Lead Synthetics

Provider of Quality Synthetic Oil Products in Detroit, MI

You can take your car or truck to a quick lube to get the oil changed. Every oil change, you may find yourself sitting in a mini-lounge drinking weak, complimentary coffee while someone else changes your oil. But does it feel right? Stare out the windows in the garage and watching just how easy it looks? The knowledge and skills those mechanics performing your oil change have; you can possess a tiny piece of too. Let's get under the hood and make a change Detroit. Here is a short guide on how to change the oil in your car. Grab the right AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil for your engine and let’s get started.

Save Money

Getting your oil changed at a quick lube or similar shops about half the final cost goes to labor. They have deals now and then, but they’re few and far between. Changing your oil yourself will only set you back the price of materials for a new AMSOIL Filter and some new AMSOIL Synthetic Oil.

Engine Ego

Nothing will boost your car confidence like learning a manual skill and doing a job yourself. You will feel satisfaction after changing your oil. You’ll get your hands greasy, and you’ll have the sweat the prove you're well on your way to becoming a gearhead.

How Often Should You Change Your Motor Oil?

The common number that car dealers and mechanics put out there for oil changes is to do it every 4,800 kilometers or every three months. Because it has been repeated so often, many people have come to believe that it’s an unalterable law of the universe.The 4,800 kilometers rule is good advice, put it's not 100% accurate. Driving factors and conditions make this number fluctuate. Modern engines and 100% Synthetic Motor Oils, like AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil, can last much longer than 4,800 kilometers in between oil changes. Most cars can go 8,000 Kilometers in between oil changes. I’ve also seen some cars that can go for 19,300 kilometers before they need a change. There isn’t hard and fast number. Bottom line, it’s usually longer than 4,800 kilometers. Always check your owner’s manual to find out how many kilometers your car can go in between oil changes.

How to Change Your Motor Oil

Gather your tools and materials.You don’t need much to change your oil.

Here is a list of the essentials:

AMSOIL Oil Filter

Different cars require different sized oil filters. Check your car’s owner’s manual to find out what size you need. You can also check the auto parts book that all auto stores carry to find out which oil filter you car takes. You just need to know your car’s year, model and make.
AMSOIL Synthetic Oil: You need enough oil to refill your engine after you drain it. Most cars require 4 or 5 quarts of oil. Also, make sure you get the correct oil grade for your car. Check your owner’s manual for the grade and number of quarts you need. To understand more about what those numbers mean check out the API Chart.

Oil filter wrench: Sometimes you can get the filter off just by unscrewing it by hand. If it’s too tight, bring out an oil filter wrench. It’s an attachment that you put on the end of a socket wrench. Make sure you get the right size filter wrench attachment for the size of your oil filter. The attachment only costs around $3 from your local auto store.

Socket wrench set: You’ll need a socket wrench to unscrew the drain plug and maybe to unscrew the oil filter.

Something to catch the old oil: Anything will work. You can get an oil drip pan made specifically for this purpose, or you can use an old bucket.

A funnel.

Some old rags: In case, you drop the oil plug into the oil pan, and you need to wipe it off. They’re also good for wiping off your hands.

Car ramp: While not a necessary item, it can make your job easier. You can buy plastic ramps that will elevate your car’s front off the ground. This will give you more room to work underneath your car. You can find car ramps at most auto stores for around $30.

Warm Up Your Engine

To ensure that you drain all the old oil out of your engine block, warm it up by taking your car for a spin. You don’t want the oil to be too hot, just warm enough, so it thins out a bit. To tell if your car is warmed up enough, just turn on your heater. When your feet get nice and toasty, you’re ready to drain the oil.

Park on a Flat Surface

Park your car on a flat surface and engage the parking break. If you have those ramps, place them in front of your front wheels and drive up them. It’s always good to have someone out front guiding you so you don’t end up driving off the other end of the ramps. For added safety, put blocks behind both rear tires.

Get Ready to Drain

Pop the hood and remove the oil filler cap. Removing the oil filler cap can help the oil drain faster. It allows air to flow into the engine as the oil drains out. Remove the oil plug.Locate the oil plug underneath your car. It’s pretty easy to find. It’s a fairly large bolt on the oil pan’s bottom. Take an appropriate sized socket or wrench and start unscrewing the nut.If the nut is too tight, get a piece of pipe that’s a bit longer than your socket wrench and place it over your socket wrench’s handle. This will give you some added leverage.Don’t remove the oil plug completely with your wrench or you risk getting oil all over the place. Loosen it enough so that you can start unscrewing it with your fingers. Before you remove the plug, place your drip pan underneath the hole. When everything looks lined up, remove the plug. Make sure to hold the oil plug tightly or else you’ll have to fish for it in your drip pan. Let the oil drain.After you remove the oil plug, let the oil drain out completely. It takes about 2 minutes for most engines to drain.

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Remove the Filter

Probably the hardest part in removing an oil filter is finding it on your engine. The problem is there isn’t a standard position for where oil filters go, so it could be on your engine’s side, back, bottom, or top. Just look at your new AMSOIL Oil Filter and start looking underneath your car for something that looks similar. There's your oil filter. Depending on where the car manufacturer decides to put your filter, it can be hard to remove. You might have to contort your arm in weird ways to unscrew it, but be assured you can remove it.Often you can simply unscrew the filter by hand. However, if it’s too tight, get out your filter wrench. Give it a few turns until it loosens up. Once it does, remove the filter wrench and finish unscrewing the filter by hand. Before you remove the filter, make sure to have your drip pan underneath it. When you remove the filter, a good stream of oil will come out. When you remove the oil filter, make sure the rubber gasket ring comes off with it. If it stays on the car, the new filter won’t get an adequate seal on the engine.

Install the New Filter

Dip your finger in some new oil and smear it on the gasket ring of your new filter. This will help the filter seat better against the engine. Thread the new filter onto the hole where the oil filter goes. It doesn’t take much to tighten your oil filter. Tighten it with your fingers until it stops turning. Then give it one more strong half turn. That should do the trick. Some oil filters come with instructions on how many turns you need to give a filter to tighten it. If so, follow the instructions.

Replace the Oil Plug

The SAE suggests replacing the sealing washer on your oil plug before you start tightening it. If it’s a metal one in good condition, you can maybe get away without replacing it. Put the washer in place and thread the drain plug back into its hole. Start tightening. When it’s nice and tight, get out from under your car and remove the drip pan.

Refill the Engine with AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Place your funnel in the oil filler hole on the top of your engine and start filling your car up with new, synthetic oil. Again, depending on the car, 4 to 5 quarts should do the trick. Once the oil is all in, screw on the oil cap and close the hood.

Start Your Engine

When you’re all done, start the car and let it run for about 5 minutes. This does two things. It allows your engine to regain proper oil pressure, and it gives you a chance to see if you have any leaks near your oil plug and oil filter. If you see any leaks, stop the car and tighten the plug and filter as needed.

Dispose of Your Old Oil Properly

A major benefit to Synthetic Motor Oil is less frequent changes. Fewer changes and emissions mean it's kinder to the environment. That's powerful stuff. Now do your part and don’t dump your motor oil in a sewer or the trash. Instead, take it to a proper disposal location. Most states have laws that require quick lubes and gas stations to accept used motor oil from consumers for free or at a nominal cost. Just place your used oil in the drip pan in a couple of old containers or jugs. You’ll need to use your funnel and a helping hand to make the transfer. Screw on the lids, put the jugs in the back of your car, and drop them off at your local quick lube. You can also give them your old oil filter.