#EdenDIY - Club Meeting: Changing Your Oil. July 31th 3pm EST.

Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
You only need to let it run for a minute or two for the oil to work its way through the motor. Shut it off and wait a few minutes for the oil to settle. Pull out the dip stick, wipe it off and slide it back in for a second before pulling it back out.

You might wonder why you need to wipe off the dip stick each time you pull it out. This is twofold. One; it insures a good reading and two; it insures no dirt gets back into the motor. Below is a picture I took when I put the dip stick back in without wiping it off first. Note that when I checked the oil level before it was just at the add mark, as you can see it looks like the oil level is way over the full mark.




Chances are the level will be lower than before. Add oil until the level reaches the “Full” mark. Most of the time the difference between the add and full marks is about one quart. When you see the oil at the full mark you can replace the filler cap and dip stick.



The last thing to do is to put the old oil into a container so you can take it too the auto parts store for recycling. I save old antifreeze bottles and gallon bottles for just this. Since most motors take five quarts the gallon jug will not hold it all, so you may need two jugs.

Just place your funnel in the top and carefully pour the oil from the catch pan into the jug.




Once the pan is empty, I like to place the oil filter in the funnel to let it drain as well.

07/31/2012
Contributor: Melan!e Melan!e
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
What I always hated was every time I had to take one of our work trucks in to the dealer for service it was $1000, no matter what. Hell a pair of mirrors for my boss's truck was $900.
Oh my!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Now the clerk at the auto parts store may have told you how much oil your vehicle will take, while they are probably pretty close it is still best to check for yourself. Since most engines take 4 quarts of oil plus one in the filter, I always add the ... more
Ok funny story time: We had a friend who had never worked on cars. She learned one day that you are supposed to check your oil from the guy at a gas station. So she did. It looked low to her so she bought some oil and added it until the thing looked full. 8 quarts later she turned on the car and blew up her engine...it caused an ecological disaster and she was charged by the city for the clean up. (facepalm)
07/31/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
Alink all love you. Although, I think that is the first time I have heard that one. Usually everyone says "found on road dead."
I have to stop dong three w's and a dot. It turns it into a link every time!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
What I always hated was every time I had to take one of our work trucks in to the dealer for service it was $1000, no matter what. Hell a pair of mirrors for my boss's truck was $900.
Well that's just cause they knew you'd pay it, company vehicle and all that.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by playsalot
Who's sigel
My husband
07/31/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Ok funny story time: We had a friend who had never worked on cars. She learned one day that you are supposed to check your oil from the guy at a gas station. So she did. It looked low to her so she bought some oil and added it until the thing looked ... more
Funny how to much oil is just as bad as to little.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I've done the oil in my integra and my escort but hubby does the rest now.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Gracie Gracie
HI i'm late, but here! Trying to catch up!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Melan!e Melan!e
Quote:
Originally posted by Gracie
HI i'm late, but here! Trying to catch up!
Hi Gracie
07/31/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Gracie
HI i'm late, but here! Trying to catch up!
We're glad to have ya Gracie!
07/31/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Well that's just cause they knew you'd pay it, company vehicle and all that.
Oh, I know.

The mirrors are heated and electric. I went to another dealer and mentioned it to the guy, he was very cool and showed me a Mopar set (Same exact mirror only had Mopar instead of Dodge on it) for $300. Just goes to show you that you should shop around.
07/31/2012
Contributor: playsalot playsalot
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Ok funny story time: We had a friend who had never worked on cars. She learned one day that you are supposed to check your oil from the guy at a gas station. So she did. It looked low to her so she bought some oil and added it until the thing looked ... more
Doesn't sound funny for your friend.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Oh, I know.

