If you are the kind of person who loves cars and likes to dabble in DIY fixes, or perhaps works hard at repairs that keep your car in tip-top shape, then you’re probably familiar with at-home oil changes. And if the maintenance light, which looks like a tiny wrench, has been lit for quite a while after your change, you might be thinking of using your professional scanner. Luckily, it has a function that can reset the maintenance light, a very convenient feature that can save you time and effort.

Now considering if your vehicle has accumulated approximately 175,000 miles, the oil change should be done with full synthetic high mileage oil. This is because high-mileage oils are the ones that address the needs of aging engines and assure them nice protection and performance. Before getting started, be sure to collect the right tools and supplies:

• Oil filter wrench
• New oil filter
• Extensions and a breaker bar
• 2-inch ratchet
• Torque wrench
• Funnel
• Motor oil (full synthetic high mileage oil)
• Moly grease
• Assorted sockets and conversion bits
• Drain pan
• OBD2 scanner (for resetting the maintenance light)

Having everything ready will make the process smoother and more enjoyable. With your tools and supplies at hand, you are ready to start the oil change!

Preparing Your Workspace

Your safety while working on your car should be the first and foremost. Always make sure that your car is on a stable ground and then place jack stands underneath the car to hold it upright. Never try to do any work under a car that is being held only by jack! After lifting up the car securely, take off the wheel of the front passenger side so that you will have more working space.

Draining the Old Oil

Find the oil pan that is placed at the bottom of the car. In order to reach the drain plug, you will have to take off a section of the exhaust system. Place your drain pan under the oil pan and then use a breaker bar to loosen the drain plug. Make sure that all the old oil has drained out completely. This might take a while, so just be patient.

You can take off the old oil filter while the oil is draining. It should come off easily but if it is too tight, then use the oil filter wrench. Wipe the area down with a rag after the oil is completely drained so that no old oil remains. This cleaning is necessary for smooth and efficient oil changing.

Preparing and Installing the New Oil Filter

First, put a little moly grease on the gasket before you put on the new oil filter. That will not only make a good seal but also, when the time comes, the filter will be easy to remove. Twist it by hand until it is snug and done that, just follow the manufacturer’s guide for the right torque. Be careful, better to be over-cautious and under-tighten than damage the filter or make it impossible for the next person to remove it.

Adding New Oil

Adding new oil is the next step after draining the old oil and putting in a new filter. With the oil, using the funnel, pour the oil into the engine very slowly and the appropriate amount of it. Depending on the engine type, different amounts of quarts of oil are required. On the other hand, due to the nature of certain engines that are very thirsty for oil, adding a little extra quart would not be a problem. As soon you are finished pouring the oil, put back the oil cap and start your engine to let the oil flow.

The dipstick will tell you whether or not the engine has a sufficient amount of oil. Engine oil should always be at its ideal level for smooth engine operation. This means it is a must to check it frequently. After ensuring that the engine has enough engine oil, you are free to turn off the engine and let it rest for a while.

It is important to move on to the next step right away, putting back the exhaust system that you have removed. Make sure that all the components are tightly secured and that the exhaust system is properly positioned. Not only will this increase the performance of your vehicle significantly, but it will also protect you when you’re driving.

Resetting the Maintenance Light

Once the oil change has been completed, it’s time to reset the maintenance indicator. This task cannot be complete without the use of the OBD2 scanner. This scanner must be connected to the OBD2 port, which can be found below the steering wheel of the vehicle. Next, start the car so that the codes available in the vehicle’s computer software can be accessed by the scanner.

After attaching the scanner and getting your car is running, go to the menu on the scanner. Many options will be visible, but among them, “service reset” is the one you need to select for the maintenance light reset. Follow the instructions on the scanner to reset the light. You can expect to hear a beep and see the maintenance light turned off on your dashboard.

Final Checks

Always be sure to wait and do a couple of final checks before declaring the oil change finished. Check that the area around the oil pan and filter is leak-free. Reassess the oil level to verify that it is within the recommended range. Crank up your engine and allow it to run for a minute or two to check that all is well. If nothing is wrong, you can now lower your car and put back the wheel which was taken off earlier.

Additional Tips for Maintaining Your Car

Regular oil changes are very important if you want your car to last long and run smoothly. Still, you should look at the other maintenance tasks as well to prolong your car’s life and improve its performance. A few suggestions are as follows:

Check Your Fluids on a Regular Basis: Besides the engine oil, it is advisable to check the coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid at the same time. If any of them is not at the desired level, then take the necessary actions and fill them up to get the best performance.

