1. /// Mister-Auto’s DIY Guides
www.mister-auto.co.uk - 0844 338 00 21
*Please note: free and informative document for which Mister-Auto does not accept any responsibility or liability.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
- 1 large, acid-resistant drain container
- 1 filter wrench
- 1 piece of cardboard or canvas
- 1 8 or 10 mm combination spanner
- 1 funnel
- 1 oil filter
- 1 pair thermal gloves
- 1 pair of plastic or rubber gloves
- 1 oil drain cap
30 mins
EQUIPMENT
DIFFICULTY
TIME
To function properly, every
combustion engine needs to be
lubricated. In cars we use engine
oil as a lubricant. It ensures that
the metal parts such as the
pistons, valves and the crankshaft
don’t rub against each other.
Without engine oil, these parts
would easily break down. Apart
from preventing damage, the oil
also helps against wear and tear.
Regardless whether your car
uses petrol or diesel, fuel always
contains very small dirt particles,
which can easily damage the
engine parts of your car. The oil
mixes with these particles so that
they flow through the engine with
the oil. Finally, the oil filter filters
the dirt particles out. You can
imagine though that over time the
engine oil becomes increasingly
saturated resulting in it losing
its cleaning capacity. It is then
necessary to change the engine
oil to protect your engine against
wear and tear.
OIL CHANGE
ENGINE OIL’S ROLE
When the time
comes to change
your engine oil, it
is not necessary to
buy top of the bill oil.
However, do look for good
quality at a reasonable
price. Despite hereby already
limiting your options, the choice
remains enormous. To help you
making a good selection for your
car, Mister-Auto has drawn up a
list of important criteria to keep in
mind when shopping for engine
oil.
As mentioned before, every
combustion engine needs to be
constantly lubricated. In cars that
role is fulfilled by engine oil. Engine
oil has highly lubricating properties,
which prevent the metal engine parts
from rubbing together. The absence of
engine oil would lead to overheating
and irreparable damage.
Engine oil also has cooling properties
and thus serves as a cooling assistant
as well as a cleaning agent. It will be
clear now that without engine oil, your
car won’t last long.
It is therefore important to regularly
check your oil levels, especially when
you are preparing your car for a long
journey or for a holiday.
WHICH ENGINE OIL?

2. /// Mister-Auto’s DIY Guides
www.mister-auto.co.uk - 0844 338 00 21
*Please note: free and informative document for which Mister-Auto does not accept any responsibility or liability.
OIL CHANGE
1- Urban traffic: you’ll want to buy
partly synthetic oil. The frequent
starting and switching off of your
engine has a strong wearing effect
on the engine parts. Partly synthetic
oil protects your engine both when
it is still cold and when it has heated
up. Despite using suitable engine
oil, it is recommendable to change
your oil relatively often when you
are driving a lot in urbanised areas.
2 - S p o r t i v e d r i v i n g :
it’s best to buy fully synthetic
engine oil. This is high quality oil
with superior lubricating qualities.
3- Long distance: mineral engine
oil is enough for your car. When
driving a lot on motorways, you
won’t change gears a lot or have
to switch off and start your engine
again. Consequently, motorway or
long distance driving has little wearing
effect on your engine which in turn
will need less lubrication.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ENGINE OIL?
Before actually buying engine oil, it is important to have a clear idea of which characteristics to look at. One
of the factors determining which engine oil is best for your car is the way you use your vehicle.
Driving styles and car use:
VISCOSITY
Once you have determined which type of engine oil suits your car use
best, you will need to pay close attention to the viscosity of the engine
oil you’re thinking of buying. The viscosity or thickness of engine oil
relates to its fluidity. You will find viscosity indications on engine oil
bottles. The reference you’re looking for are two numbers around the
letter “W” such as 10W40 for example:
10W: The first number indicates the oil’s viscosity
in cold weather. Hence the “W”, standing for “winter”.
The higher the number, the thicker the oil. So if you
live in the Highlands where it can get rather cold, it
is important to choose engine oil of which the first
number lies as close to zero as possible. However, if
you tend to spend your winters in southern Europe,
where it stays relatively warm, you can easily choose
oil with a higher indicator.
40: the second number, after the “w”, indicates the
oil’s viscosity when heated. The higher the number, the
better the oil’s lubricating effect. As opposed to the first
number, if you live in an area where temperatures can
drop considerably, you can buy oil with 30 behind the
“w” for example. However, if you spend time in warm
regions, it is better to opt for engine oil with a higher
viscosity when heated. The thinner the oil becomes
when heated, the better it is for your engine.
WHEN TO CHANGE OIL?
The intervals with which to change your engine oil,
depends on the fuel your car uses.
• Petrol:
every 6210 to 9320 miles.
• Diesel:
every 9320 to 12425 miles.
Please note that this is an indication only. As mentioned
above, the frequency with which you’ll need to change
your engine oil also largely depends on the way you
use your car and on the quality of the engine oil you
bought.

