Tools Needed:

• Floor jack & jack stands or ramps (vehicles with large clearance may not need these)
• Wrench & Socket to remove drain plug
• Oil filter wrench
• Drain pan
• Funnel

Arcan 3-Ton Capacity, Low-Profile Floor Jack

• MODEL NUMBERS MAY VARY: XL3000A = A20002
• QUICK LIFT: Double pump pistons raise saddle to the load fast.
• BYPASS AND OVERLOAD VALVES: Prevents over-extension of hydraulic ram and jack use beyond rated capacity.

$228.08

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Steel Jack Stands: 2 Ton Capacity, 1 Pair

• Lightweight jack stands are used to support your vehicle after lifting with a jack; Wide pyramid foot base provides added strength and stable support
• Constructed of high-grade forged steel with a welded frame design for durability, it handles a wide range of vehicles including small cars, SUVs, and light duty trucks
• Adjustable height ranges from 10-13/16" to 16-9/16" with a 2 ton (4,000 lb) load capacity

$29.65

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KarZone All Purpose Automotive Funnels

• All Purpose Value Pack of Funnels - Red, Blue, White
• Blue Funnel Dimensions: Length: 7.63", Input: 8.66", Output: 0.71"
• Red Funnel Dimensions: Length: 5.19", Input: 6.49", Output: 0.67"

$7.99

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Parts Needed:

• New Oil (check your owner’s manual for the quantity and type of oil needed)
• New Oil Filter
• New washer for drain plug (these will usually come in a kit with the new oil filter)

1. Raise the Car

Raise the front of your car (if your car has the engine in the front) using the floor jack or drive the car on the ramps. If using a floor jack, make sure to use jack stands for added safety. Most cars have two jacking points on each side, between the two wheels. Be sure to use a jacking point when raising your car.

2. Locate Drain Plug

Most drain plugs will be either on the bottom of the engine facing towards the floor or on the side of the engine facing out. For some cars, you may need to remove any plastic undertrays as these may block access to the drain plug.

3. Drain the Oil

Once you have located the drain plug, place the drain pan underneath the drain plug (if the drain plug is on the side of the engine, the oil won’t pour out directly underneath the drain plug). Now use your wrench to remove the drain plug. It helps to get it almost completely loose, and then use your fingers to finish removing the drain plug. Note that the oil will come out fast, so be prepared.

Helpful Hint: Run your engine for 2-3 minutes before draining the oil, this will help the oil drain faster.

4. Replace the Oil Filter

Once the oil draining has slowed significantly, locate the oil filter. Some cars’ oil filters are located underneath the car, while others may be accessible from the engine bay. Use the oil filter wrench to loosen and remove the oil filter. Drain any excess oil inside the filter into the drain pan. Now grab your new oil filter and install it using the oil filter wrench. Be careful not to overtighten the new filter (use the old oil filter’s “tightness” as a reference).

5. Reinstall Drain Plug

Make sure that your oil is no longer draining or just barely draining. Now locate your new drain plug washer and replace your old washer with it. Now reinstall the drain plug using your wrench.

6. Fill your car up with New Oil

Now you are ready to fill your car up with the new oil. They oil filler should be located on top of your engine and accessible from the engine bay. Take the cap off the oil filler, and insert your funnel. Pour the new oil into the oil filler. Do not fill to your car’s maximum capacity, fill it about 90% of your car’s oil capacity, then reinstall the oil filler cap.

7. Check Oil Level

Start your car and let it run for 2-3 minutes (if any oil warning lights stay on, turn the car off immediately). Now make sure your car is on a level surface and after a few minutes of the engine off, check your oil level using the dipstick. As a general rule of thumb, the quantity of oil needed to fill your car from the “minimum” mark of a dipstick to the “maximum” mark is about 1 quart of oil. Use this rule as a reference and fill your car with any additional oil needed. Cars do not need to have the maximum amount of oil, and generally it is safer to have just between the minimum and maximum marks on the dipstick.

Now that you have successfully changed your oil, make sure to properly dispose of your old oil. Most auto parts stores will be able to “dump” your old oil for you if you take them your drain pan.

Doing your own oil changes can save you time and money. It is a simple job that can be done at home and saves you from overpaying at the dealer.

The post How To Change Your Oil in 7 Steps appeared first on Product Playoffs.

When creating this list, we made sure to include items that the average person can perform themselves. This allows you to save money by not having to pay dealerships or independent repair shops for easy to do tasks. Additionally, this list will help you become more knowledgeable about your car, which helps you make more informed decisions on what you allow a dealership or repair shop to do on your car. We have all heard of repair shops and dealerships that try to “scam” their customers by recommending unnecessary repairs or by intentionally misleading their customer. Our aim is to equip you with the basic knowledge to protect yourself from that exact situation. So, here we go…..

1) Change Your Oil

This is by far the most important maintenance for any car. Think of engine oil as the human body’s diet. The more healthy a person eats, the better their body operates and the better they feel. Oil in your car’s engine begins to breakdown and become less effective after time and use. This means that the more you drive your car, the more your oil’s life is reduced. Most car manufacturers recommend that you change your oil in intervals between 3,000-10,000 miles depending on the type of car and type of oil. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended oil to use and the recommended oil change interval.

Another important tip for changing oil, is that you should change it at least once a year. Even if you don’t hit your car’s miles limit for oil life, engine oil breaks down over time so it is important to at least change it once a year.

