za/
Old Rags/Cloths and Gloves
For Health and Safety purposes, keep old motor oil away from your skin, eyes, and mouth. Old motor oil has toxic contaminants, so use the old rags to mop up any oil spills.
Let’s get started on the, How to?
How much time will it take to change your motor oil and filter? You can change your oil and oil filter in under an hour once you have purchased all the materials.
Great now that you have everything you need, it is time to get down and dirty!
1. Drain the Motor Oil:
Warm your car up first.
Make sure the engine is warm to facilitate the oil flow, you can achieve this, by letting the car idle for 5 minutes.
Jack up your vehicle on a flat even surface.
Make sure that your car is switched off and that you have removed the keys. Jack up the engine side of the vehicle on the jacking point, consult your owner’s manual, if you do not know where that is.
For automatic cars, adjust the gear lever to park and apply the parking brake. If like myself you drive a stick because you enjoy feeling like a race car driver, put the car in gear and apply the parking brake.
Remove the dipstick.
Time to pop the hood! Remove the oil dipstick, this allows the air to pull through so your oil will drain faster.
Locate the oil pan and oil plug.
Look underneath your car to find the oil pan, it is a flat metal pan under your engine with a bolt like device attached to it, that is your oil plug.
Now would be a good time to place your drain pan underneath your oil pan! Loosen the oil plug slowly with your socket wrench, most cars hold roughly four litres of oil, so make sure that your drain pan is large enough.
Be careful, the oil may be hot!
Allow half an hour for all the oil to drain out, go grab a bite to eat, great job so far!
Replace the plug and add a new washer.
Once the oil has stopped dripping, clean up any excess oil and wipe the drain plug and plug threads with a clean old rag.
Add a new drain plug gasket if necessary, but should your plug and washer still be in good condition reinstall the plug and tighten it with your hand, then use a 6-point socket wrench to secure it.
2. Replace Oil Filter:
Locate and remove oil filter.
There isn’t a standard location for oil filters, so you may have to consult the owner’s manual. Once the filter is removed clean the area with an old clean rag.
Lubricate the new filter with oil and screw into place, you should be able to accomplish this by hand.
3. Add Clean Oil and Recycle the Old Oil & Filter:
Refill with new oil.
Once your new filter is securely in place, use the funnel to fill your car with new oil, most cars take 4–6 litres. Once you have replaced the oil, screw the oil cap back on.
TIP: The best time to get an accurate reading on your oil levels is in the mornings when the car is still cool.
You are almost done! Check your car for leaks, turn the engine on and look under for any spills near the oil pan and filter.
Clean up time.
Clean up any spilt oil, soiled newspaper and rags. Remember there are laws against dumping old oil, this is very bad for our environment!
For more information on recycling your used motor oil, please follow the link: https://rosefoundation.org.za/
Admin time.
Write down the mileage of your vehicle and the date of your oil change for future reference.
That’s it Champ! Now pour yourself a Klippies and Coke, you deserve it!
Midas Swellendam is a retail auto parts store designed around the needs of vehicle owners and automotive mechanics, focusing on quality products at the best price.
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(There are currently over 300 franchised outlets across Southern Africa, including Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.)
