Hey all. Can someone tell me basics on changing oil? I know thats kinda vague but ive never done it before and ive done some other maintance stuff recently so i thought id give this a try. So basically where do i drain the oil? what should i drain it into? where can i take the drained oil? do i need to replace the oil filter? what type of oil should i use? that kinda stuff. thanks alot.

Nick

 

Underneath the engine, you'll find the oil pan. To the rear, is a plug. Using a crescent wrench or a 17mm wrench, you unscrew it. Oil will fly out.

Probably get a cheap oil pan. Or any pan that'll hold a gallon of liquid. Then dump it into something convenient, like a milk container.

Take it to Advance or AutoZone, etc. They will let you dump the old oil out for free.

Oil filter - change it every other time. Or everytime if you're **** like me. Part stores should give you the part number, but I know two part #s - K&N oil filter HP-1010; STP oil filter S6607.

Oil - some say dino, some say synthetic. Some people get whatever's cheap, others buy Mobil 1. It's up to you. Probably doesn't make a big difference. 5W-30 or 20W-50, depending on who you believe.

 

Get yourself an oilpan from Wallmart for like 10$. You'll be able to do something like 3-4 oilchange, then bring the pan to a Local Shop that will get rid of it for you. Then go buy another pan, and you're good for another 3-4 oilchange.

 

awsome, thanx guys.

nick

 

in regards to the oil filter...how hard is it to take off? i know on some cars they're wedged into a really small space...


i'm thinking of doing my own oil changes now...will i only need a jack and some stoppers (not sure what their called) to drain the oil underneath?

EDIT: sorry...I didn't mean to hijack the thread...but since we're both thinking of trying it out...it would help to know this info too

 

I guess you could use a jack, but I tend to use my dad's ramps. Damn, I should consider stoppers or whatever they are called for the rear tires.....in case the car rolls down the ramps....lol.................thats actually not funny, but I dunno, I do it all the time when I change my oil.
Its pretty simple actually.

When using a oil filter wrench (or....whatever the hell its called...haha....thing is shaped like an "O", dats all I know) to remove the oil filter, its pretty hard, cause the oil filter is in a pretty tight space. But ever since I started using K&N filters, you can use ....****....dammit...I swear I don't know the names of tools, this is sad....hahaha....but I think its the crescent wrench that Blacksheep mentioned, I think. You can take K&N filters off easy with it. You can tighten it easier as well. But all in all, changing oil and oil filter is pretty simple.

 

oh yah, hey Blacksheep, you sure the part # for the K&N filter is 1010? I thought it was HP-1008.

 

thanks for the info teamemperor...i may try to change the oil next month.

 

heh....no prob....but I dun think I was too much help, but it's pretty easy once you start doing it over and over. I actually gotta change my oil as well soon.

 

yea the k&n filtter number is hp1010

 

the filter should come off by hand. just make sure when u install the new filter that ur not cranking it on as hard as u can. I believe 3/4 of a turn after its snug is what u want. I also rub oil around the filter seal to ensure that it seals correctly. Make sure u always install the washer on ur drain plug otherwise u will leak. And finally don't over tighten the drain plug, that metal is pretty soft and will get chewed up pretty quick. Thats about all the little dumb things u have to remember.

 

^very good advice......oh yah, and I guess with 04's we gotta use a different filter or whatever.....I just check for the 02-03, you guys use 1010, but for my 04 I have to use 1008.

 

Ramps are safer than both the stock jack and the floor jacks (which both could collapse) If you use a jack it is a good thought to use a stand for either a perch or as brace to catch the car if it falls and the "stoppers" are called chauks.