I know some of you here change your own oil, and it's been a while since I changed the oil (last time was in a Ford Explorer). What all do you check when you change your oil? I'm guessing the easy ones like tire pressure and washer fluid, but do you check the power steering and brake fluid too? What's good to start monitoring?

 

i just change the oil and filter...... Tire pressure usually like 1 time every 2 weeks. (unless i am doing some hard driving.)

 

I just change my oil and filter. I usually check all my fluids though just to be safe. The only thing I usually add is windshield washer fluid other then that I don't do anything. Brake fluid gets changed when I put new brakes and radiator is flushed on tune ups. I like to check my tires every time I fill up my tank when possible.

 

i used to change my oil but last time i did it i couldnt get the dang filter off, so i just let the shop do it now, when are u suppose to change ur tanny fluid ?

 

30,000 miles.

 

I could never get my filter off either, but my neighbor is a retired GM mechanic. He stuck his hand way up there and manhandled it right off. They will come off if you get the right grip. If that still doesn't work, you can always stab it with a screwdriver, let the oil drip out, then twist it off with the screwdriver. Just a thought...

 

I got my OE filter off by hand. They shouldn't be so tight that they're impossible to remove, but they need to be firmly torqued at the same time. K&N filters HP-1010 comes with a 1" socket on the end so it's a piece of cake for me now. I have a strap wrench too, but I have really only used it on my sister's Saab because the Lancer filters boreder on miniscule.

 

I change my oil when it's dirty. I don't believe in the 3000 mile stuff anymore. Since I'm not driving my car hard anymore, and not frequently either, my oil changes are going to be fairly infrequent.

Getting the oil filter off after I did a free one at was an absolute b***h. It's like the used an impact wrench to put it on. Some sand paper and a nearly dislocated shoulder got it off finally. Since that time, I do it myself.

 

Does anyone know off the top of their head what the size of the bolt is on the oil pan? Just so next time I might not have to fool around for 20 minutes trying to find the right socket...

 

I'm pretty sure it was 17mm...
-N

 

yep 17mm

I keep a 17mm socket, ratchet wrench, and a filter wrench on hand for my oil changes.

 

it's an 11/16ths

 

I'm sure 11/16s is the equivilant (or very close) to 17mm, but the Lancer uses all metric sizes, mainly because of its Japanese design. If you have a 17mm, use that just to avoid stripping, but I'm sure 11/16s is close enough.

 

The oil drain plug is a 17mm and tire pessure should be checked every month 32psi in the front and 29psi in the back, and if you have to much trouble getting your oil filter off your putting in to tight it just has to be hand tight( I work at a tire/oil change shop).

 

Depends on the tires you have I run mine a little higher psi because I got toyo T1-S tires and the sidewall isn't as stiff so an extra 2 psi helps compensate for that and yes its 17mm drain plug and hand tight is all it needs just changed mine again a few days ago.