The mirrors are heated and electric. I went to another dealer and mentioned it to the guy, he was very cool and showed me a Mopar set (Same exact mirror only had Mopar instead of Dodge on it) for $300. Just goes to show you that ... more
Yeah, after market research is important.
07/31/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Gracie
HI i'm late, but here! Trying to catch up!
Howdy Gracie! Better late than never.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Funny how to much oil is just as bad as to little.
That story is still being used to frighten new car owners...now the auto parts store will come out and check your oil FOR you before they will sell you any. Well, if you seem unsure about how much to buy. I was always told buy one quart, add a bit, wait, check again, add a bit more, rinse and repeat until it is just below the last mark on the stick. Check again when you add gas. If you need two quarts of oil take it to a mechanic.
I think that is a good baseline, myself.
07/31/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
While you are waiting for the filter to drain go ahead and check all the other fluids. Most of them can be checked by just looking at them, such as the brake, antifreeze and window washer



The brake fluid level is easy to see and has a “Max” mark to show the full mark. The widow washer fluid can simply be opened to check the level (You don’t have to worry about it being to full) but the antifreeze level on the Explorer is hard to see. It is hidden down on the side and you have to look very closely to see it.



Please note that if antifreeze needs to be added the motor and radiator should be cooled off first. This is another reason I like to change the oil after the vehicle has sat over night.

Now that you have checked on all the fluids there is two more things you have to do. First, you need to take it for a drive. This is so that you can check to make sure the plug and filter are tight enough and do not leak. While you are driving keep an eye on your oil gauge or oil light, if the light comes on or the gauge runs low, stop the car and check things over and check the fluid level. I would say that you should drive like two miles and check things anyways. Metal expands when hot and what seems to be tight when cold can be loose when warm.

If all looks good, why not head over to the auto parts store and drop off the used oil and filter. You can also brag about how you did it yourself. Be sure to let them know that some guy on a sex toy web site showed you how to do it.


My first car was a 1974 Ford Pinto, these cars were known to have a design flaw in that the gas tank could rupture when hit from behind. But that is not what killed my first car; it was not checking the oil level. I ran the engine out of oil while doing 75mph down the highway when I was late for work.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I've done the oil in my integra and my escort but hubby does the rest now.
An escort was our family car for the longest time. We had a 2000 Ford Escort that was two doors for a family of four. It was HELL!! Though that car was so good to us!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by playsalot
Doesn't sound funny for your friend.
It wasn't but then again you had to know her...she is the foremost expert on everything. She was warned that she was buying way too much oil and then warned as she was putting it in her vehicle but she was older than the mechanic so she knew better.
That's why she was charged by the City for clean up!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
While you are waiting for the filter to drain go ahead and check all the other fluids. Most of them can be checked by just looking at them, such as the brake, antifreeze and window washerThe brake fluid level is easy to see and has a “Max” mark to ... more
HOLY engine seizure Tim Man! That can't have ended well.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
An escort was our family car for the longest time. We had a 2000 Ford Escort that was two doors for a family of four. It was HELL!! Though that car was so good to us!
Showing my age here - mine was an '89.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Showing my age here - mine was an '89.
My chevette was an 81 hatchback
07/31/2012
Contributor: Melan!e Melan!e
My mazda that we have now is my first car
07/31/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
That story is still being used to frighten new car owners...now the auto parts store will come out and check your oil FOR you before they will sell you any. Well, if you seem unsure about how much to buy. I was always told buy one quart, add a bit, ... more
Good plan. If you know the car is using oil or leaking it that is one thing but when you find that it is constantly low, it's time to get it checked. The motor in the Explorer cost $2800, add another $1500 for them to install it (Did it myself) when you concider that money to have it checked, it's pretty cheap.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Showing my age here - mine was an '89.
That means you car is only one year younger then me!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Melan!e Melan!e
Quote:
Originally posted by Beck
That means you car is only one year younger then me!
Same age as me
07/31/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
HOLY engine seizure Tim Man! That can't have ended well.
Nope, sold it to a scrap yard shortly after. My next car did not last a week. lol Had some issues back then with cars.
07/31/2012
Contributor: playsalot playsalot
I had a scion that would have a light that would come on when we needed an oil change. There was a series of things we had to do to turn it off. Turning the key to aux and pushing buttons.
07/31/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by Melan!e
Same age as me
Yay!
07/31/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
Good plan. If you know the car is using oil or leaking it that is one thing but when you find that it is constantly low, it's time to get it checked. The motor in the Explorer cost $2800, add another $1500 for them to install it (Did it myself) ... more
I've always wanted to field strip and rebuild a motor but I have and almost pathological dislike of oil and grease on my hands...and I hate wearing gloves. Plus, I am as coordinated as a cross eyed elephant on a lop sided skateboard. Still maybe one day...
07/31/2012