Oil is the lifeblood of your car, ensuring the smooth running of the engine. But it does need changing occasionally, and the prospect of doing that yourself can be off-putting.
As our step-by-step guide shows, it’s a straightforward task and changing your oil instead of taking it to a garage mechanic will save you time and money.
EASY AS HACK
Oil viscosity rating indicates resistance to flow at different temperatures. Bottles of car engine oil show the oil’s viscosity (or ‘grade’) as a code. Your car handbook will tell you the grade you should use, or try Halford’s oil checker.
At a glance
Why oil is essential to your car:
- It lubricates the moving parts in the engine
- Oil helps to cool the engine
- It cleans the engine, picking up dirt and debris, and also prevents corrosion
equipment needed to change a car's oil
Changing your car’s oil should take between 30 minutes and an hour, but before you start, get everything you need to hand. That will be:
- Oil (check your car handbook for the recommended type)
- Replacement oil filter
- Oil drain pan
- Car jack and jack stand (again, check your car handbook to find the proper lifting location on the car)
- A basic set of spanners (or sockets)
- Funnel
- Gloves and safety glasses
- Torch or floodlight.
what type of engine oil should i use?
motor oil or synthetic oil?
All oils are made from crude that comes from the ground – but what makes them different is how they are refined and what is added to them.
Synthetic engine oils result from a more advanced refining process, which removes more impurities and enables the oil to be tailored to the demands of the modern car engine. This purer oil is generally of a higher quality, offering higher levels of protection due to increased anti-friction properties.
Semi-synthetic engine oils blend regular and synthetic oils and are a good in-between for well-kept, low-mileage cars. Some cars do require full synthetic engine oil, just check your handbook.[1]
The general view is to use the best oil you can afford, but make sure it’s compatible with your car, in the manufacturer’s handbook.[2]
WHAT IS OIL VISCOSITY?
Oil viscosity rating indicates resistance to flow at different temperatures. Bottles of car engine oil show the oil’s viscosity (or ‘grade’) as a code – for example, 5W–30. The ‘5’ is the cold weather viscosity (‘W’ stands for winter), while ‘30’ part is the high-temperature viscosity. Watch this engine oil grades explained video.
Use Halford’s oil checker to see which oil your car needs, or refer to your car handbook.
how to change your car's oil
Once you have all the items you need, follow our step-by-step guide to change the oil and the oil filter in your car:
- First, grab some gloves!
- Then, turn the car on for a few minutes, which will help warm up the oil slightly to churn out any debris, then turn it off. Then, you need to raise your car on the jack, and jack stand to access the oil drainage easily.
- Locate the drain plug in your car. It’s a large nut on your car’s oil pan. You will usually find this below the engine.Place your oil drain pan below the plug – ensure it’s big enough to collect all the oil.
- Remove the drain plug once you have completed the previous step. When this is done, the oil should start to drain.
- Replace the oil drain plug on the bottom of your car’s oil pan once all the old oil has fully drained. You should put any old oil in a sealed container so it can be recycled – don’t dispose of any down the drain. Check your nearest recycling centre to see if they accept oil.
- Unscrew the oil filter underneath your vehicle, near the oil pan. It’ll look like a small can and should be labelled ‘filter’. It will probably have oil still in it, so use the drain pan again to avoid spillages. Screw your new oil filter into place.
- Next, remove the oil fill cap, which should have an oil symbol on it and be located at the top of your engine.
- Use a funnel to pour the new oil into the oil fill hole. Replace the oil fill cap and turn the car on for 30 to 60 seconds. Check for any leaks around the oil drain plug and the new filter
- Shut off your engine for 5 to 10 minutes, allowing the new oil to settle in the car.
- Use the car’s dipstick to check that the oil level in your vehicle is correct. If there’s not enough, just add a little more at a time until you reach the full line on the dipstick.
- Remove the drain pan, lower your car off the jack and take your vehicle for a short test drive.
- Let the oil settle for 5 to 10 minutes and check that the dipstick is still at the full line
WHy do cars need oil?
The oil in your car lubricates the moving parts of the engine. The parts will rub together without the oil, which can cause expensive damage.
Oil helps to cool the engine by carrying away heat, cleaning it by picking up dirt and debris, preventing corrosion, and shielding engine parts from rust and damage.
Over time, the oil in your car will lose effectiveness, so often changing your car’s oil is essential.[3]
how often should i change the oil in my car?
Every car is different – however, regularly changing your oil is essential, and you should generally look at changing your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
If your car uses fully synthetic oil, you should look to change it between every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.[4]
signs you need to change your oil
Cars now usually have an oil change indicator on the dashboard, so when the ‘check oil’ or ‘change oil’ light appears, this is a clear signal that you need to change the oil. However, there are other signs you need to change the oil, and these include:
- Dark and dirty oil – engine oil will darken over time as it accumulates dirt and contaminants. If your oil on the dipstick is a deep brown or black colour, then that is a sign you need a change
- Engine noise – if you start hearing unusual noises such as knocking, tapping or rumbling, this could be an indication of an oil change
- Oil smell inside the car: a burning oil smell could signal a leak or overdue oil change.[5]
maintaining your car's engine oil
It is vital to maintain your car’s engine oil between changes. The first and most basic task is to regularly check the oil level between the minimum and maximum mark on your car’s dipstick.
When doing this, always turn your engine off and wait for it to cool down before checking the oil level. Other maintenance recommendations are:
- Make car engine oil changes (using high-quality oil) after consistent intervals.
- Monitor for leaks. Aside from a black puddle on your driveway or an oil warning light on the dashboard, look out for smoke, the engine overheating or the smell of burning oil.
- Follow any car manufacturer recommendations in your car handbook, such as using the correct grade of engine oil.
how much does it cost for an oil and filter change?
If you’re wondering about the cost of an oil and filter change, the price can range from £25 to £100. [6]
can i reuse an oil filter or should it always be replaced?
No, don’t reuse an oil filter – manufacturers recommend that you change the oil filter each time you do a car oil change. Watch this video to learn how to change your oil filter.
WHAT should i do if i overfill my engine oil?
Overfilling engine oil can harm your engine, so if you overfill, drain some oil until it’s at the correct level. The amount of oil that car engines require is roughly between 4 and 8 litres but differs significantly between vehicles, though generally:
- Four-cylinder engines need around 4.5 litres of oil.
- Six-cylinder engines use around 5.5 litres of oil.
- Eight-cylinder engines require between 4.5 to 7.5 litres.[7]
See more tips on essential car maintenance
Find out more about Ageas car insurance.
sources
[2] https://blog.greenflag.com/2018/should-i-choose-synthetic-oil/
[3] https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/service-repair/what-oil-does-my-car-need
[4, 5] https://www.rac.co.uk/car-care/car-repairs/oil-change
[6] https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/oil-filter-change-cost/
