Oil change tips

zacspeed_2

Hi.
I am wanting to change the oil on my Suzuki Vitara. I've never done this before & I'm not afraid of getting my hands too dirty.
I did a search on t'interweb & I think Halfords are a little bit confused regarding the diffrence between "checking" & "changing" oil!!
Any tips from you lot would be really handy

tomstickland

Buy oil & filter from motor factors, they often have good deals on a box of oil cans4. ie: £4 each.

Ideally engine is not cold when you do the change.

Drain old oil out via sump plug.

Swap filters (worth buying a decent tool for this for around £8).

Pour new oil in.

zacspeed_2

ty tom

balsingh

Remember, the old oil has to be discard at the local rubbish tip where they have a section for oil. Dont pour it down the drain ... its illegal.

vansboy

I started to type an easy hints n tips response, but without being made to sound sarcastic, or 'funny', there is a LOT to consider, when carrying out this simple & important task, so I'll resist, for now.

Best advice, to start, is buy a Haynes workshop manual & have a read.

Then, when your OK with the instructions ther & understand there, not too technical, terms, have a go!!

VB

Wig

get engine warm, not hot

leave it to settle 5 mins,

Before starting try to loosen filter a tiny fraction by hand to see if possible, if it budges you won't have any trouble later on. *if not possible read on...

place suitable big tray under drain plug
with news paper underneath.
then undo drain nut

when it's finished dripping replace nut.

move tray to under filter (some cars if tray is big enough both can be done same time)

undo filter by hand (strong grip required) usually possible.
if it can't be removed by hand a particularly messy way to do it is to force a screw driver through it and turn it using this as a lever. A better way to do it is to use a rubber strap on a plastic handle (for opening jam jars and oil filters)

Allow to drain oil into tray

When finished dripping and wiped clean with rags, use your clean oil to smear a little of clean oil on the rubber seal on your new filter, fit and tighten BY HAND ONLY.

Tighten drain nut to correct torque, or if no torque wrench, fairly tight using a spanner. If a new copper washer comes with filter change it, don't worry if not present, just re use old washer (I have never had problem).
fill up with clean engine oil

You can consider also to flush your engine with flushing oil, after draining, and then drain the flushing oil before filling with clean oil. If I do this I have a spare clean "flushing" filter which I keep in the shed which I put on during the flushing phase then remove it and put on the new clean one. I also use "flushing oil" which is to be found at motor factors for about 6 - 9 pounds 5 liters. I don't use the small cans of "engine flush" which are added to the engine before draining the old oil. I think flushing oil is the better method. << Just my opinion.

Take old oil to civic amenity site, flushing oil can be re-used a few times.

tomstickland

Using cheap oil for a day or two is a good alternative to flushing oil.

Wig

tomstickland wrote:

Using cheap oil for a day or two is a good alternative to flushing oil.

With a low viscosity is better.

Altarf

Or for £10 you could keep your hands clean:

http://www.national.co.uk/promotions/specials.asp?bhcp=1

highguyuk

Thats quite a good offer!

Wig

"from" only £10, and you don't get a flush or the oil you prefer.