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Oil Change Tools: What’s Required for a Proper Fluid Replacement
There are many different oil change tools needed when you are thinking of changing your own oil. Some of these tools are needed with every car and others are specialty tools that are needed only on certain cars. This article will break them all down, classify the common tools with the not so common tools and what they are used for.
Most Common Tools and their Uses
Combination Wrench: This tool is used to remove any bolts needed to access the oil drain plug and the oil filter. It is also used to remove the majority of oil drain plugs.
Oil Filter Band Wrench: This tool is used to remove and replace the oil filter on the majority of the cars on the road today. It is used by simply placing the looped band on the filter and pulling the handle until the filter is loosened.
Oil Drain Pan: This tool is used for catching the old oil as it drains from the oil pan and the filter. It can also store the oil until it is possible to dispose of it in a proper manner.
Funnel: This tool is used to neatly pour the new oil into the engine. This tool is not always necessary, but it prevents nasty oil messes on your vehicles engine.
Drive-up Ramps or Floor Jack: These are used to get the vehicle up in the air so that the oil drain plug and filter are accessible.
Jack Stands: These are used to bear the weight of the vehicle after it has been jacked up using a floor jack.
Less Common Tools and their Uses
Torx Bit Socket: This is used to remove the oil drain plug from some foreign cars, primarily German built cars.
Oil Filter Socket: On some newer cars, they have cartridge filters that are contained in a sealed unit. You can only gain access to the filter with a special sized socket. This tool is primarily needed on newer General Motors and Ford products.
Dipstick: Yes, some vehicles, primarily Mercedes’, do not have a dipstick to check the oil. Only the dealership has these and they sell them at a steep price. You can go by what the owner’s manual says when adding oil, but I would get a dipstick just to be safe. That could turn into an expensive mistake.
Tap & Die Set: If you should find your oil pan is stripped, you can always attempt to repair it by re-tapping the threads where the drain plug goes in. Though the success rate is low, it is worth a shot to save some money.
Oil Change Pump: This pump has a tube that is inserted into the dipstick tube, and it slowly sucks all of the oil out of the oil pan. Though the jury is out on how effective it really is, it can be a good option for a person afraid to damage a drain plug or oil pan.
Now that you know the tools needed you can get started on changing the oil.
