How to Put Engine Oil in Car

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

• New engine oil (check your car’s manual for the recommended type and amount)
• Oil filter (if you’re changing it at the same time)
• Funnel
• Wrench
• Oil pan
• Gloves (optional)

Step 2: Safety First

• Park your car on a level surface.
• Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down. Hot oil can burn you.
• Engage the parking brake.

Step 3: Locate the Oil Pan and Drain Plug

• Crawl under your car and locate the oil pan. It’s usually a large, black metal pan at the bottom of the engine.
• Find the drain plug on the oil pan. It’s usually a bolt or nut located at the lowest point of the pan.

Step 4: Drain the Old Oil

• Place the oil pan under the drain plug.
• Use the wrench to carefully loosen the drain plug, but don’t remove it completely yet.
• Allow the oil to drain into the oil pan.
• Once the oil has stopped dripping, remove the drain plug and allow the remaining oil to drain out.

Step 5: Replace the Drain Plug

• Clean the drain plug and the threads on the oil pan with a clean rag.
• Apply a small amount of new oil to the threads of the drain plug.
• Hand-tighten the drain plug into the oil pan.
• Use the wrench to tighten the drain plug further, but don’t overtighten it.

Step 6: Replace the Oil Filter (Optional)

• Locate the oil filter. It’s usually a cylindrical-shaped canister located near the top of the engine.
• Use the wrench to loosen the oil filter.
• Remove the old oil filter and discard it.
• Apply a thin layer of new oil to the rubber gasket on the new oil filter.
• Screw the new oil filter onto the engine by hand.
• Use the wrench to tighten the oil filter further, but don’t overtighten it.

Step 7: Add New Oil

• Locate the oil filler cap on the top of the engine.
• Insert the funnel into the oil filler cap.
• Pour the new engine oil into the funnel.
• Add oil until the dipstick reads between the “min” and “max” marks.

Step 8: Check for Leaks

• Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes.
• Check for any leaks under the car.
• If you see any leaks, stop the engine and check the drain plug and oil filter for tightness.

Step 9: Reset the Oil Life Monitor (Optional)

• Many newer cars have an oil life monitor that tracks the remaining life of the oil.
• Once you’ve changed the oil, you need to reset the oil life monitor to start tracking the new oil.
• Check your car’s manual for instructions on how to reset the oil life monitor.