No Need to Go to the Workshop, Here's How to Properly Change Your Car Oil

Car oil plays an important role in maintaining the performance of the car. At least car oil should be changed periodically, at least every three months or every 5,000 kilometers.

No need to take it to a workshop, actually the correct way to change car oil can be learned and is quite easy to do. You just need to know which parts need to be disassembled and reassembled, and prepare a container for used oil and new car oil.

To make it clearer, here are tips and the correct way to change car oil.

1. Dispose of old oil

Before starting to change the car oil, you need to drain the old oil from the oil tank. But before that, warm up the car for 2-3 minutes so that the oil warms up and becomes thinner when used. After that, position the engine part (the front hood) higher using a jack on a flat surface. Also, make sure the handbrake is engaged for safety.

Prepare tools such as a container for used oil and a wrench as well as a flashlight. Then open the oil cap, this is to allow air to enter and make it easier for the old oil to flow out. The oil cap is usually located at the top of the engine.

Next, place the container for collecting oil under the oil pan and open the oil drain bolt. This bolt is located under the engine. After the bolt is opened, let the old oil flow into the container and wait until everything is out.

2. Open the oil filter

While the car oil is being drained, you can remove the oil filter. Make sure the gasket has come off from the oil filter. The location of the oil filter is usually at the front, side, or back of the engine block.

It is characterized by a cylindrical shape similar to a sweetened condensed milk can, with a width of 8 cm and a length of 10-15 cm. Use a wrench to remove this oil filter. For optimal car performance, it is better to replace the oil filter with a new one. In the marketplace, it only costs around Rp50 thousand.

Replacing the oil filter is done by turning it counterclockwise. After preparing the new filter, lubricate it slightly with new oil and install it again.

Check again whether the bolt is installed on the correct thread or not. Make sure not to tighten the bolt too hard as this can damage the thread and cause oil leaks.

3. Close the oil drain bolt

After waiting for a while until all the oil is drained, immediately close the oil drain bolt. The oil that comes out is definitely dark black. Make sure to reinstall the oil drain bolt and its gasket to avoid leaks. Check again whether the oil is still dripping or not. If there is still a leak, try replacing the gasket with a new one.

4. Pour in new oil

If the three steps above are all correct, now it's time to pour in the new car oil that you just bought. First, make sure to check the filling limit on the user manual to ensure the measurement is accurate.

You need to know, filling car oil should not be less or even too much. Once finished, reinstall the oil filler cap and clean up any remaining oil that sticks. Next, check the oil pressure indicator. Make sure the indicator is still accurate! Also, check the bottom of the car for any oil drips. If there is a leak, the possible cause is the oil cap or oil filter that is not installed correctly.

5. Start the car engine

If everything is in order, the last step is to start the engine for about 3-5 minutes. After that, the car is free to be used anywhere.

One more tip, if you are still unsure about changing the oil yourself, it doesn't hurt to ask for help from someone who knows more about cars. After that, the knowledge can be understood and next time you can change the car oil yourself.