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Things I have taken for granted being a car guy, The Oil Change

451Mopar

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Last week my daughter and her 14 year old son came over so I could show them how to change the oil on their car.
To me no big deal, just need the oil and filter...
Thinking of a list of items that they would be needed for them to do this, I realized that they have no basic tools, no drain pan, no funnel, no shop towels, no jack, and no general automotive knowledge.
They had no idea about which weight oil the car needs, or the quantity, or even how oil is specified. No idea on how to look up the oil filter part number, and to make it worse the car model could have different filters depending on options.
They went to the parts store, and the counter person got them the correct oil, and both filters because they didn't know which was correct.

They come over to the house and I have them pull the car up to the garage.
1. have them set the emergency brake
2. put wheel chocks behind the rear wheels
3. pop the hood - they knew how to do that !
4. Used my floor jack to lift the car for access.
5. Show then where the car can be lifted from
6. put jack stand under car for safety.
6-1/2. Sort of mentioned eye protection and gloves, and that the oil will be hot because they just shut off the engine
7. Grab combination wrenches, shop towels, oil filter wrench, and drain pan
8. Show them where the oil drain plug and oil filter are located
9. Figure out what the correct wrench size the drain plug is.
9-1/2. Quick refresher on which way to turn wrench to loosen oil plug for right hand threads.
10. Show them how to double-wrench the combination wrenches for leverage because the drain plug was pretty tight.
11. Tried to show them how different oil filter wrenches / cups work, and dang new car has super small filter that dosen't fit any of my stuff.
12. Decide to use the large channel lock plyers and show them how to adjust the jaw opening size for the filter. Also mention other methods for removing really tight filters.
13. Get the filter off, show how to drain the oil out of the filter, and then match it to the correct new filter.
14. Show how to clean off the filter mounting plate, inspect it, make sure the old filter seal is in the filter and not stuck to the mounting plate. Mention that some cars use a cartridge filter and not the spin-on type like we were using.
15. Pre-fill filter with some oil, and lube the filter seal
16. Spin-on the new filter and talk about how tight it should be installed.
17. Inspect and clean the drain plug. Notice the washer stuck to the oil pan.
18. Get flat blade screwdriver to pop drain washer loose from oil pan.
19. Talk about inspecting and when to replace the oil drain plug washer.
20. Talk about how long to let the oil drain, and at which temperatures.
21. Clean off oil pan and re-install the drain plug. talk about how tight it should be.
22. Remove the oil drain pan and tools from under the car.
22-1/2. Talk about the need to remove the oil drain pan from under the car before lowering the car, and the time I forgot that and spilled oil all over the driveway.
23. jack car up to remove jack stand, and lower the car.
24. Identify the oil fill cap and oil dip stick.
25. Wipe off fill cap and remove, inspect cap and clean if needed.
26. Grab the oil fill funnel, wipe it out and make sure it is clean.
27. Show how to use the funnel and pour the oil in without over flowing the funnel or splashing oil everywhere.
28. Talk about how much oil tp put in. mention this is also in the owners manual, show how to check the oil level on the dipstick and explain that it will change after starting the car and the filter is fully filled.
29. Remove funnel, replace cap and dipstick.
30. Start car, talk about how the oil light should go off, and to kill the car if it dosen't.
31. With the engine running, Show how to check for oil leaks.
32. stop engine, re-check oil level, go through how to add the correct amount of oil so the oil level is close to the full mark.
33. Show how to put the oily funnel into the old oil bottle, replace oil cap and dipstick.
34. Show how to check other fluids (brake, radiator, transmission, power steering) and inspect air filter, fill windshield washer bottle.
35. Talk about the "sponge count" practice of making sure you have removed and accounted for all your tools and supplies from the car before closing the hood.
36. Remove wheel chocks, remind them the emergency brake is set.
37. Record service in the service log of owners manual, and re-set the cars oil change reminder.
38. Refer again to the owners manual on how to reset the oil change reminder.
39. Show how to pour the old used oil back into the used oil bottle.
40. Clean up the tools and put back where they belong.
41. Return the old used oil, and the un-needed oil filter back to the auto parts store.

Maybe I should call this "How to change your oil in 50 easy steps" :)

Just something I think most car guys don't even think twice about. We just say, change the oil, it's easy. I didn't realize that we just used about $300+ worth of tools to change the oil.
 
An adjustable wrench (Crescent brand, please) and a big ol' pair of Channellocks and you can whoop
up on about any vehicles' Earl changin'. :thumbsup::lol:
 
So after all that, how long did it take YOU to change the oil!! LOL :poke:
 
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to teach someone something. Even if it’s just a simple oil change, showing him that will give him the confidence to maybe try other things, you’ve planted a seed in a young mind.
:thumbsup:
 
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to teach someone something. Even if it’s just a simple oil change, showing him that will give him the confidence to maybe try other things, you’ve planted a seed in a young mind.
:thumbsup:
A friend of my son asked me to help finish his basement, wet bar, theater room, two bedrooms and a hair salon. French glass doors to a rear atrium. Framed, wired, plumed and put down hardwood floors through out the whole upstairs. I told him he better be watching and learning because it wasn't happening again. I knew I'd be doing it by myself and that's just what happened. His family came by after I was done, father and two older brothers, for the party. I did the right thing and now he has done two by himself and as far as his family, that's something they have to live with, not my business, he asked me.............
 