3. /// Mister-Auto’s DIY Guides
www.mister-auto.co.uk - 0844 338 00 21
*Please note: free and informative document for which Mister-Auto does not accept any responsibility or liability.
• Allow your engine to warm up before changing your oil.
Thanks to the heating, any deposits will start floating.
• New engine oil also means a new oil filter
• NEVER dispose of old engine oil via drains or water
ways. Engine oil must be disposed of in a safe and
regulated way due to its highly polluting properties.
So help protect the environment and pour your old
engine oil an empty jerry can you can seal properly.
Then take it to your local oil bank or garage.
TIPS FROM MISTER-AUTO
CHANGING ENGINE OIL IN 12 EASY STEPS
Let the engine of your car warm up.
Once your temperature gauge reaches
90°C, switch off the engine and let it
rest (about 30 to 45 minutes) so that
the oil temperature can drop. Bear in
mind that your car’s engine will only warm
up properly when you are driving the
vehicle. At standstill the engine doesn’t
really get warm.
Park your car on a nicely flat parking
space. Put a large piece of cardboard
or canvas underneath the vehicle.
Lift the vehicle sufficiently with a jack to be
able to put the drain pan underneath. Please
ensure you have properly stabilised your
car, bearing in mind that a jack might not
be good enough. Use small wheel ramps or
axle stands if necessary. After all, you only
need enough space underneath the car to
put the drain pan under.
Unscrew your oil filler cap, located
underneath the bonnet of the car. You will
be able to recognise the drain cap thanks
to the oil symbol (an oil can with a teardrop
falling from it).
Step Step
Step Step
1
2
3
4
OIL CHANGE
Dismount the oil filter Apply some oil to the new
filter
Manually thread on the new
filter
9
7 8
The oil is released
Unscrew the oil drain plugOpen the oil filler cap
4
5
6
THE TEMPERATURE
GAUGE MUST NOT
REACH MORE THAN 90°C!

4. /// Mister-Auto’s DIY Guides
www.mister-auto.co.uk - 0844 338 00 21
*Please note: free and informative document for which Mister-Auto does not accept any responsibility or liability.
The oil pan will now be empty and so
you can put the drain plug back on. If
it has fallen into the drain pan, clean
it properly before putting it back and
remember to replace the gasket.
Similar to the oil filter, there is no
need to tighten the plug too much.
9
Fill your oil pan with fresh oil via the
oil filler. Use a funnel to avoid spillage
as much as possible. Start with one
to four litres of engine oil.
Close the oil filler cap and start the engine. Let it run for about 30 seconds. Then switch off the
engine and check the oil levels with the dipstick. If your dipstick indicates the correct level or slightly
below, you’re done. If the maximum level has not been reached yet, top up and check again. Also
check once more after a first drive.
10
11
Put the oil drain plug back
Add fresh oil to the oil pan
Check the oil level with the
dipstick
10
11
11
OIL CHANGE
Step
Locate your oil drain cap (generally
at the rear end of the engine sump).
Place the drain pan well underneath the
drain plug. Then take your combination
spanner and turn counter clockwise to
unscrew the plug. Be careful, as soon
as you have released the plug, the oil
will rapidly pour out of the sump. If the
drain plug and the sealing washer fall
into the drain pan, fish them back out
and clean them.
5
Step
Once all the oil has poured out of the
sump, slowly and carefully put your car
back onto the ground. Do at no point
start your engine: the lack of oil may
result in irreparable damage!
6
Step
Replace the oil filter by starting to turn
counter clockwise with your filter wrench.
Loosen the oil filter completely. Keep
a small container at hand as some oil
may leak out. Put the oil filter into the
container with the opening facing down.
7
Step
StepStep
Step
Clean the oil filter seat with a cloth and
then apply a little bit of engine oil to
the new filter. This will act as a sealing
gasket. Turn clockwise to screw the
new oil filter onto the thread. Do not
tighten too much – screw the filter on
by hand and don’t use the oil wrench.
8