DIY Oil Change | Hagerstown, MD

May 26, 2023

We would be lying if we said we haven’t told you to service your vehicle before, but we just want to remind you how important service is. However, we do understand that service can become expensive and we understand that you might not want to spend that kind of money all the time. Luckily, if your Mitsubishi needs service we always offer service coupons to help you save big on service!

Anyway, this week’s blog isn’t about our service specials. Instead, we want to make sure that you service your vehicle but we want to help you save a buck or two. Do you like DIY? If so, this week’s blog is going to be your cup of tea! This week we want to help you perform an oil change all by yourself! So take a peek at the steps below! If you feel like you’re not capable of doing this, be sure to schedule a service appointment today and we can complete it for you in no time!

Steps:

Make sure you have the proper tools: Different wrenches work best for different cars the best to choose from are Filter Pliers, Band Wrench, Strap Wrench, Cap Wrench, or Expandable Cap Wrench.
Pull the plug – Unscrew the plug and quickly pull it out and away from the oil stream. Clean the drain plug and install a new gasket (if required).
Remove the oil filter: Screw off the old oil filter and make sure the rubber gasket comes with it! If not peel it from the engine yourself.
Add fresh oil: Refill the engine by using a funnel (it’s super messy if you don’t)!
Recycle the old oil: put your old oil into a large jug and bring it to a recycling center. Run your engine for a few minutes until the dashboard oil light goes out. Wait a few minutes. Then check the dipstick and add oil if needed.

Some tips from the experts:

If the engine is cold, start it and let it run for five minutes to warm the oil. If it’s hot, wait at least 30 minutes to avoid getting burned.
Always use jack stands. Never work under a car that’s supported by a jack only.
Always hand-tighten the filter. Never use a filter wrench.
Use new oil to coat the oil filter gasket before spinning it on.
If you follow these steps you should be done changing your oil in about 20 minutes if you experience an issue or your check engine light doesn’t go off bring your vehicle to a professional for a diagnosis.