The Engine Oil Change: A Responsible Owner's Duty

 some folks aren't as kind to their engines as we, the "motorheads" are. You don't have to be a "motorhead" to perform this task or to understand why it is so important. This task is a complete mystery to some and an "old hat" to others. Let's explore the engine oil change.

Changing your vehicle's oil is probably the single most important thing you can do to prolong the life of your engine. Well, exactly what does changing your oil mean and why would you do such a thing? How often should this be done? What tools and parts are needed to complete this job? How long does it usually take? Oh, keep reading dear reader to find the answers you seek.

What does an oil change mean and why would you do it? I know, I know. It may seem elementary to some, but I won't be that presumptuous here. An oil change simply means removing the old oil and replacing it with new oil.

Why is this necessary? To answer this question I think we need to define exactly what purpose oil serves in an engine. The main purpose of engine oil is to reduce friction and lubricate moving metal parts inside an engine. Without this friction reduction, your engine would come to a screeching, violent halt within a matter of seconds after being started. The secondary purpose of engine oil is to provide some engine cooling, though this cooling effect is very limited. That's why your engine has a completely separate system for cooling. This system typically uses air or water as the cooling agent.

As a result of running through your engine and lubricating parts, oil becomes dirty by the introduction of contaminants. These contaminants are dirt, dust, bits of metal, engine coolant, and even water droplets. Dirty oil also contains sludge which is a combination of solid, carbon-based dirt and the oil itself breaking down during oxidation (the presence of oxygen at high temperatures). So you can see how harmful and detrimental this can be to the health of your engine, making it very necessary indeed to change that oil.

How often should you perform an oil change? Well, in general terms, you should change your oil every 3000 to 5000 miles. Several factors will determine where your engine falls into this range. These factors include the type of driving that you do, whether it be a lot of city driving or a lot of highway driving (city driving is a lot more demanding than highway driving). Whether you live in an area that is particularly dusty or whether you live in an area that is particularly cold or hot. If your vehicle will be operating under any of these extreme conditions, you should use every 3000 miles as your guide.

Some vehicle manufacturers have oil change intervals that exceed the ones mentioned above. These long intervals are recommended during the period when the manufacturer is responsible for performing the oil changes. You can see the problem with this approach. You can also see who's in the best interest is being served. So, for the long-term health of your engine and especially if you plan on keeping your vehicle after the manufacturer's service promise has expired, perform oil changes in the range prescribed above.

What tools do you need to perform an oil change? Not many. You can change your oil from underneath the vehicle or from the top of the engine (vacuum method). Here's the list using either method:

From underneath

Floor jack and jack stands or ramps

Oil filter wrench

Ratchet and sockets or box-end wrenches

Oil drain pan

Funnel

Oil-absorbent pads

New engine oil

New oil filter

Crush washer if applicable

Disposable nitrile gloves

From above

Oil excavation tool

Funnel

Oil-absorbent pads

New engine oil

New oil filter

Disposable nitrile gloves

How long does an oil change usually take? Well, that depends. The first couple of times that you do it on your own could take an hour or slightly more. The main factor here is whether or not you choose to do it from underneath the vehicle or from above. Properly jacking a vehicle and putting it up on Jack stands will take some practice if you are changing the oil from underneath. Also, driving your car onto ramps will take some practice as well. As with anything, the more you do it, the easier it is and the less time it will take to complete.

If you like the vacuum method from above the vehicle, I do recommend that you occasionally change the oil from underneath the vehicle. This will ensure that you properly remove any sediment, metal fragments, and dirt that settles on the bottom of the oil pan.

So, I hope you can see how important this task is. It is not only one of the most important things you can do for the health of your engine, it is also one of the easiest. Open your owner's manual and find out what kind of oil is required. Stop by the auto parts store and pick up your oil, filter, and any other tools you may need.

So, change that oil! You won't regret it and your engine will thank you for many years of service.