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Drain the Oil. Run your car for about two or three minutes to warm up the oil. You will want your car off when you change the oil, but this will churn it up and allow it to drain more quickly.
Lift your car using either a jack or ramps.
Remove the oil cap on top of the engine to allow easier drainage.
Find the oil pan and place your pan on a few newspapers beneath it. to catch the oil.
This is a flat, metal pan under your car. It will be closer to the engine than the transmission and will have a bolt or plug toward the bottom, which you will remove to drain the oil.
If you can’t distinguish the oil pan from the transmission pan, it should be warm to the touch after running for a few minutes, while the transmission won’t be.
Remove the oil plug, turning counter-clockwise with the socket wrench, and wait for the oil to drain. (This will take several minutes.)
You should also remove and replace the circular drain plug gasket (made of paper or felt), though you can reuse a metal washer if it’s in good condition.
Replace the oil plug, first hand tightening to ensure you are not cross-threading, then finishing with the socket wrench.
Replace the Oil Filter. Locate the filter assembly. The location of the filter on the engine is different on different model cars. Use the new filter you purchased as a reference for what you’re looking for. The typical filter is a white, blue, or black cylinder about 4 to 6 inches long and 3 inches wide - about the size of a soup can.
Unscrew the oil filter, making sure to also remove the rubber gasket ring. There will be some oil still trapped in the filter that may spill when you unscrew it.
Dip the tip of your finger in some of the new oil and smear it on the gasket ring of the new filter to lubricate it and help create a good seal on the new filter.
Screw on the new filter, making sure not to cross the threads. (See the packaging for how tight.)
Add New Oil to engine using a funnel where you previously removed the fill cap.
If you hold the bottle with the spout on top, it will pour more smoothly, without bubbling.
Start the engine. With the car in neutral or park, check for any leaks or drips. Make sure the oil pressure light goes off after starting the car. Let the engine run for a minute or so to get oil pressure up and make sure you have installed everything properly.
Dispose of Old Oil. Transfer the oil to a container you can seal. Avoid putting oil in containers that previously held chemicals such as bleach, pesticides, paint, or antifreeze, or you will make it unrecyclable.
Add any oil still in the old filter to the old oil.
Take oil to a designated collection site. The place you bought your oil should be able to tell you where this would be. Also, retailers that sell over 1,000 filters per year are required to accept old filters for recycling.
TIP: Consider having an oil-absorbent product available in the event of spills. This will absorb oil and can help keep your garage and driveway clean. Kitty litter or clay-based products are not effective solutions for this. You can find a wide variety of eco-friendly, oil-absorbent products online. They are extremely absorbent, easy to use, and renewable.
TIP: Try using recycled oil. Used motor oil can be recycled by refining it until it meets the same requirements as new oil. In some cases, it can cost less, too.
You can replace your normal drain pan bolt with an oil drain valve. These can give you more control as you drain the oil, reduce the amount of oil that spills, and make oil changes more convenient.
Warning: Do not confuse the oil inlet with the transmission fluid inlet. If you put oil in your transmission, you can ruin it, requiring an expensive replacement.
Warning: Remember, even after you have turned the ignition off, the engine, oil inside of it, and other parts of the car can still be hot for a long time after turning the ignition off. Be careful not to burn yourself, and use proper safety gear.