The engine of your Volvo vehicle is one of its most important components. It provides the power you need to drive, and it's also what keeps the vehicle running smoothly. Because auto owners depend on their engines for every mile they drive-even if they don't drive very far-it's important that we take good care of those motors so they can last as long as possible. One essential part of maintaining a vehicle is changing its oil regularly: every three months or 3,000 miles (or more often if conditions warrant).
Changing your oil is a necessary maintenance task that vehicle owners need to know how to do. It may seem hard at first, but changing your own oil is easy after you've done it once. The next time you need to change the engine oil in your car or truck, simply follow these instructions:
Park vehicle on a level surface and turn off engine
Park vehicle on a level surface and turn off engine. Kneel down behind your engine and locate the drain plug, which should be clearly labeled "Oil Drain" or something similar. Using a wrench (or an adjustable crescent wrench), remove the drain plug from its tight fitting position by turning counterclockwise until it is completely removed from the car's engine block. Once you've removed all remnants of old oil from your car, replace it with fresh new motor oil by pouring directly into the opening where you removed the old stuff
Open hood and locate the dipstick
Locate the dipstick on your car (it should be located on the driver's side of the engine). Remove its cap and wipe clean with a rag or paper towel. Insert the dipstick into its hole and remove it again, then look at it carefully: if there is any sign of oil in the stick, you will need to add some more; otherwise, go ahead and put everything back together.
Locate the oil drain plug (usually located on the bottom of the pan)
Use an extension and socket wrench to remove it. Keep track of which way you turn it, as this will be important when putting it back in place later. Let all of the old oil drain out into your catch pan - this can take some time and patience, depending on how much was left in there!
Wrap a rag around drain plug and loosen with wrench or socket
You'll need to use a rag to protect your hand from the heat of the oil. Next, use either a socket wrench or ratchet to loosen the drain plug. Don't use a crescent wrench, screwdriver, hammer or your hands!
Let The Oil Drain
Now that you've drained most of the oil from your car, pull out the plug completely. Make sure you have a drain pan under your engine to catch any residual oil. If you don't want to wait for it all to drain before removing the plug, make sure that your car is cool and you're wearing safety glasses and gloves before doing so (again). You will also need a wrench or socket that fits this type of plug well so that you can remove it without damaging anything.
Tighten It Up
After you have replaced the drain plug, tighten it securely by use a torque wrench.
Maintain Your Car
Once you've successfully changed your oil, that's just the beginning of maintaining your vehicle. Regular check-ups are important to make sure everything else is working properly as well. If you think something may need attention, don't wait until it becomes a big problem! Schedule an appointment with our service center today.
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