How to Change Your Oil
Mitsubishi Oil Change
If you're like many Mitsubishi drivers - then you take a lot of pride in your vehicle! In order to get the most out of your Mitsubishi car or SUV, you'll want to be sure to stay on top of certain maintenance requirements. While you could bring your vehicle to a Mitsubishi service center - and in many cases, this is a good idea - there are certain tasks that are easily accomplished at home on your own. This way, you'll be able to save yourself some money and learn a valuable skill that will come in handy for years to come!
One of the most common maintenance needs that drivers visit Mitsubishi service centers is for an oil change. When you bring your car in for service, you could expect to pay between $25 and $50 on average. Of course, when you elect to do the job yourself - the only expenses you'll incur are the cost of the engine oil, the Mitsubishi oil filter, and any tools that you don't yet have on hand.
Once you get the hang of things, changing your oil on your own is a quick and straightforward process! In order to the job done from start to finish, you can expect to spend an hour or so your first time through - and then about 30 minutes on average for subsequent changes. When you factor in the time that you would otherwise spend driving to and from the service center - you can see how changing your oil on your own can actually be far less time-consuming!
While time and cash savings are certainly to of the major benefits of changing your vehicle's oil yourself - there's another important advantage. Taking the time to learn this skill will help to make you a more independent Mitsubishi owner, and it will allow you to connect more with your vehicle to get a better sense of its overall condition. When you're under the hood changing the oil - you'll have a great vantage point to assess other components of your vehicle. This way, you'll have the chance to spot potential issues before they become a problem!
Tools Needed to Change Your Oil
First things first - you'll need to gather the necessary materials and tools to complete your oil change. Your first time around, you can expect to invest a small amount purchasing the necessary tools from a Mitsubishi parts store - but you will then be able to reuse them, so this upfront cost is well worthwhile. You will need a box end or socket wrench to remove the drain plug, an oil drain pan to catch the spent oil, and a funnel to pour the new engine oil into. Depending on the ground clearance of your particular vehicle, you may or may not require jacks, jack stands, or ramps to get access to your car's undercarriage. Changing engine oil can often be messy work - so you may also want to pick up some latex gloves. With those tools, you'll have everything needed to facilitate an at-home oil change!
Next, you will, of course, need to purchase some engine oil, along with an oil filter that fits your particular vehicle. Not to worry, you can easily find the Mitsubishi oil filters that fit your exact model right here at FactoryMitsubishiParts.com! We've got oil filters available for all the various Mitsubishi models, both those currently in-production and older models. Simply select the year and model of your vehicle to view options that are specially designed to work with your car's engine. Our online Mitsubishi parts store makes it easy to get the oil filter that you need delivered right to your door! After you've gathered all the necessary tools and materials - you're ready to change your engine oil.
Steps to Change Your Oil
If you've determined that your car could use an oil change, then the first step is to warm up the engine. If starting from cold, allow your car to sit on idle for 2-3 minutes before turning it off. In most cases, that should be sufficient to get things flowing. If you've just driven the car, then you'll want to wait 20-30 minutes for the oil to cool down to a safe temperature.
Next, it's time jack or ramp up your vehicle for easy access. After this, you will want to consult your owner's manual to locate the oil filter and drain plug. At this stage, it's a good idea to put your gloves on - because things can start to get a bit messy. Make sure that you have your oil drain pan positioned below the drain plug. Use your wrench to loosen and remove the drain plug, and be mindful of the oil stream to avoid contact with your skin - because warm engine oil tends to drain quickly.
While the oil drains, take a rag and clean off the end plug and apply the new washer if necessary. Reinsert the drain plug after the oil has finished draining and tighten as much as you can by hand. You'll want it to be tight, but try not to overdo it, or you risk stripping the plug. Next, you'll want to remove the old oil filter. Use the wrench to get things started, and then you should be able to do the rest by hand. Make sure that your oil pan stays in place under the filter. Wipe away any oil from the sealing surface, put a small amount of engine oil on the new filter's O-ring, and install the new filter. After this, it's time to add the new oil using the funnel, replace the oil cap, and start up your vehicle's engine! Allow the engine to run for around 30 seconds, turn it off, and inspect below the vehicle for any leaks. If everything looks in order, take your car off of the ramp or jacks - and you're all set. Congratulations - you've successfully changed your engine oil!