Oil change on your own???

[Bob]

On 14 Mar 2006 11:42:45 -0800, "Bini" <[email protected]> wrote:

I have an 03 and an 05 Elantra GT. I've been changing my oil since,
let's see...about 1977..so that's 29 years. Damn I was hoping it was
30. 30 Sounds better. Ramps work best for me. I bring the old oil to
the town dump once in awhile. In the meantime I fill up old laundry
soap platic containers which I save for this purpose.......

If you use old laundry containers, etc., don't leave them out in the sun for
more than a few weeks - filled or not. They degrade fairly rapidly, and get
brittle. Tends to make a mess......

I buy the 5 quart jugs, and refill them.

 

[Bini]

Hi Guys,
Do any of you do an oil change for your Elantra 02 (or for that matter
any car) on your own? I mean how can it be done without raising the car
on one of those lifts? And how do you dispose off the old oil?
Anything else that I need to be careful about?
Thanks,
Bini

 

[Keith]

Been doing it for years. Its dead easy. Either put the car on ramps or jack
up one side and put an axle support OR if you are small just wriiggle under.
Put a Plastic pan or dishpan under the filter, remove by screwing
anticlockwise, usually helps to have e filter wrench (cheapo), get your
replacement filter, put some oil on the rubber ring, check you havent left
the old ring in place and spin it on. When it contacts the base tighten it,
HAND ONLY, about 2/3 turn.
Now move the pan under the drainplug, remove it and let the oil drain, it
will drain better if you remove the filler cap. After it has drained replace
the plug and torque it tight, careful to get it threaded correctly. Add
about 3.5 litres of oil or 3 quarts, start the engine, watch the oil light
go out.switch off.
Remove jack or take of ramps and check oil level, add oil as necessary
careful not to overfill , done. Drain oil from pan into jug new oil came in,
take back to store you bought it from or to a local garage, they will
usually look after it or contact your local municipality and they will tell
you where to dispose.
Time usually about 10-12 minutes.
Here ended the lesson!!
Keith

 

[Matt Whiting]

Hi Guys,
Do any of you do an oil change for your Elantra 02 (or for that matter
any car) on your own? I mean how can it be done without raising the car
on one of those lifts? And how do you dispose off the old oil?
Anything else that I need to be careful about?
Thanks,
Bini

I've changed my own oil for more than 30 years. I don't have an
Elantra, but I have an 06 Sonata and just changed the oil in that.

I don't think it is possible without raising the car, unless you are
built like Twiggy. I use a set of car ramps that you can buy at almost
any auto supply store. I drive the front end up on the ramps and that
gives me plenty of clearance under the front of the car.

I dispose of the old oil at a local garage. Many garages and places
like Wal-Mart that sell oil are required to accept a certain quantity of
used oil from the public. I think many places limit you to 5 gallons
at a time. I have a 5 gallon gas can that I used to save the oil until
I have enough to be worth taking it in.

The main things to be careful of are re-installing the drain plug and
the oil filter. Start the drain plug with your fingers and finger
tighten it before applying a wrench. That will almost ensure that you
won't cross thread the plug. Then carefully tighten the drain plug, but
don't overtighten it. Overtightening is probably the biggest problem
next to cross threading. I've changed oil enough times that I can get
pretty close to the proper torque using a box-end wrence and my
"calibrated" forearm. However, if you haven't changed oil before, I
would strongly suggest you get a torque wrench and use that to tighten
the drain plug.

Same thing with the oil filter. Be sure to coat the gasket with a thin
film of clean oil and then tighten it by hand until the gasket contacts
the engine. Then turn it the fraction of a turn called for by the
filter maker. 2/3-3/4 of a turn is fairly common, but some filters call
for a full turn. I can do this by hand, but if you don't have strong
hands and arms, you may have to use a filter wrench to tighten the
filter sufficiently.

The other main thing is to remember to refill with oil before starting
the engine to back the car off the ramps!

