Engine Oil change & replacement made easy

What does engine oil do?

The oil in your vehicle keeps the moving parts in the engine working smoothly. It helps to reduce friction between all the metal parts and will help prolong the life of the parts in the engine.

How do you know there is something wrong with the engine oil?

Without oil, the moving parts in the engine would start to grind and wear against other parts. This would cause loud noises, and the engine will most likely fail. You may be low on oil when there is a leak if there is a leak you will likely find a puddle of a dark and thick liquid underneath your car.

When should you consider engine oil replacement?

This will depend on how you drive, and when you use it. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual which will detail the best mileage to get your oil changed. Of course, it may be that the oil will become dirty before the recommended service mileage comes up, for example when there is a problem with the engine. If it has become dark or very thick, it may be time to get the oil changed. A mechanic can advise on when your oil needs replacing. You should make sure to replace the oil filter at the same time, otherwise, your fresh new oil will become contaminated.

What happens during an engine oil replacement?

The mechanic will assess the situation. They will drain the oil and renew the oil and will advise whether to replace the oil filter. The mechanic will then advise if other repairs are required. To check the system, the mechanic should run the engine for a while, making adjustments where necessary.

What happens if I don’t change my engine oil?

Changing your engine oil is an important maintenance task on any car, and it is included in most car services. If you run your car’s engine with no oil, it would not get far before it seized up. Without the oil, parts in your engine will start to grind against others and effectively cause damage to the whole engine.

Can I replace the engine oil myself?

An oil change in your own car is fairly straightforward, there is only one proviso which dictates how easy it is likely to be.
That is where your car’s oil filter and oil drain plug are located on your engine, and how easy they are to reach.

When you’re doing an oil change at home, you need to be sure to do things in the right order, and it is recommended to change the oil filter at the same time. When draining the old engine oil, make sure you protect the ground from any oil spillage and use a sealable container to catch and store the drained oil. The replaced oil does not belong in the household waste and you will have to bring it to a specialised recycling centre.

How common is an engine oil change?

Changing engine oil is one of the most common servicing items carried out on any vehicle! It is usually recommended at every service – generally between 5,000 and 10,000-mile intervals, or at least once every year. If you are unsure when it is the best time to replace the engine oil, consult your car manual for more guidance.

What are common engine oil brands on the market?

Your car’s manual will probably recommend a specific brand and type of oil for your engine. Some brands are the big oil and petroleum retailers, such as Shell, Esso, Mobil, and BP.
Other major names, such as Castrol, Duckhams and Wynn’s, have been producing motor oils for many years and are used in many cars.

Are there any differences between the oil used in old and new vehicles, or between petrol, diesel or electric vehicles?

Because diesel fuel often leaves more deposits on the internal workings of an engine than a petrol equivalent – usually in the form of soot particles after it has been burned – brands of oil specifically designed for use in these engines usually have an extra additive. This is designed to stop those soot deposits clumping together and blocking parts of your engine’s inner workings.

A purely electric car doesn’t need oil for lubrication, but it does use a different type of oil to lubricate the bearings inside its motor.

If your car is older, you should think about replacing the engine oil more regular to protect the engine against suffering too much wear.

How to extend the lifetime of your engine’s oil?

Using the right kind of oil for your engine, and having a car oil change done at the right time, can both really help extend the life of your engine. Avoid waiting for the oil warning light to come on before you book an oil change, you already might have damaged some of the internal workings.

Some modern cars’ engine management systems can gauge the quality of the oil in the system and will illuminate a warning light when it is no longer fit to do its job properly.

You can help boost the time between having an oil change by giving your car as much variety in the type of journeys it undertakes as possible.
Too many short journeys might not be enough to get the oil up to its ideal working temperature, and so it won’t be as easy for it to reach all the parts it needs to protect. Giving your car an extended run-out at least once a month, ideally on a motorway, will solve this problem.

If you regularly use your car in freezing temperatures, you should consider using an oil with a very low or zero viscosity rating in these cold conditions (e.g. is graded 0w40). Oils with these low ratings are specifically designed to do its job in all temperatures.