Car basics · Some practice · about 1 hour

Change Your Own Oil and Filter

Over time, engine oil gets dirty and its additives get used up, so it needs to be drained and replaced. Changing it yourself teaches you how your car works, but only do it with the car safely supported on ramps or jack stands. If you're not comfortable, a shop can do it.

When to teach it: Watch from about 10, help from about 13 with jobs that keep them out from under the car, and do it alone as an older teen after doing it together a few times.

You'll need

The oil type and amount your owner's manual lists
A new oil filter that fits your car
Car ramps or jack stands (never just the jack)
Wheel chocks
A wrench or socket for the drain plug
An oil filter wrench
A drain pan, funnel, rags, and newspaper
Safety glasses and gloves
A clean, leak-proof container with a tight lid for the used oil

Before you start

Read the oil change section of your owner's manual.
Let the engine cool. Used oil and some metal parts can be very hot.
Park on flat, solid ground. Raise the car on ramps or jack stands as your manual shows, set the parking brake, and chock the wheels.
Never get under a car held up only by a jack.

Chemistry

How it works: Why oil wears out

Motor oil lubricates. It coats moving metal parts so they slide past each other with less friction. It also picks up dirt and the leftovers from burning fuel and carries them away from the pistons.

As you drive, more of that dirt builds up in the oil. The filter catches many of the particles, but over time the oil's additives get used up. Then the oil itself can start to break down: it reacts with oxygen (oxidizes) or thickens, and it can't protect the engine as well.

Used oil isn't garbage, though. It can be cleaned and re-refined into new motor oil that meets the same standards as oil made from crude. That's why recycling matters. Dumped oil pollutes water: California's recycling agency says one gallon of used oil can foul a million gallons of drinking water.

next oil change = today's odometer reading + the interval in your manual (for example, 45,000 + 7,500 = 52,500 miles)

Try it: Rub your palms together quickly for ten seconds and feel the warmth from friction. Then put a drop of cooking oil or hand lotion on your palms and try again. The slippery film cuts the friction, which is what motor oil does for engine parts.

Keep learning: Science

Teaching it to your kids

Before the first time, read the manual's oil section together and find the drain plug and filter on the car.
Kids can hand tools, hold the funnel, pour new oil with help, and read the dipstick. Adults handle anything under the car.
Have your child work out the next change mileage and write it down.
Take the used oil to the recycling drop-off together.

Tips

Your owner's manual lists the oil change interval for your car. Intervals vary by maker and model year.
Don't mix used oil with anything else, including water.
Many service stations and quick lube shops take used oil and filters at no charge.
Drain the old filter before you take it to be recycled.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Instead
Working under a car held up only by the jack	Use ramps or jack stands on flat, solid ground every time.
Leaving the old filter gasket stuck on the engine	Check that it came off with the old filter before you put on the new one.
Overtightening the new filter with a wrench	Tighten it by hand unless the instructions say otherwise.
Pouring used oil on the ground, in the trash, or down a drain	Take it to a used oil collection site.

Safe habits

Never get under a car supported only by a jack.
Wear safety glasses and gloves.
Let the engine cool first; used oil and metal parts can be very hot.
Set the parking brake and chock the wheels.

When to call a pro

If you're unsure about any step, have a professional shop change the oil. Some carmakers recommend that.
If a leak won't stop, have a shop look at it before you drive.
If you don't have ramps or jack stands, don't go under the car. Have a shop do the job.

Sources

Free how-to guides for families, with nothing to earn, pass or send in. They follow U.S. rules and sources; your owner's manual, product labels and state and local rules come first.