How to change your engine oil

We've put together the following guide that will take you step by step through the process of changing your engine oil. Once you've got the oil and filter, changing your oil isn't difficult and will probably take you around 30 minutes.

Don't forget that any tools you have to buy the first time you change your oil will be there for the next time too!

To supplement these instructions, you may wish to have a look at Castrol's guide to topping up your engine oil and guide to changing your engine oil.

What you'll need:

New engine oil Check your manual for the proper SAE viscosity, API performance and quantity required for your engine or use our Oil & Service Pack Recommendation service to locate your vehicle.

A new oil filter Check our Filters search for your car or bike.
A drain plug socket spanner or open-end spanner (correct size) and an oil filter tool. Some engines require a specially shaped tool that can be purchased from your dealer.
A large drain pan at least 6-8 litres in capacity and a funnel.
Clean cloths hand-cleaning solution and/or disposable latex gloves.

Oil change step 1 - Choose and buy the right engine oil

Find out what sort of car oil or motorcycle oil you need. Please contact us if you can't find your owner's manual and you're not sure how much engine oil your vehicle requires.
Buy some engine oil from Opie Oils ;-) Our deliveries usually arrive within 1 or 2 working days, so you shouldn't need to plan too far in advance, but please check availability with us if you have a specific date in mind.

Oil change step 2 - Prepare your vehicle

Always be certain to consult your owner's manual for specific safety precautions before climbing under your vehicle.
Never use a jack to hold your vehicle up - it's simply too unstable. Portable wheel ramps are ideal and much safer. Wheel ramps will tilt the car just enough to allow you to slide underneath. Make sure you follow your wheel ramp manufacturer's instructions carefully, especially concerning safety issues.
After making sure that you are on level ground, drive your vehicle up onto the wheel ramps so that the front tyres are elevated. Set your handbrake, and brace both rear wheels with wooden blocks to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Put your vehicle in first gear if you have a manual transmission or in “Park” if you have an automatic transmission.
Cold oil will not drain properly, so before starting work, drive your car around to raise the oil temperature to bring it to normal operating temperature. Then switch off the engine and raise the bonnet to loosen the oil filler cap to avoid creating a vacuum. This will allow the oil to drain from the bottom more freely.

Oil change step 3 - Drain the old oil

Locate the oil drain plug on the underside of your vehicle. It should be located at the bottom rear end of the engine sump or oil pan.
Place the drain pan underneath the drain plug and slightly toward the back. Using your spanner, turn the plug anticlockwise until it rotates freely. Finish removing the plug by hand. At this point, be careful of the oil since it may release rapidly and is likely to be rather hot.
Note: Most drain plugs also use a sealing washer; be careful not to lose this!
Some cars - most Smart cars for instance - do not have a drain plug. On vehicles such as these the old oil needs to be pumped out rather than drained. In many ways this is easier, because you don't have to get under the vehicle (so won't need a ramp / axel stands) and you won't need a drain pan because the pump itself will hold the old engine oil until such time as you are ready to dispose of it. This is of course an option for most cars, even if you do have a drain plug. You will of course need a pump! We have found certain marine pumps, such as the Pela 6000 to be ideal. A guide to changing the engine oil on your Smart can be found here.

Oil change step 4 - Remove the oil filter

Loosen the oil filter by turning it anticlockwise with a filter wrench. Complete the removal by hand, taking care not to touch the hot exhaust manifold. The oil filter may be filled with oil and feel slightly heavy, so carefully ease it down and away from the engine and tip its contents into the drain pan. Note: some oil filters are mounted horizontally and when you loosen them they will leak some dirty, hot engine oil. Don't worry, this is normal, but be ready for the leak by having several absorbent rags.

Oil change step 5 - Replace the oil filter

Take your rag and wipe in and around the filter seat on the engine.
Then take a new filter and use your finger to apply a light film of oil (new or used) to the gasket (the circular edge of the filter itself), which acts as a sealant.
Carefully screw the new filter onto the threaded oil line, turning it clockwise.
Once aligned properly, the filter will thread on easily. Tighten the filter by hand, taking care not to over tighten.
Clean the oil plug and copper gasket and then align and replace the plug.
Screw the plug in by hand and finish by tightening it with a wrench. Once again, don't over tighten.

Oil change step 6 - Add clean oil

Carefully release the handbrake and allow the car to slowly roll back down the ramp to level ground (do not run the engine at this stage or severe damage will occur).
On the top of the engine you will find the Oil Filler Cap usually marked with the symbol of an oil can. Unscrew the cap and proceed to fill the engine with the required quantity of oil, checking with the dipstick to ensure proper fill level.
Replace the cap and wipe off any spillage. The oil light should go out as soon as the engine is started.
Run the engine for several minutes, then switch it off and check the dipstick once again to ensure proper oil level. It is likely that you will have to add some more oil at this point.
Last, but not least, check under the vehicle for leaks - especially around the oil filter and sump drain plug.

Oil change step 7 - Dispose of used oil

The final, and in some ways most important, step to your oil change is the proper disposal of the used oil that you have drained from your vehicle. Used motor oil is highly toxic to the environment and it's of the utmost importance that it's disposed of in a safe fashion.
Transfer the used oil to a sealed container and consult your local garage about options for safe disposal. Chances are that a garage in your area will take the oil off your hands and arrange for it to be recycled or safely disposed of. Many "household recycling centre" also have facilities for the disposal of oil - contact your local council for details.
Keep a written record of the mileage and date for each oil change. That way, it will be easy to keep track of when your next change is due.

What Next?

If you've read this and don't fancy changing your oil yourself, why not get your garage to do it, but supply your own oil?

You'll save yourself money and can choose to use a better oil than might be supplied as standard. Even if you go to a main dealer and your car is under warranty, you can still request that the garage uses the oil you supply. It will not affect your warranty so long as the oil meets the approved viscosity / specification for your vehicle.