IT Tips - April 2014

IT Tips – April 2014

 

Spring is here! The days are getting longer and the temperature is… bearable. Hooray!

 

What’s Inside:

Tech Section

·         Maintenance is the key 

 

Maintenance is the Key

A strict maintenance regimen pays back dividends. Neglecting to follow your regular scheduled maintenance can end up costing you time, money and heartache.

It’s simple: Fresh oil will keep your engine running for years to come. 

 

Wait… what?

I recommend letting your engine run a bit before an oil change so that the fluid is less viscous. The warm oil will drain much faster. It’s important to note, however, that that hot engine oil can burn you. Hot things burn the skin.

You’ll also want to have all of your tools/materials ready. Here is a basic reference:

·         A Flat working surface

·         A garage lift or a jack & jack stands

·         A wrench set

·         A drain bucket

·         Rags (save those old magic mitts!)

·         Wheel blocks

·         A funnel

·         A creeper (No, not the guy in the van by the river. It’s a thing with wheels onto which you lie)

·         Oil (the correct type and amount is a good idea – check the manual in your glove box for details)

·         An oil filter (preferably a new one or you’re wasting your time, silly)

·         A new crush washer

Really… what the heck?

I’m ignoring you. Start by parking the car on a flat surface (or a garage) and pop the hood. Loosen the oil filler cap to avoid vacuum lock when the oil is draining.

Open the cap open but don't remove it so debris doesn't get in there!

Now locate the jack points on the vehicle.   

Typical jack point locations

If you’re fortunate enough to have a car lift, it will make things much easier. You can line up the lift pads with the 4 jack points and raise the car up enough to walk under it.

Nice Corvette, bro.

 

If you don’t have a $2,000 car lift in your garage, you’ll have to slum it with a car jack and jack stands.

Jack stands for the commoners

Put wheel chucks in front of and behind the rear wheels so that the vehicle doesn’t roll. Then jack the car up enough to position and secure a jack stand under each font jack point.

Now that the vehicle is jacked up and secured from rolling, slide your drain bucket under the car.

                       

Next, grab your wrench, lie down on your creeper (again, not a person) and slide under the car.

THIS kind of creeper. Not someone peekin in the window.

At this point, you’ll need to locate the drain plug and line the drain bucket up with it. Once the drain bucket is in place, remove the drain plug with your wrench and let the oil flow into the bucket. The oil may be hot so take care not to burn your tender hand flesh!

Use your hairy hand to remove the drain plug

 

While the oil is draining, lets creep out from under the car (see what I did there?) and go back under the hood. Assuming your oil filter is accessible from the engine bay, remove and discard the old oil filter.

                      

Clean the oil filter mating surface.

                      

Grab your new filter, dip your finger in some of the new oil and rub it on the rubber ring of the new oil filter.

                      

Install the new oil filer by threading it on until it stops. Once the filter bottoms out, turn it ½ of a turn extra to secure it.

Creep back under the car and reinstall the drain plug. Note: if your drain plug uses a crush washer, you’ll need to replace it.

Crushwashers. Crushed and un-crushed.

Now that the oil filter and drain plug are installed, it’s time to add the new oil.

Back in the engine bay, remove the oil filler cap and insert your funnel. Now pour in the manufacturer’s recommended amount (usually 5 quarts for cars) into the funnel and secure the filler cap.

Clean engine oil is tan!

Check the oil with the dipstick and ensure the level is in accordance with the manual’s specification. 

Disclaimer

You probably shouldn’t change your own oil based on a guide written by your IT guy. I hold no responsibility if you drop a car on your face or destroy your engine.

It’s April; you knew what this was.

Have a great month, everyone!

-Keith

Please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email if you have a something that you think will make a good tip. You’ll get credit on the blog for your contribution and I might give you a high-five