Save money: How to change your car’s oil

IF YOUR vehicle is in need of an oil service after recent festive season road-tripping but your bank account is looking bleak, fear not.

You can perform an oil change service on your own (and save on workshop labour costs) with these handy tips from the ROSE Foundation.

According to the experts at the organisation, changing the oil in your car regularly is the single best thing you can do to prolong the life of your engine. “Doing this simple 20-minute job yourself can save money and you will know that the job was done properly,” they add.

Whilst most of the oil service job is easy, you’ll most likely need to raise your vehicle to get to the drain plug. For this, you will need a sturdy set of ramps or a floor jack and safety stands designed for your car’s (or SUV’s) weight.

“Also, before you start, look under the car and make sure you’ll be able to get at the filter to remove it. Check your owner’s manual for the vehicle’s oil capacity and drain plug location too,” the foundation suggests.

For most oil change services, you will need the following:

3.5 to 4.5 litres of drain pan capacity

An oil filter wrench

A box-end wrench the size of your filler plug A funnel

Disposable rags

A new oil filter for your vehicle. “If your car’s engine is cold, let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up the oil. This helps loosen the contaminants in the oil so they’ll flow out into the drain pan. However, don’t try to drain the oil if the engine is hot. Let it cool to avoid burning your hand,” foundation experts add. 6 EASY STEPS TO AN AT-HOME ENGINE OIL CHANGE 1) Get your car into position

Drive your car onto the ramps, or use a floor jack along with a set of jack stands. Make sure you have put on the hand brake and then shake the

car from side to side to make sure it’s supported. 2) Drain the old engine oil

Using a box-end wrench, loosen the drain plug about a half turn. Avoid using an adjustable wrench because it’s more likely to slip and eventually ruin the plug head.

“Make sure you catch all the old oil in a drain pan or sumpy, and don’t allow it to spill onto the ground. Used oil is hazardous to the environment and one litre can contaminate one million litres of water,” Bubele Nyiba, CEO of the ROSE Foundation notes.

Position the sump or your drain pan before unscrewing the plug. Let the oil drain for at least five minutes, then

reinstall the plug. 3) Unscrew the oil filter

Using an oil filter wrench unscrew the oil filter. Loosen the oil filter by turning counter-clockwise. When the filter is loose, use a rag to unscrew it by hand. Be careful, though, as the filter might be full of oil, so place the drain pan underneath to catch this oil. 4) Install the new oil filter

Carefully spin the new filter on clockwise by hand. Be sure you don’t pick up any dirt from the frame or other parts on the ring gasket as you position the new filter. Don’t over-tighten the filter, as you might tear the gasket. 5) Add the new oil

Locate the engine oil fill hole and using a clean, dry funnel, carefully add the new oil. You can refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the correct weight, API rating and amount of oil you’ll need to add.

“If you look on the shelves in auto parts stores you’ll see oils labelled for all kinds of purposes: high-tech engines, new cars, higher-mileage vehicles, heavy-duty or off-road SUVs. In addition, you’ll see a wide selection of viscosities. If you read your owner’s manual, you’ll know what the car manufacturer recommends,” advises Nyiba.

Replace the oil fill cap, check the oil level on the dipstick (it may be slightly over the mark until you run the engine) and start the engine. Look under the car for leaks. Lower the car and recheck

the dipstick level to make sure the oil is up to the full mark. 6) Safely dispose of the old oil

The ROSE Foundation advises that it is key to collect and store used oil carefully and to drop it off at approved disposal points for safe recycling, thereby ensuring it does not make its way into the environment.

“Unfortunately, all too often used oil ends up making its way into the environment when people dispose of it by pouring it down storm water drains or onto the ground, where it makes its way into the water table,” says Nyiba.

“Used oil is a hazardous substance containing poisonous components and heavy metals that can pollute the environment and which are dangerous for your health.”

The ROSE Foundation urges anyone who changes their engine oil themselves to drop the used oil and related waste, such as the old filter and oily rags, off at their nearest approved municipal garden refuse site, which should have used oil storage facilities.

“Otherwise, most reputable service centres have used oil storage facilities and will take your oil, as they are paid according to volume by the collectors who take it away for processing.”

For more information and to find out about an accredited collector or drop-off point, contact the ROSE Foundation on (021) 448 7492 or visit the website www.rosefoundation.org.za.