Automobiles Best Preventive Maintenance
             Changing the engine oil in your car is one of the best preventive maintenance procedures, because aging oil becomes diluted and contaminated, which causes premature engine wear. Being one of the easiest procedures, almost any home mechanic or amateur individual can perform this process. Even though it requires a little patience, it doesn't take much time.
             The first thing you want to do is make sure that you have all the tools necessary to do the job right. You will need a drain pan to catch the oil. You will also need a socket with a breaker bar, or a wrench to fit on the drain plug. Sometimes a filter wrench is useful when the oil filter is stuck or too tight. Rubber gloves are good to have to keep your hands clean. If you don't have the luxury of using the hydraulic lift at the hobby shop, you will need a jack and jack stands strong enough to hold your car up and for safety. If you are messy like me, you will need rags to clean up drips and spills.
             If this is your first oil change, you should get under the car to familiarize yourself with the location of the oil drain plug and the oil filter. The engine exhaust components will be hot while you're working, so this is a good time to anticipate potential danger
             areas. Also, if you already have a good idea where everything is, it will make your job a little easier.
             Now that you have all of the necessary tools and are familiar with your car, you are ready to start! Park your car on a level spot and warm up the engine. Warm oil and sludge will flow out more easily. If you are driving to the hobby shop, it should be warm enough by the time you get there. Next, open your hood and remove the oil filler cap from the top of the engine, it should read "oil". Now you are ready to lift. If you are using a regular jack, do not go underneath without using jack stands to support the weight of the car. Once you have the ...