Probably the most common errors are:

1. Overtightening and thus stripping the threads from the drain plug
or, worse yet, the oil pan.

2. Crossthreading the drain plug.

3. Undertightening or overtightening the filter.

4. Forgetting to oil the filter gasket.

5. Pouring the new oil into the engine having forgotten to replace the
drain plug. I can honestly say I haven't done this, but I've come close
and I know folks who have done this. Very embarrassing and very messy.

6. Starting the engine before refilling with oil.


Matt

 

[Matt Whiting]

Been doing it for years. Its dead easy. Either put the car on ramps or jack
up one side and put an axle support OR if you are small just wriiggle under.
Put a Plastic pan or dishpan under the filter, remove by screwing
anticlockwise, usually helps to have e filter wrench (cheapo), get your
replacement filter, put some oil on the rubber ring, check you havent left
the old ring in place and spin it on. When it contacts the base tighten it,
HAND ONLY, about 2/3 turn.
Now move the pan under the drainplug, remove it and let the oil drain, it
will drain better if you remove the filler cap. After it has drained replace
the plug and torque it tight, careful to get it threaded correctly. Add
about 3.5 litres of oil or 3 quarts, start the engine, watch the oil light
go out.switch off.
Remove jack or take of ramps and check oil level, add oil as necessary
careful not to overfill , done. Drain oil from pan into jug new oil came in,
take back to store you bought it from or to a local garage, they will
usually look after it or contact your local municipality and they will tell
you where to dispose.
Time usually about 10-12 minutes.
Here ended the lesson!!

Keith adds a good point that I omitted in my response, namely to ensure
that the old gasket came off with the old filter and didn't remain stuck
to the sealing surface on the engine. Also, some cars, my Sonata
included, recommend that you also replace the aluminum washer on the
drain plug each time. I generally replace it every 2nd or 3rd time, but
the recommendation is every time.

I prefer to let my engine drain for more like 30 minutes rather than the
10-12 Keith suggested, but then again, I tend to start it draining and
then do something else until it nearly stops dripping. I just like to
get as much of the old oil out as possible.

It is a pretty straightforward job, just a little messy, especially with
the vertical filter as my Sonata has. Some folks puncture the bottom of
the filter to drain it before unscrewing it, but I haven't found this
much less messy than just unscrewing it and letting the oil run down the
filter.

Just take your time and confirm each step before moving on to the next step.


Matt

 

[jtees4]

Hi Guys,
Do any of you do an oil change for your Elantra 02 (or for that matter
any car) on your own? I mean how can it be done without raising the car
on one of those lifts? And how do you dispose off the old oil?
Anything else that I need to be careful about?
Thanks,
Bini

I have an 03 and an 05 Elantra GT. I've been changing my oil since,
let's see...about 1977..so that's 29 years. Damn I was hoping it was
30. 30 Sounds better. Ramps work best for me. I bring the old oil to
the town dump once in awhile. In the meantime I fill up old laundry
soap platic containers which I save for this purpose. It's very easy,
but also very easy to screw up...specifically do not overtighten
anything, but also make sure everything is tight. When I let my son do
it the first time, he ws all done and we started the car and watch all
the oil come right back out. The filter felt tight but was cross
threaded and didn't go all the way in. So I would say...always run the
car for a few minutes after you are done and look under it. It can
save your engine. Good luck.

 

[nothermark]

Been doing it for years. Its dead easy. Either put the car on ramps or jack
up one side and put an axle support OR if you are small just wriiggle under.
Put a Plastic pan or dishpan under the filter, remove by screwing
anticlockwise, usually helps to have e filter wrench (cheapo), get your
replacement filter, put some oil on the rubber ring, check you havent left
the old ring in place and spin it on. When it contacts the base tighten it,
HAND ONLY, about 2/3 turn.
Now move the pan under the drainplug, remove it and let the oil drain, it
will drain better if you remove the filler cap. After it has drained replace
the plug and torque it tight, careful to get it threaded correctly. Add
about 3.5 litres of oil or 3 quarts, start the engine, watch the oil light
go out.switch off.
Remove jack or take of ramps and check oil level, add oil as necessary
careful not to overfill , done. Drain oil from pan into jug new oil came in,
take back to store you bought it from or to a local garage, they will
usually look after it or contact your local municipality and they will tell
you where to dispose.
Time usually about 10-12 minutes.
Here ended the lesson!!
Keith

