DIY guide · Easy
How to change your own oil
An oil change is the easiest way to learn your car. On a lift you stand up, nothing drips on your sleeve, and the whole job takes about an hour.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time in the bay
- 0.75 to 1.5 hours
- Best bay
- 4-post drive-on lift
- Bay cost, plus tax
- $50
This is a general guide, not a manual for your car. Your vehicle's service manual comes first, especially for torque values, fluid types and capacities. Support the car on the lift locks or jack stands before you go under it, wear eye protection, and if a step feels wrong, stop and ask us. We do not do welding, grinding or painting in the bays.
Look these up before you book
- Oil type (the viscosity number, such as 5W-30) and capacity
- Drain plug and filter location
- Drain plug torque
Tools
- Socket or wrench that fits the drain plug
- Oil filter wrench or pliers
- Drain pan
- Funnel
- Torque wrench
- Gloves and eye protection
- Shop towels
Parts and fluids
- Engine oil, the amount and type your car calls for
- Oil filter
- New drain plug washer, if your plug uses one
There is an AutoZone nearby, and during business hours parts usually reach the shop in about 10 to 20 minutes. Forgot a filter or need a different size? Order it, keep working, and do not lose your slot.
The retailer's own vehicle picker confirms what fits your car. Always compare the part number with your old part.
Step by step
- Warm the engine, then shut it offRun it for a couple of minutes so the oil flows. Do not do this hot enough to burn you.
- Raise the car and open the oil capLift on the correct points. Opening the cap on top helps the oil drain faster.
- Drain the oilSet the pan under the plug, loosen the plug by hand at the end and pull it away quickly. Let it drain fully.
- Remove the old filterUnscrew it with the wrench. Some oil will spill, so keep the pan under it. Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with it.
- Fit the new filterWipe the seat, rub a little fresh oil on the new gasket, then tighten by hand as the filter says. Do not use a wrench to over-tighten.
- Refit the drain plugUse a new washer if it has one and torque the plug to spec. This is the one bolt you do not want to over-tighten.
- Fill and checkLower the car, pour in oil a little short of full, wait a minute and check the dipstick. Top up to the mark.
- Start it and look underneathIdle for a minute, watch for drips at the filter and plug, shut off, wait, then recheck the level.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving the old filter gasket stuck to the engine, so the new one leaks
- Over-tightening the drain plug and stripping the pan
- Filling to the top of the dipstick range or past it
- Forgetting to reset the maintenance light if your car has one
Stop and ask for help if
- If the drain plug is stripped or will not move, stop and ask us before forcing it.
- If oil comes out milky or has metal glitter in it, have the engine looked at.
Doing it in our bays
Pick the 4-post or 2-post. Both let you stand under the car and keep the drain pan easy to reach. Used oil goes in the marked container at the shop, so you do not need to haul it away.
Every bay has air, power, work lights and jack stands, and the lift bays come with a short safety walkthrough. Bring your own hand tools, parts and fluids. New to lifts? Read how your first visit goes.
Questions
How long does an oil change take?
About 45 minutes to 1.5 hours your first time. Our minimum booking is two hours, so many people pair it with a tire rotation and new filters.
Do I bring the oil?
Yes. Buy the oil and filter before you come, and use the type your owner's manual lists.
What happens to the old oil?
Pour it into the marked used-oil container at the shop. Do not leave it in a jug on the floor.