If you are looking for a professional automotive repair shop that offers an oil change in Redmond WA, you should visit KD Automotive for professional oil changing services. For those of you looking to do it yourself, there are a few things you should take into consideration prior to getting under the hood of your car and cranking a wrench. The process is simple and requires few tools, and it sure beats sitting in a Jiffy Lube for 45 minutes waiting for some hourly employee to eventually get to your car and get the oil changed. This also will give you a better understanding of what’s going on under the hood of your car. Not many people take the time to get under the hood and really see what’s happening, but while changing your oil you will have that opportunity to identify other things under your hood that may require your attention. Keeping items like the battery terminals cleaned while you are in there is a great way to prevent corrosion and make sure that your battery stays charged. Checking fluid levels while under the hood is also a great idea, from anti-freeze to brake fluid and windshield wiper fluid. If you live in Washington you definitely use your windshield wipers, so checking the rubber wiper while you are there is a great way to maintain visibility while driving in the Seattle rain. With all that said, here are a few great steps to follow when changing your car oil for the first time.Time It Should Take:
This process will take you about an hour. After you have done it a few times it should go faster for you. The timeline may also be altered by the need to address other repairs or to top off fluids
The Tools You Will Need:
- Wrench (you will need a wrench or socket to remove the drain plug from the oil pan)
- Filter Wrench (the oil filter will require a special type of wrench to take off, you can find this at an auto supply store)
- Oil Pan (you will need a pan to drain your old oil in, this typically gets transferred into a bottle and then recycled)
- Funnel (you will need a funnel to drain the old oil into a container to recycle, and to add the new oil back into the engine)
- Rubber Gloves (this can be a messy task, make sure you have disposable rubber gloves and some old work clothes on)
- Car Jack And Stands (you may need to jack your car up to access the underside if you have ramps you can drive the front of the vehicle up on those)
The Materials You Will Need:
- Oil (fresh oil to refill your engine)
- Oil Filter (new filter to replace the old)
NOTE: Prior to making the trip to the auto parts store you should reference the manual for suggested oils and parts as suggested by the manufacturer.
Make sure you match the oil’s viscosity to the engine as well. If it requires 5W-30 don’t buy 5W-20. You will need to make sure you read the manual carefully for that.
Also double check to see if it requires synthetic vs non-synthetic oils and be sure any other specific requirements are met to stay within the warranty standards.The Process Of Changing Your Oil:
- Prior to starting check to see how much and what kind of oil you will need
- Gather your supplies near your vehicle so everything is accessible
- Prep the vehicle as needed (Your engine temperature should be warm but not hot. Make sure the engine and exhaust systems have cooled enough to not get burned)
- Drain the old oil out into the plastic container you will use to recycle
- Reinsert the drain plug so that the new oil add back to the engine doesn’t run out the bottom
- Swap the old oil filter for the new one using the filter wrench referenced under Tools You will Need
- Add the new oil to the engine as suggested in the owners manual
- Check your oil levels on flat ground and add oil as needed until the dipstick registers the proper level