not to nit pick too much but there is a fair difference between 3 qts
and 3.5 ltr. I 'd guess about a qt. I think you reversed your units.
3 ltrs ~= 3.5 qts. liters are bigger

;-)

 

[Pete & Cindy]

not to nit pick too much but there is a fair difference between 3 qts
and 3.5 ltr. I 'd guess about a qt. I think you reversed your units.
3 ltrs ~= 3.5 qts. liters are bigger

hate to burst yer bubble but a quart is bigger than a litre..;-)

least in Canada they are..;-)

Pete...

 

[Victor A. Garcia]

Pete & Cindy wrote:
: :: On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:30:41 -0500, "Keith"
::
::: Been doing it for years. Its dead easy. Either put the car on ramps or
::: jack
::: up one side and put an axle support OR if you are small just wriiggle
::: under.
::: Put a Plastic pan or dishpan under the filter, remove by screwing
::: anticlockwise, usually helps to have e filter wrench (cheapo), get your
::: replacement filter, put some oil on the rubber ring, check you havent
::: left the old ring in place and spin it on. When it contacts the base
::: tighten it,
::: HAND ONLY, about 2/3 turn.
::: Now move the pan under the drainplug, remove it and let the oil drain,
::: it will drain better if you remove the filler cap. After it has drained
::: replace
::: the plug and torque it tight, careful to get it threaded correctly. Add
::: about 3.5 litres of oil or 3 quarts, start the engine, watch the oil
::: light go out.switch off.
::: Remove jack or take of ramps and check oil level, add oil as necessary
::: careful not to overfill , done. Drain oil from pan into jug new oil came
::: in,
::: take back to store you bought it from or to a local garage, they will
::: usually look after it or contact your local municipality and they will
::: tell
::: you where to dispose.
::: Time usually about 10-12 minutes.
::: Here ended the lesson!!
::: Keith
::: :::: Hi Guys,
:::: Do any of you do an oil change for your Elantra 02 (or for that matter
:::: any car) on your own? I mean how can it be done without raising the car
:::: on one of those lifts? And how do you dispose off the old oil?
:::: Anything else that I need to be careful about?
:::: Thanks,
:::: Bini
::::
:: not to nit pick too much but there is a fair difference between 3 qts
:: and 3.5 ltr. I 'd guess about a qt. I think you reversed your units.
:: 3 ltrs ~= 3.5 qts. liters are bigger
:
: hate to burst yer bubble but a quart is bigger than a litre..;-)
:
: least in Canada they are..;-)
:
: Pete...
:: ;-)

You sure ???? ... for what I know Canada has joined the civilized countries
and switched to metric too, so nobody is using Imperial Gallons anymore.
The only barbarians using Gallons are the folks at the U.S.A., their gallon
is the US Gallon (smaller than the Imperial), and their quarts are smaller
than the Litre.

 

[Partner]

I just drive one front wheel up on to a curb from my driveway. It raises the
front enough for me to crawl under to work.

 

[hyundaitech]

Making sure the old gasket comes off cannot be stressed enough. We had a
customer who had to pay for a new engine in his Tiburon (V6 no less)
because he did his own oil change, double gasketed the filter, had it
start leaking later, and didn't stop driving when the oil light come on.

 

[jtees4]

If you use old laundry containers, etc., don't leave them out in the sun for
more than a few weeks - filled or not. They degrade fairly rapidly, and get
brittle. Tends to make a mess......

I buy the 5 quart jugs, and refill them.

