I'll admit most of the time I've had friends and in-laws standing by to help me along the way but tonight I decided to buck up and do it completely independently.
I've learned a lot here as far as the chemistry and viscosity of oils, and sometimes it may seem like I post here lot, but as far as hands-on excitement, I've only done a few oil changes with others' help on a few vehicles. The reason for others' help was because there was always a snag along the way that complicated things and I had to call for help. They were all unusual problems, like my wrench breaking and rounding off the bolt (cheap wrenches!!!), a bolt torqued wayyy too tight by a mechanic shop from when I just got my Hyundai, and having the wrong tools and the wrong idea about what I needed for our foreign vehicles. I never had any inkling about cars, what to do, what makes them run, and what parts went where. By reading books, having friends' help, and reading lots on here, I have learned so much.
And tonight I put it to practice. In an empty parking lot I drove the vehicle up on my ramps, took my wrench and began to turn the plug, fearing that I wouldn't get it off AGAIN. But I kept turning, and it was responding, and BOOM, the plug came off and out came old faithful. What a glorious moment. I got out from under the car to let the oil drain, and after a minute or so I hear a leaking sound. I look and the plastic oil bin's plug had shut and the oil was running out of the bin onto the ground! Yipes! I had my wife grab some kitty litter and we poured it all over, and after it stopped draining we had one heck of a mess. We cleaned it up, and I started my vehicle, backed it up, and repositioned it on the ramp so I could place the oil plug back in.
Once I tightened it back in, I popped the hood and poured in some Quaker State UD, but mixed it with a quart of Quaker State Advanced Durability. Figured it wouldn't hurt. Turned her over and my car didn't blow up, and I drove it back home, and after a nice long shower (because I got oil ALL over my arms from the spill and popping that plug back in), I am glad to say that I DID IT!
^_^ just had to share!
I've learned a lot here as far as the chemistry and viscosity of oils, and sometimes it may seem like I post here lot, but as far as hands-on excitement, I've only done a few oil changes with others' help on a few vehicles. The reason for others' help was because there was always a snag along the way that complicated things and I had to call for help. They were all unusual problems, like my wrench breaking and rounding off the bolt (cheap wrenches!!!), a bolt torqued wayyy too tight by a mechanic shop from when I just got my Hyundai, and having the wrong tools and the wrong idea about what I needed for our foreign vehicles. I never had any inkling about cars, what to do, what makes them run, and what parts went where. By reading books, having friends' help, and reading lots on here, I have learned so much.
And tonight I put it to practice. In an empty parking lot I drove the vehicle up on my ramps, took my wrench and began to turn the plug, fearing that I wouldn't get it off AGAIN. But I kept turning, and it was responding, and BOOM, the plug came off and out came old faithful. What a glorious moment. I got out from under the car to let the oil drain, and after a minute or so I hear a leaking sound. I look and the plastic oil bin's plug had shut and the oil was running out of the bin onto the ground! Yipes! I had my wife grab some kitty litter and we poured it all over, and after it stopped draining we had one heck of a mess. We cleaned it up, and I started my vehicle, backed it up, and repositioned it on the ramp so I could place the oil plug back in.
Once I tightened it back in, I popped the hood and poured in some Quaker State UD, but mixed it with a quart of Quaker State Advanced Durability. Figured it wouldn't hurt. Turned her over and my car didn't blow up, and I drove it back home, and after a nice long shower (because I got oil ALL over my arms from the spill and popping that plug back in), I am glad to say that I DID IT!
^_^ just had to share!
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