How to Change an Oil Filter
Keeping a car engine running smoothly depends on keeping the oil in the engine not only at a reasonable level, but also as clean as possible. This will sound strange to anyone who has seen a stereotypical mechanic in oil-streaked overalls ' hardly anyone's definition of cleanliness ' but the fact of the matter is that if the oil in an engine is contaminated with grit or dirt, the running of the car itself will be horribly compromised. This is why we have oil filters in any car engine ' they enable one to maintain the smooth running of a car engine, in spite of the unwelcome foreign bodies which can from time to time get into the works. Oil filters can be changed at home without needing a mechanic to do the job, if you are feeling brave.
The first step in changing an oil filter is removing the old filter. The theory is that this can be done by hand, but the experienced amateur and the hardened professional alike agree that this is a ludicrous suggestion. The filter in your engine will almost certainly have become coated with a thin film of oil among other things, and feel like it has been screwed on with a wrench. Removing it certainly require a wrench. There are special wrenches available for this job. You should also wear gloves, because this is among the messiest jobs you will ever perform on your car. Wipe off the filter with rags as this will allow the wrench to get purchase on the filter. Put a suitable pan under the filter, as there will be a slow drain of oil from the filter when you get it loose. Once you have loosened the filter enough, invert it and drain out the rest of the oil.
The mounting post for the filter will at this stage be grimy with oil, so wipe it with a clean rag before taking the new filter out of its box. Place a few drops of fresh oil onto the surface of the rubber gasket and spread it all over (do not forget this part, as it is essential). Screw the filter onto the mounting post, and once there is contact give it an extra 270-degree turn. Some filters will require additional tightening on top of this, but never use a wrench as this can warp the gasket and create a leak.
That is the job in its entirety, save for turning on the engine to ensure that everything is as it should be. Of course, depending on how tightly the old filter was screwed on you may find that you have a difficult time getting it off. If the wrench keeps slipping, or damages the can in such a way that wrenching it off is impossible, then you may puncture the bottom of the can using a screwdriver and drain the oil off before using that screwdriver to puncture the sides and use it as a turning handle. This should do the job admirably.
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