There is a regular oil change in the car. To avoid expensive service costs, you can do this yourself. What you have to pay attention to.
- Every car has an oil change at regular intervals.
- Workshops often hit the mark when it comes to service offers.
- Learn how to change the oil yourself here.
In addition to loss of value, fuel and wear, regular service work is also a significant cost factor for car owners. There is also potential for savings with the latter, because some work can be carried out by unskilled mechanics. This includes the regular change of engine oil *, which professionals do not necessarily have to do. They often charge between 50 and 150 euros . If you lend a hand, you pay half or even a third. The oil change on your own , however, has pitfalls.
How does the oil change work - and why is it needed?
Basically, car owners have to ask themselves when and why. In the engine *, the oil takes on the important function of lubricating the moving parts and cooling them . Additives also help here, but they wear out over time. The additive wear and increasingly more residues of various types make the oil age. Bad oil in turn leads to more wear in the engine, which should be countered by the regular oil change. How often the change must be made can be found in the manual, among other things. The change intervals are usually between 15,000 and 70,000 kilometers, depending on the vehicle type . If a car is moved less, aging of the oil still leads to a loss of quality in the lubricating properties. As an alternative, the change should therefore be made every 1.5 to 2 years, even if a car was only rarely moved. Some manufacturers even recommend fresh oil every 12 months.
How to do the oil change yourself
The actual act of changing the oil itself does not promise major savings, because workshops often advertise this service for small double-digit sums . However, even with cheap service offers, there are also the costs for oil, oil filters and seals , which are often hit hard. If you change on your own, you can buy the material yourself at a significantly cheaper price. Inspection packages , which include oil, filters and a new drain plug, are available online for as little as 20 euros. When buying the new oil, you should pay attention to the recommended quality and order according to the specifications and approvals of the manufacturer. The respective engine oil classifications can be found in the operating instructions and the labeling of the engine oil canister .
If you want to change the motor oil yourself, you need at least a ramp or better still a lifting platform and a sump for the used oil. Jacking up by jack is not enough. Under no circumstances should the old engine oil go wrong when draining and thereby get into the ground or into the sewage system. That would be a penalty, which can result in five to six-digit fines depending on the federal state. Accordingly, a location with a solid concrete floor is recommended for the oil change.
Ideally, the engine is slightly warm before changing the oil , which allows the lubricant to drain better. The filler cap on the engine should be removed before draining. The collection container is then positioned centrally under the drain plug . The area under and around the tub is best covered with a blanket or newspaper. If you do not know where the drain plug is located, you should simply watch one of the many oil change video tutorials circulating on the network for your vehicle type. If the oil has run out, the oil filter can be unscrewed next. Sometimes it can be turned out by hand, but often special tools are required. If the oil has largely run out of the filter opening as well, oil residues are removed from the openings with a rag and new filters and new drain plugs are screwed on with the specified torques.
Also interesting : How often do I have to go to the main inspection with my car?
The oil is then refilled. If the oil volume of the engine is, according to the manufacturer, for example, four liters, you first fill up with 3.5 liters . Then the oil level is checked with the dipstick. If it is still too low, it should be refilled carefully. If you have reached the minimum level, a short engine start is recommended and after a few minutes waiting another oil level measurement. Caution should be exercised when refilling, as too much oil can be added. Too much oil can damage the engine, which is why excess oil must be drained again.
After the oil change: where does the used oil go?
At the end of an oil change, there is one more problem: where to put the used oil? Ideally, this is filled into the empty fresh oil canister and then disposed of together with the oil filter. However, household waste is taboo. Both must be disposed of properly. This is possible, for example, with the seller, who is legally obliged to take it back. This also applies to online retailers, but customers usually have to pay for the return shipping themselves. Alternatively, municipal waste disposal companies or pollutant vehicles accept "normal" quantities of oil.
Also read : What is important with engine oil.
Mario Hommen / SP-X
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