How do you change your engine oil? What are the factors to consider when changing engine oil? Are fuel stations allowed to change oil?
Regular oil changes and filter replacements can reduce engine wear and prolong the engine’s life. Oil can get dirty over time, and can cause engine-damaging deposits, if it isn’t changed.
What is the best time to change your engine oil?
The oil and filter should be changed every year, or every 10,000km, for maximum protection. The service manual will give you the information you need to know about the oil change schedule for your vehicle. If you live in cold areas and have to stop and start in heavy traffic, it is recommended that the oil be changed every 7,500 kilometers. You should change the oil every 10,000 kilometers if your engine is a turbocharged diesel engine. You can change the oil immediately, instead of waiting for it to happen. You can set the interval for oil changes to 10,000 km if you drive your car on highways and long roads. You can also take it out. Some automakers increase the oil change interval up to 15,000km. It recommends that you go for as many as 12,000 kilometers. It is important not to overdo it.
Materials required for changing engine oil
- – 4 to 5 or 6 liters of oil. Most vehicles have 4 liters plus 1/3 to 1/2 Liter of oil for the filters. Refer to the owner’s guide for recommended viscosity and engine oil capacity.
- – Replace your oil filter with a new one.
- – Use an oil filter wrench to loosen it
- – The key must be inserted under the oil pan drain plug.
- – Pans that can hold 5 liters or more of oil
- – A funnel that adds oil to the engine
- – Use a clean cloth
- To avoid skin contact with oily substances, latex or nitrile rubber gloves are recommended.
- – A safety stand and jack to raise your vehicle
- – A container that can hold engine oil for recycling. This can be done with a 5 liter plastic water container.
Modifying engine oil
You can make the oil hot or cold. Heating the oil will make it more efficient and allow it to drain faster. You must be careful not burn yourself. Half a liter of oil remains in the engine’s upper parts. Cool oil is better because there isn’t any hot oil that can burn and all the oil is still in the sump. If you are like me, you should change the engine oil cold.
1. You can now access the drain plug beneath the oil pan and filter by setting the parking brake. The oil filter is usually located at the rear, front, or end of the engine block.
Caution: A jack that meets the standards of your vehicle is best. Always take the necessary safety precautions before you get underneath the vehicle.
2. To get rid of the oil, place the pan underneath the engine. The oil could seep into the ground if the drain plug is not on the bottom of the oil pan. Make sure your ceiling is at the right angle.
3. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the drain plug. You can protect your fingers by covering them with a cloth if you have hot oil. The rest is up to gravity.
4. Once the oil has drained completely, you can replace the drain plug and tighten it (turn counterclockwise). You must ensure that the drain plug fits into the slot securely and is not loose.
5. Locate your oil filter and remove it using your filter wrench. Make sure to place the pan under the filter. You should hold the filter up straight when you remove it so that oil does not leak out.
CAUTION: You may have difficulty opening the filter if you tighten it too much. It may be necessary to create a different method to loosen it. You may need to use a screwdriver to remove the filter. It is not a good idea to stop changing the filter if it doesn’t turn on. Filter obstruction can cause oil to bypass and flow unfiltered through the engine. This can greatly increase engine wear and could cause engine damage.
6. Use a few drops oil to your finger to rub the rubber seal of the oil filter. This will ensure that the seal seat functions properly once the filter has been installed. Rotate the filter clockwise and then tighten it by hand until it clicks in place. The filter should be turned three quarters of a turn after the rubber seal has come into contact with the engine. You can use your filter wrench to turn it manually if you are unable to do so. Don’t tighten it too much or it will be hard to open the next time.
CAUTION: Make sure you don’t skip threads when installing the filter. If the filter is not spinning easily or becomes stuck, pull it back to check that the threads are correct. Inspect the housing and gears to make sure there is no damage. Check that you have the right filter for your engine.
TIP: If you can install the filter vertically, it is possible to add new oil. This allows for a quicker filling of the filter and a higher oil pressure. You should not add oil to the filter if it is mounted from the sides. Otherwise, it could spill.
7. Locate and lift the oil filler cap from the engine. Fill the oil pan with the right oil. As long as the oil is of high quality and the proper viscosity, it doesn’t matter which brand it is.
CAUTION: To properly fill the crankcase, most engines require four to five liters. Some engines may require six to eight liters of oil. You can find out how much oil your engine uses in your vehicle’s owner manual. Overfilling your engine with oil could cause oil leakage. Excessive oil pressure can cause foaming and leaks. This can lead to expensive engine damage.
In the event that you accidentally overfill your engine with oil, open the drain plug located at the bottom to drain it. The oil should be emptied into a clean container. You can reuse it later. Make sure to check the dipstick before adding oil.
8. The oil filler cap must be replaced and tightened.
9. Take out the dipstick and wipe it. Then, insert it again to check the oil level. It should be at the right level if you have also changed the filter.
10. Turn the engine on and leave it running. Do not rush as it can take a while for the oil to flow through the filter and reach pressure. The oil pressure warning light may stay on for a while until oil pressure returns to normal.
11. To ensure that the drain plug is not leaking, check the underside of your vehicle. If oil is seeping onto the floor, shut off the engine and locate the leak.
12. Make sure to keep track of the date, mileage, brand, and viscosity of your oil changes so you don’t miss the next oil change.
13. You can pour the oil in a plastic water bottle, and then return it to an auto shop that accepts recycled products. Do not pour the oil into soil, drains, or other areas that could contaminate your drinking water.
14. Use degreaser chemical to clean your hands if you don’t have gloves.
Are you a service or repairman required to change my oil?
If you have a good financial situation and aren’t trying to save money you can visit a repair shop or service center to get your oil changed very quickly. This will eliminate the need to get rid of any old oil.
Many gas stations offer oil changes for free if you purchase the oil. The oil filter must be changed by the station. You must bring your oil filter with to the station if they change the filter. Every station must have a different oil company. Ask about the price of the oil at each station. Some stations will show the service cost in relation to the oil price.
This job is not for employees who are often assigned to fuel stations. This job requires unskilled workers who earn minimum wage. This job is only temporary for most workers. You could have serious issues with your car if the person who changes your oil does not take their job seriously. The most common complaint is excess fat. This is due to a lack of information. Service manuals should be available for fuel stations that perform oil change work. They should list the oil capacities of all makes and models. It is not clear how attentive the employee will be to this information.
The maintenance light on your vehicle’s instrument panel will illuminate when it is time to change the oil. This warning light will not go out if the oil is changed at the fuel stations. The code that caused this light to go on must be connected with an OBD reader and removed from the ECU. Stations will always be looking to sell excess oil.
For an oil change on a standard vehicle, the cost is 150 TL to 200 TL. A labor charge of 50 to 100 TL can be incurred if the oil and filter were brought in by you. You might have to pay more for a luxury vehicle or an unusually expensive oil filter. I don’t know the answer so please don’t bother asking. These car owners view mechanics as “money fathers”. It is easy to find out why mechanics charge so much for a simple service.
The most serious problem that vigilant mechanics face is the mistake of using open oil as their original oil. You can also write on the oil drum the names of well-known brands. The safety lock on the oil drum indicates that the cover has never been opened. If the cover is removed, it is possible to put oil in the drum. You may have the same problem if you use the engine oils purchased from fuel stations or parts retailers.
