How Do You Change Your Oil?

As drivers across Salisbury and Kannapolis know, oil changes are crucial for your engine’s health. If you’re the DIY type, you may be wondering: How do you change your oil?

At Cloninger Ford, we’ve made it easy for you with this step-by-step guide to doing an oil change. Schedule a service appointment, and your car will be ready for the roads of Lexington and Mooresville in no time!

Step 1: Drain the Oil

The first thing you’ll need to do is find the oil drain plug. It’s a large nut or plug under the oil pan at the bottom of your engine. You may be able to reach it by crawling under your car, but you may also have to jack up the car. (If you do the latter, use jack stands to keep it secure.)

Place a container under the plug and unscrew the plug. Wait for the oil to drain out. It shouldn’t take more than 10 or 15 minutes to drain satisfactorily, although you can let it drain longer to get those final drips.

Step 2: Change Your Oil Filter

You can do this while the oil is draining if you like: It’ll save you time in the long run. The oil filter is crucial for keeping your oil free from contaminants and extending its natural life, so you’ll want to change it every time you change the engine oil.

Under the hood, remove the cap from the oil filler hole at the top of your engine. Unscrew your previous oil filter by turning it counterclockwise—you can use a wrench if needed. Then, with a new filter in hand, open your new oil and use some of it to moisten the gasket on top of the filter.

This will help keep the system sealed when the new filter is installed. Screw in your new filter (clockwise) until it is secure.

Step 3: Add New Engine Oil

Make sure you replace and tighten the oil drain plug before you add new oil, or it will simply drain out as soon as you pour it in. Then, you can add fresh oil through the oil filler hole at the top of your engine. Use a funnel if necessary.

Pour slowly to give the oil time to run down. Next, replace the oil filler cap and run the engine for up to a minute or so. Check for leaks around the drain plug and the filter. If everything looks okay, shut the engine off and check the oil level with the oil dipstick. Add oil as needed to get to the proper level.

Congrats: You’re finished! Lower your car safely back to the ground (if needed), and you can take on the roads of Kannapolis and Mooresville again.  If you’d rather have your oil changed by an expert, visit our service center!

Any Oil Change Questions? Just Ask Us

Oil changes are a straightforward process in concept. Now that you know how to change your oil, you can do it yourself the next time you need oil service.

At Cloninger Ford, we can provide you with OEM oil filters and engine oil for your make and model vehicle. Just place an order through our parts center for the proper parts. If you’d rather let the experts handle the job, schedule an oil change with us. We’re always happy to serve Lexington and Salisbury drivers!