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• Before changing your oil, please refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for specific instructions and precautions. • Always dispose of used motor oil properly, either at a local auto parts store or service center. Visit www.earth911.org for oil recycling locations near you. Necessary tools and equipment for oil change: • A car jack and jack stands, or driveway ramps for low profile vehicles • Oil filter wrench • Correct size box-end wrench (either metric or standard) is the recommended tool for drain-plug removal. If unavailable, a socket wrench (6 pt) will also work. • Quaker State recommends NOT using a crescent (adjustable) wrench, as it can increase the likelihood of damage to the drain plug. • An oil catch pan (plastic or metal) that can hold at least 2 gallons of oil • 1 - 2 plastic containers (such as a gallon milk carton) • A funnel • Typically 5 quarts of new Quaker State® motor oil (see owner's manual for capacity) • New Quaker State® oil filter • Safety glasses • Some old rags and/or paper towels • Rubber gloves (recommended) • Old clothes you don't mind getting soiled • About 30 - 45 minutes of time Oil Change Steps: 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, engage the parking brake and turn off the engine. If necessary, raise the front of the vehicle by driving it onto a ramp or by jacking it up and supporting it with jack stands. NEVER GET UNDER A VEHICLE THAT IS SUPPORTED ONLY BY A JACK. 2. Once the vehicle is securely supported, crawl under the vehicle and locate the oil pan. The oil pan is a shell that is typically somewhat rounded and covers the bottom of the engine. (See vehicle owner's manual for clarification) 3. Locate the oil drain plug, which is a lone bolt head at the bottom of the oil pan. The oil drain plug allows the oil to drain out of the oil pan. (Note: some automobiles may have two drain plugs) 4. Position a container, such as an approved oil catch pan, under the oil drain plug. 5. Using a standard wrench, loosen the oil drain plug. Once loose, carefully remove plug by hand, making sure the oil catch pan is underneath the plug. Oil will flow rapidly from the hole, but it may take several minutes for all of the old oil to drain out. USE CAUTION - OIL MAY BE HOT! 6. Wipe the oil drain plug with a rag and visually inspect the condition of the oil drain plug threads and gasket. Buy a replacement drain plug if you have any concerns about the condition of the plug. Once the oil is finished draining, re-install the oil drain plug and tighten with a wrench or socket to the specified tightness. (Generally this is 15-18 ft. lbs. of torque for aluminum oil pans and 20-30 ft. lbs. of torque for steel oil pans) 7. Locate the oil filter. Its typical shape is a cylinder with one of the round ends touching the side of the engine. The size will be similar to the one you bought to replace it, which may vary from the size of a coffee mug (with no handle) to the size of a fat soda can. NOTE - If the old and new oil filters are not the same, double check the application to be sure you have the correct filter. (See vehicle owner's manual for additional information) 8. Position the oil catch pan under the oil filter to catch any residual oil remaining inside the filter. 9. Loosen the oil filter with the oil filter wrench, and allow the oil to drain from the oil filter. 10. Remove the oil filter and make sure the old oil filter's gasket is on the old filter or remove the oil filter gasket if it is clinging to the engine mounting plate. Wipe clean the filter mounting plate on the engine, ensuring the oil filter gasket is completely removed. 11. Place a light coating of new oil on the gasket of the new oil filter so it will install smoothly onto the engine. (Note: do not use grease) By hand, install the new oil filter onto the engine by turning in a clockwise direction. Once the oil filter gasket first contacts the engine, tighten the oil filter according to the directions for your application (usually found on the new filter box), preferably by hand. Generally, this is 3/4 to 1 full turn after the filter gasket contacts the engine. 12. Under the hood, remove the oil fill cap and pour in the correct viscosity and amount of Quaker State® motor oil with a funnel. (See vehicle owner's manual for recommendation of oil grade and amount) 13. Replace oil fill cap. 14. Start and run engine at idle for minimum of 30 seconds. Carefully inspect under the vehicle for oil leaks (especially by oil pan and oil filter). 15. Shut off engine and allow 30 seconds for the oil to settle in the engine. Carefully inspect under the vehicle for oil leaks. 16. Remove oil dipstick and check for proper oil level, adding more oil if necessary. (See vehicle owner's manual for oil capacity and recommended oil level on dipstick.) 17. Safely lower vehicle to level ground. 18. Repeat oil change with Quaker State® motor oil every 3,000 miles. |