I've left them out for a good month or maybe even two at times. Never
had a problem, but thanks for the warning anyway.

 

[Jozef]

That is why you should run the engine for 3 - 5 minutes after the oil change
while looking under the car for leaks.

 

[Matt Whiting]

Making sure the old gasket comes off cannot be stressed enough. We had a
customer who had to pay for a new engine in his Tiburon (V6 no less)
because he did his own oil change, double gasketed the filter, had it
start leaking later, and didn't stop driving when the oil light come on.

It is funny as I've never had this happen in more than 30 years of
changing my own oil, but I keep hearing the stories. I always check the
old filter when I remove it and wipe the mating surface on the engine
clean as well, so it is incredulous to me that someone could miss this.
I mean, who puts a clean filter on a dirty mating surface.

Anyone as stupid as this person deserves to pay for a new engine!
Driving with the oil light on is about as dumb as it gets.


Matt

 

[Matt Whiting]

That is why you should run the engine for 3 - 5 minutes after the oil change
while looking under the car for leaks.

The trouble is that this situation might not occur until you have fairly
high oil pressure. If you do an oil change correctly, your engine is
quite warm after the change. And if the engine is idling and fairly
warm, the oil pressure is at its lowest. The worst case is during a
cold start and driving away with a cold engine and cold oil. I rev the
engine and idle it for a few minutes after each change as you do, but I
also take a close look at it after I drive it the first time after a
completely cold start. I've never had a leak, but there's always a
first time!


Matt

 

[accent]

You sure ???? ... for what I know Canada has joined the civilized countries
and switched to metric too, so nobody is using Imperial Gallons anymore.
The only barbarians using Gallons are the folks at the U.S.A., their gallon
is the US Gallon (smaller than the Imperial), and their quarts are smaller
than the Litre.

1 quart [US, liquid] = 0.946 352 95 liter

hehe
gives meaning to the phrase "talking out of your ass"

 

[Victor A. Garcia]

accent wrote:
: On Wed, 15 Mar 2006 06:09:36 GMT, "Victor A. Garcia"
:
:: You sure ???? ... for what I know Canada has joined the civilized
:: countries and switched to metric too, so nobody is using Imperial
:: Gallons anymore. The only barbarians using Gallons are the folks at the
:: U.S.A., their gallon is the US Gallon (smaller than the Imperial), and
:: their quarts are smaller than the Litre.
::
:
: 1 quart [US, liquid] = 0.946 352 95 liter
:
: hehe
: gives meaning to the phrase "talking out of your ass"

?????????????????

So you know that 1qt=0.94635 liters, in another words, 1 qt is less than 1
liter .... notice the: ' 0. ', Zero < One.
But, still, you think that ONE quarter is bigger than ONE liter ....

It looks like you are 'Mathematically Challenged'.
Apparently it was not me the one talking out of the outside valve of the
Colon.

 

[Bob]

I've left them out for a good month or maybe even two at times. Never
had a problem, but thanks for the warning anyway.

It might depend where you live. I live in NC, and UV is pretty intense here
in the summer. I had a gallon jug of Glyphosphate - Round Up - where the
container got brittle enough that it cracked wide open from being left in
the sun. My red gas cans have a severe case of sun bleaching, also..

 

[Deck]

Have been changing my own oil for 40 years. never had a problem. Speaking
of oil changes. Went to the dealer and got oil filter for new 06 V-6
Sonata. cost me 8.32 and another 92 dents for pan drain crush gasket. Now
find you can get them for 6.52 at hyundai parts on line. anyway dealer
says we'll NEVER get aftermarket filter replacements for the V-6!! Isn't
"never" a long time??

 

[hyundaitech]

Sure, NEVER is a long time. But the dealer figures that if you believe
him, you'll be hooked buying the filters from him at $8.32.

Speaking of which, I'd like to know where he got that crystal ball that
tells the future. It'd be useful for all those times when the service
advisor doesn't understand why I cannot diagnose a problem which occurred
one time three months ago.