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There's an old saying that brings up past memories for me, changing the earl
I get tickled, as this word (oil) seems a particular sense of amusement with northerners - more to the point,
how they perceive southerners pronounce the word.
I've been directly asked more than once - they expect me to say it like fake southern actors would on TV,
"earl" - and when I pronounce it "oll" (no "i" in there, just oll), they find that hilarious.

What can I say? Around here, I've always been told I talk like a Yankee - but when talking to old friends
up north, they always comment on my southern accent.
Man without a country, I guess....
 
My late mother took a class at work to do this. The “teacher” forgot step #14 and guess who the next driver of the family car was after that! Don’t skip #14!!!

Good job on documenting this @451Mopar !
 
I have to allow a 15 minute penalty for any BB Mopar oil change - to clean up the inevitable oil filter drain mess that ends up missing the pan and hits the floor.
 
I've been directly asked more than once - they expect me to say it like fake southern actors would on TV,
"earl" - and when I pronounce it "oll" (no "i" in there, just oll), they find that hilarious.

Just like with the word, acorn! It's A-curns!
 
Just like with the word, acorn! It's A-curns!
you are correct sir.jpg
 
I have to allow a 15 minute penalty for any BB Mopar oil change - to clean up the inevitable oil filter drain mess that ends up missing the pan and hits the floor.
Aww man, you not done the "sliced open plastic jug slop catcher" tool yet? :)
 
we just moved back to Dallas from houston and as I was unpacking my tools I found a 36mm socket. I was thinking, that's weird, why do I have this giant metric socket. then I remembered back when I had a BMW I used this to take the oil filter housing off under the hood (spins off from the top on an e46 M3) and use a marine vacuum sump pump to pull the used oil up and out through the dipstick tube. didnt need a jack or ramps or what not, no need to get underneath the car. oil change took five minutes and didnt have to roll around on the floor. I'm sure I pulled that trick from an online forum but it goes to show even with the mundane oil change there are a few different ways to go.
 
@451Mopar
Great list, very detailed too
yes;
I think when we do it so often
we just take all of that for granted
what are some of the simplest things, take to do

I did the same thing with my 3 girls & my son
& both my niece & nephew, (6 in total) that lived with me too
a few of their friends, also learned too
I even saw my nephew 'he was/is the oldest'
teaching a few of the younger kids, very well

Teach or show them 'what parts are what'
& make them repeat it & ask/test them, every so often
to identify parts basics, rad., fan, alt., water pump, carb/TB intake, choke
throttle cable, air-cleaner & element, fuel filter, plugs, wires, cap, rotor
valve-covers, the heads & block, oil pan & filter, timing cover
cam covers, exhaust manifolds, mufflers driveline/shaft & universals
the rear end (how to tell if it had limited slip/possi or Tru-trac,
(both wheels spin 'the same direction when jacked up, or opp. if open diff')
suspension f/r, the difference between a shock & struts
style of brakes, disc or drum, master cylinder & the levels
fuel pump/carb'd (EFI tell them it's in the tank usually)
fuel & brake lines, various hoses, various linkages, cabels
battery, wires & harness, fuse panels, lights, how to change a tire
front end of 4x4 'to tell which is which', 2wd fwd or 4wd,
transmission/transfer-case & or clutch/bell-housing etc. etc. etc.
(we were big on Jeeps & 4x4 trucks in my house)

my job was done
well sort of
at least they could identify the part, that's broke
in some cases, not just 'it some part thing spewing water' :blah:

me being the car guy racer guy,
I was that guy they came to, asked how to do something
I had no problem telling them, sometimes even showing them
after the 1st time, most caught on, relatively quickly
they will forever have that knowledge, if you drive it's priceless

I personally think it's mandatory 'for anyone that wants to drive'
should learn the basics, 'it was, for all of that I raised'
or you don't get your license until your 18
& not drive any of my registered cars, funny they all complied willingly
 
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My youngest daughter pulled her mustang 5ltr 5 speed into the garage got the ramps out drove it up and started to change the oil with her boyfriend totally surprised
Her response was doesn't everyone know how to do this my dad told me if I wanted this car I needed to know how to look after it
 
My kids are actually Glorias kids. When I met Gloria, the kids were in high school and not really interested in car mechanic stuff.
They did like going to the gun range and learned how to shoot. That surprised a few of the girls boyfriends :)
Now that they are paying to take care of their cars and houses, they are more interested in learning how to do general maintenance and repair stuff.
 
My guess is less time than it took to write his post here!


:thumbsup:
RC, post length? Lol, you would be an expert...or the pot calling the kettle an object of color?
 
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