DIY auto repair, otherwise known as Do It Yourself, is becoming quite common during these times when people are trying to save money. Many car maintenance activities that can add up throughout the year, are easy enough to do for oneself, and they are not as daunting of a task as they may seem. Take oil changes for instance. This will involve getting a little grime under the fingernails, so be prepared. This will also ensure that it was all done right, with the time taken to do a job well done using the appropriate products for your car or motorcycle. Manuals will come in handy, so have the manufacturers manual for your particular make and model within reach.
There will be few tools that you will need, and it is recommended that you find a proper facility for which to discard the old oil. It is against the law to just throw that away. There are many places that will take the used oil, Jiffylube being one of those, and they will not charge a fee. The first step is finding a spot to perform this task. Once found, it is best to drive the car around for a few minutes to heat the oil up. This will serve to thin it out, making it easier to drain. Once done with the pre-oil change drive, turn off the engine and make sure that it is in gear with the parking brake set.
And as precautions are always wise to take when climbing under a vehicle, it is best advised to place cement blocks around the tires. Using your small engine repair manuals, locate the drain plug. Many times this will be labeled. You will need a socket wrench to remove the nut. Once the nut is loosened, cover the ground and get an oil pan. Once the plug is removed the oil will most likely drain out in a few minutes but it is best to wait for about an hour. Replace the plug. Now it is time to funnel the new oil in the engine, the manuals will give you information as to the number of quarts. Once that is complete, start up the car and leave it idling for a few minutes. Check for leaks, and if there are none, your good to go.
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