Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [oil-change]

For questions regarding changing the engine or transmission lubricant oil, or problems resulting from doing so.

The oil change is often one of the first tasks of the amateur mechanic. The process is pretty similar between vehicles, but some unique problems can arise nonetheless. Oil changes are not needed on all-electric cars.

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What actually happens when there is not enough oil in a car engine?

When a car is topped up with oil, it clear to most people that you are supposed to fill it to the recommended amount as specified by the manufacturer (normally on a dip stick). What exactly are all of the disadvantages to running an engine when the…
Max Goodridge
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How far can I drive with 1 gallon too much oil?

I have way too much oil in my Acura TSX. Do I need to take care of it without turning it on or can I drive it to a service station? If I need to do it in place, I don't have the ramps or a pan or the daylight left and my wife needs the car in the…
Jason Kleban
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What actually happens when there is way too much oil in a car engine?

I saw the answers to a question I posted recently highlighting the disadvantages of having too little oil in an engine, but that got me wondering what if the complete opposite were to occur! I know that having an excess amount of oil in the engine…
Max Goodridge
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How can you tell the oil needs to be changed?

I know oil should be changed every 3000 or 6000 miles (depending on the car and conditions) but I'm not all that great at keeping track and I've let the car go for 10,000 miles before and it still runs fine (I know that's not "evidence" that I…
tooshel
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What happens if I change the oil when the engine is cold?

I have always changed the oil in my vehicles with the engine hot, because the manuals always say to let the engine reach normal operating temperature first. Oil change instructions all over the internet say this, too. I've never done it cold because…
Jason C
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Leaving car for 3 weeks, change oil before or after?

I'm going on vacation for 3 weeks and am due for an oil change right at that time. Where I live is cold, I may be able to store it in a garage however. My car is a 2017. Should I get the oil change before my trip and let it sit with fresh oil or…
FrugalTraveller
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Garage tech drained oil and forgot to refill. I drove off - what damage could this have caused?

I went to a Quick oil change place, and they drained the oil from my new Fiat 500 and did not refill/replace oil. After I started the car, I drove approx 1/8 mile before engine quit. The car would not restart. After the car stalled, I raised the…
Katherine
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Engine oil change and getting rid of old oil completely

After running the vehicle for a certain distance usually we will change the engine oil. This will not only give engine new life with the brand new oil but will also get sludge and other sediments out of the engine. So while changing the engine oil,…
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Should I perform my first oil change at 1000 miles, or when the manual says?

I've read in various places that you should perform your first oil change on a new car at 1,000 miles or so. But the exact miles are available in the owner's manual. The owner's manual only states to change the oil every 5,000 miles. Should I go…
Evorlor
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Everytime I go to change my oil filter it's extremely hard to remove. Any way I can make this easier for me in the future?

I always run oil around the rubber rim of the new filter, and screw it in by hand, maybe a couple of twists with an oil filter strap wrench. But when it comes to removing it, it's a massive ordeal. It just wont budge. I've broken strap wrenches and…
MeltingDog
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How do I select the right oil for my car?

I can give you my cars make and model and the conditions that I drive in, but I'm looking for a general guide to selecting the right oil for a car. I'm not really knowledgable when it comes to cars so it needs to be simple. I need to know when and…
James Mertz
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Is it normal for the oil to be dark in color right after an "oil change" in a 10-year old diesel car?

I took my 2002 Jetta TDI wagon to a neighborhood shop about 10 miles, 24 hours ago. They supposedly changed the oil, but the color is very dark, almost black. Definitely not light-colored/transparent. The oil change was performed along with other…
Adam Monsen
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Oil change with front wheels on ramps?

From the obsessive compulsive department: I've been changing my own oil by driving up on a pair of ramps, draining and filling. Based on a slight overfill condition after adding the specified amount of oil and returning the vehicle to level, I know…
Mark Johnson
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What happens if unsuitable oil is used in a vehicle engine?

I recently heard an urban legend-like story about a guy in a developing country who decided engine oil was too expensive and so used some vegetable oil instead. The story says the car ran for some time and then it's engine got broken and required…
sharptooth
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Does engine oil get old and go bad?

Does engine oil actually go bad from just sitting within an engine that's not getting use? I feel conventional motor oil has been sitting underground for millions of years prior to being extracted and refined. But I have a 1995 Mercruiser 350 (small…
Travis
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