Guide
How to change engine oil
An engine-oil change requires the oil grade, capacity, filter, drain procedure, and service interval specified for the exact vehicle and engine.
At a glance
- Use the specified
- Oil grade and capacity
- Dispose of used oil
- At an approved collection location
Overview
Changing oil is not one universal procedure because drain locations, underbody panels, filter styles, capacities, torque values, and reset procedures vary. The owner manual or manufacturer service information should control the job. The general workflow is to warm the engine appropriately, drain the old oil, replace the filter where required, refill, check for leaks, and verify the final level.
Prepare around the vehicle specification
Confirm the correct oil specification, filter, capacity, lifting method, and drain-plug procedure before starting. A vehicle should be supported safely if access underneath is required, and hot engine oil can burn skin, so allow conditions to become safe enough to work around.
Refill, inspect, and recycle
After draining and replacing the filter as required, reinstall components to the specified procedure, add the correct quantity of oil, run the engine briefly, check for leaks, and verify the level. Used oil should be stored in a sealed container and taken to a recycling or collection facility rather than dumped.
Sources and review
MOOR's explanatory text is supported by the following source links.