Check Your Belts and Hoses: Belts and hoses will eventually break from constant use and cause engine damage. Always do a check-up on them and replace them if you see any signs of wear and tear or cracks forming.

Replace Your Air Filter: An unblocked air filter helps in giving your engine the right quantity of air and this is very vital for performance and economy. Every 12,000 to 15,000 miles road you should change your air filter as well as follow the vehicle manufacturer’s advice.

Check Your Tires: Tire management done rightly is a necessity for both safety and performance. Check your tire pressure constantly and change the position of your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to make them wear evenly.

Follow the Recommended Maintenance Schedule: The manufacturer of your vehicle has given a suggested maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. Simply follow this schedule to make sure all important parts are checked and serviced at the right time.

Understanding Your OBD2 Scanner

Your OBD2 scanner is indeed a powerful device that can assist you in diagnosing and fixing your car problems. Some of the important aspects and functions of your Innova OBD2 scanner are outlined below:

• Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): The scanner has the ability to both read and erase diagnostic trouble codes that are issued whenever a fault is detected by your vehicle’s computer. The codes serve as pointers indicating the root of the problem so that you can effectively address it.
• Live Data: The tool updates you with real-time data of the operating conditions of your engine and some parameters like RPM, coolant temperature, and manifold pressure etc. This piece of information could be used in diagnosing performance issues and also in assuring that your engine is running at its best.
• Service Reset: As we discussed previously, the scanner is capable of resetting the maintenance light, thus enabling you not to spend time and effort on such tasks. This option comes in especially handy in case the power buttons of your control unit are unable to operate.
• Battery and Charging System Test: The scanner is able to test your vehicle’s battery and charging system, which will in turn assist you in detecting potential problems before they become too serious.
• Drive Cycle Procedures: The scanner will guide you through the drive cycle procedures that will enable you to clear some of the diagnostic trouble codes and check if your vehicle’s emissions system is functioning in the correct way.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Despite regular maintenance, some problems will still arise for you regarding your car. In order to assist you, we have listed some of the most common problems and ways to solve them below:

Engine Misfires: When your engine starts to have irregular firing, it might be an indication of several issues such as worn-out spark plugs, defective ignition coils or fuel system issues. Through your OBD2 scanner, you can determine which of the components is faulty.

Overheating: It is a possible situation that might arise from several factors such as insufficient coolant in the car, defective thermostat or defective water pump. In such case, check the coolant levels in the car first, then examine if there is any signs of wear and tear in the thermostat and water pump.

Transmission Problems: If there is a slipping transmission in the car, then a delayed engagement or rough shifting of the car gear can be an indication of a possible issue with the car transmission system. These occurrences might be due to low transmission fluid level or a defective solenoid and/or worn-out clutch pack in the car transmission system. It is very important to verify that the car’s transmission fluid level is correct and that there are no signs of wear and tear in the car’s transmission system.

Brake Problems: Noise from brakes such as squeaking/grinding or decreased braking efficiency would be some of the symptoms of brake problems. You should inspect your brakes for wear and tear or damage to the pads, rotors and calipers. Besides that, you need to check the brake fluid levels and the functionality of the brake lines.

Enhancing Your Car’s Performance

If you’re looking to enhance your car’s performance, consider the following upgrades:

Cold Air Intake: If an air intake system that is cold is used, it will enhance the engine’s performance by supplying the engine with cooler and denser air. This air supply can lead to gains in horsepower and torque besides fuel being consumed more efficiently.

Exhaust System: A smoker can be powerful if the exhaust system is replaced as the latter would allow the vapors to flow more efficiently. For performance gains as well as an auditory enhancement, you can think of cat-back or axle-back exhaust systems.

Engine Tuning: Through the adjustment of vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU), performance optimization happens in moniker engine tuning. This covers a host of aspects like changing the fuel maps, timing of ignition among other things to unlock better horsepower, torque and more responsive throttle.

Suspension Upgrades: A car’s suspension upgrade means a better handling and turning around. Take into account the upgrading of your shocks, vibration control, and anti-rolling bars for a quicker and more nimble driving style.

Choose Maclane’s Automotive

Although a DIY oil change is not terribly complicated, it does demand the appropriate tools and materials to be done properly. By using the methods mentioned above, you are ensuring that your engine is getting all the necessary care and maintenance to run smoothly and effectively.

Regular oil changes and other maintenance work will ensure your car is always looking great and running great too, let our experts take your car’s health the rest of the way! Give us at Maclane’s Automotive in Downingtown, PA, a call today at (610) 590-9974 and schedule your pro repairs with a repair team you can trust.