For detailed instructions on how to change your oil, please see our “How To Change Your Oil” post!

2)    Check Your Air Filter

Every car has an engine air filter that keeps away dirt, rocks, leaves, and anything else that shouldn’t be inside your engine. Over time, this filter can become dirty and clogged, which restricts the air flow into your engine. Typically these are very easy to access, so it should be very easy for you to check the air filter.

We recommend checking the air filter at least once a year. If the filter looks completely dark with dirt and grime, it is a good idea to order a replacement. Sometimes the air filters can warp, causing gaps where debris can slip past the filter and go straight into the engine. If you see that your air filter is warped, it is time to order a new one.

3) Check Your Brakes

It should be no secret that brakes need to be replaced on every car. The components of most cars’ brake systems are composed of brake pads, rotors, calipers, and brake fluid. Most of the time, brake pads only need to be changed. It is very easy to check your car’s brakes. If you have wheels with spokes that you can see through, you can use a flashlight to see how much material of your brake pad is left (otherwise you will need to take the wheel off). If you have less than ¼ of an inch left of material, it would be a good idea to order new brake pads. Generally brake pads can last anywhere from 20,000 miles to 75,000 miles depending on the type of car and the manner in which it is driven.

If you are replacing brake pads, it is a good idea to check your brake fluid as well. If it is extremely dark, you should replace the brake fluid when you change your brake pads. Your car’s rotors will probably need to be replaced as often as you replace brake fluid.

4) Check Tire Pressures & Rotate Tires

Tires are a huge expense item, but the life of your car’s tires can be extended with proper maintenance and care. Simply keeping your tire pressures at an optimal pressure is key to extending tire life and improving gas mileage. Your car’s owner’s manual should have a recommended PSI to keep the tires inflated at. Use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressures at least once a month to ensure they are at optimal pressures.

Rotating tires can also help extend their life. Rotating your tires simply means switching the front tires to the back, and the back tires to the front. This can only be done if your car has identical sized tires in the front and back. This should be performed about every 5,000 miles.

5) Check Your Serpentine Belt

This belt is typically on the front of your car’s engine and is attached to multiple pulleys. It runs important systems on your car including the A/C, engine cooling system, alternator, power steering, etc. It is an extremely important aspect of your car and you should always make sure it is in good condition.

If you ever hear a high pitched whine or squeal coming from your serpentine belt, you should change it. Otherwise, it is a good idea to check it a few times each year to make sure that there are no cracks on it and it’s not fraying.

6) Invest in an OBDII Scanner

Every modern car has a computer system that controls and monitors the engine and various electrical components of a car. When your dash has a check engine light on, it can mean something is seriously wrong with your car or only something minor is wrong. That is a scary light and doesn’t provide much info as to what the problem is. That’s where an OBDII Scanner comes in. These plug into your car’s OBDII port (which connects to your car’s computer) and can tell you exactly what is wrong with your car.With one of these tools, you can determine how serious the issue with your car is and if you can keep driving it or need to tow it directly to a repair shop. This tool can save your entire engine if the issue is a major issue, or it can keep you from spending a ton of money at a repair shop when the issue might be a minor fix that you can do yourself. These scanners are well worth the small investment!

Here are our favorite OBDII Scanners:

Veepeak OBDCheck BLE+ Bluetooth 4.0 OBD2 Scanner

• CHECK ENGINE YOURSELF - Read engine diagnostic trouble codes, reset Check Engine Light, view I/M readiness for SMOG check and real-time sensor readings (O2 Readings, EOT, EGT, Throttle, Boost, Speed, Fuel Trim, etc.) using your phone or tablet.
• DO MORE – With extensive third-party OBD2 Apps available on App Store and Google Play, you can get advanced features like enhanced diagnostics and PIDs on selected vehicles, examine the battery in hybrid & electric vehicles, customize and service selected vehicles, etc.
• WORKS WITH IOS & ANDROID - Latest model with support for more AT commands (requires app support), optimized firmware and reduced power consumption. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets via dual mode Bluetooth 4.0 (Classic + LE).

$40.99

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BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBDII Scan Tool for iPhone & Android

• More Codes: To understand the problem with your vehicle you need the complete picture. With an up-to-date modern scan tool, you scan deeper to read, understand, and clear more codes. Access information normally only available to professional mechanics on their most expensive scan tools.
• Real Fixes: Get unlimited vehicle specific Repair Reports, generated from our database of millions of fixes verified by Professional Automotive Technicians. Save time and money.
• No Cords: All the capabilities of an expensive scan tool (extended vehicle coverage, live data, etc.) combined with the power and convenience of your smartphone or tablet. No cords, no subscriptions, and regular free updates.

$119.95

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7) Wash & Clean Your Car

This tip doesn’t seem like a “maintenance” item for your car, but in reality it helps keep your car’s paint healthy, in addition to keeping the interior materials in good condition. Why is this important? Well it not only makes your car look better, but it helps your car maintain its value (if you ever go to sell it).

You should wash your car at least once a month, while also cleaning and vacuuming the interior of your car. Using wax on your car’s paint also helps to protect the paint and make it shine brighter.

Equipped with these maintenance tips for your car, you should be able to keep your car running stronger for longer! Never neglect your car, think of it as an investment, where all of the work you put into it, you will get back with years of reliable transportation!

The post The Best Maintenance Tips For Your Car appeared first on Product Playoffs.