Oil change on the car: frequency, costs and instructions! (2024)

With the tips below, you can do some Oil change costs save on! So that you can find out about the maximum durability of the engine, you need to change the oil regularly. Now you are probably wondering how often this should happen and what the cost of it is. The good news is: You can do it yourself!Tuningblog has an advantageous guide ready for you to support you.

Oil change on the car

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1. Oil change on the car, why?
2. Save costs when changing oil?
3. Oil change - how often?
4. Shorten the intervals?
5. The right engine oil?
6. Abbreviations - engine oil
7. Difference between mineral oil and synthetic oil
8. How much engine oil is added?
9. Instructions - engine oil change
10. Which tool?

Oil change on the car, why?

The oil is the most important requirement for your engine to function. This is the only way to keep the moving parts lubricious so that nothing can seize or rub against each other. Additionally cools the engine oil the components that are thermally stressed. As a result, the engine oil seals all cavities (fine sealing), which works through the Oil control ring between Piston and Cylinder wall. Over time, however, fine metallic abrasion particles develop, there is fuel entry and combustion residues. This reduces the quality of the engine oil. Quality and lubricity decrease. It is all the more important that you use the engine oil change regularly. Otherwise it might come to soon engine failure."Back to top

Can I save costs when changing the oil?

Most of the cost savings if you change the oil do it yourself. You can usually get the necessary accessories from specialist retailers for around ten euros. In addition, you have to invest another ten euros for an oil filter with a seal. It is just as important to get on Quality of branded oils to put. For a conventional motor you will need between 3,0 and 7 l engine oil. The costs in the specialist trade are an average of ten euros per liter of motor oil from a brand manufacturer.

But even if you hire a workshop, you can save costs and a lot of money. Talk to the workshop about whether you can use the oil or the necessary filters even in the accessories can buy cheaply in order to have them used. An independent workshop instead of an authorized workshop also saves costs. Here, too, you save money. And engine oil bring your own usually does not work in the authorized workshop anyway. Incidentally, the type of workshop takes on the guarantee no influence."Back to top

How often do I have to change the oil?

The intervals depend on which car and which engine it is and how you use it differently. You can usually find all the information you need in the instruction manual. By the way, it will be between dynamic and firm Differentiated change intervals. Both the period and the mileage play the most important role with a fixed change interval until the next change is necessary. Then it is important to have an oil change after the first 30.000 kilometers or every two years. What comes first has priority.

In the other case, parameters such as RPM, consumption, speed, brake wear and the oil level an important role. The on-board computer almost always shows the dynamic change interval in current vehicles. You will be notified of this directly in the ad. The intervals are of course also related to the driving style. And it makes a difference whether it's a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. If it is a dynamic interval, you must use a specially prescribed synthetic branded motor oil that you obtain directly from the manufacturer. Normally it is a typical SAELow-friction motor oilthat corresponds to the specified standard. You can then use this to refill. It is therefore wise to always have a little engine oil with you in the trunk."Back to top

Can the intervals be shortened?

Sometimes it makes sense to shorten the intervals for changing the engine oil and to change the intervals accordingly. If you put a lot of stress on the engine, this is recommended, for example. Short distances are an example of this. But it is just as important if you start the cold engine and always jet off immediately at increased speed, and that regularly. Generally speaking, you should have high speeds with a cold engine avoid.

If that doesn't work, you should already change the oil 15.000 km or consider less. Even if the engine is already very powerful ex works or even still increased performance became. Even then you should change the oil vorziehen and also the interval Change to a fixed interval. We recommend at performance-enhanced engines or the typical M, AMG, RS engines an oil change every 10.000 km, especially if the vehicles have already run a few kilometers. By the way, you always risk expensive damage when you change the oil delay."Back to top

Choosing the right engine oil

If you have a large number of dynamic change intervals, you will have to use a long-life engine oil directly from the manufacturer. You enjoy more leeway with a fixed change interval. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to the specific description and operating instructions for the motor. You will find detailed information on this on the packaging. Pay particular attention to the information for the ACEA or API specifications."Back to top

The abbreviations for engine oil

• SAE class: The indication 5W-40 on the oil bottle indicates the SAE class ("Society of Automotive Engineers"). This information refers to the Viscosity. This means the flow properties. You will also find information on the properties at low temperatures on it. The engine oil flows faster, all the more small the number is. At a temperature of 100 ° you will find the definition for the number without "W".
• 15W-40: This denotes the usual average standard quality. Most engines can handle it. You can use this product in winter up to -20 ° use.
• 10W-40: This is the best way to get started in the smooth-running class. Low temperatures up to -25 ° in winter they are not a problem.
• 5W-40: The production takes place partially or completely synthetic, so the properties for cold starting in winter are better. This product is suitable for temperatures up to -30 °, the oil also helps to save fuel.
• 0W-40: This motor oil is fully synthetic and works at temperatures up to -35 ° in the winter. The lubricity is also optimal in the upper temperature range.
• 5W-30: If an engine with a long oil change interval is installed, it is a High performance running oil. There are no problems with it either in summer or in winter. The product is also available for diesel engines with particle filters."Back to top

Difference: mineral oil and synthetic engine oil

Basically there is a difference whether it is a synthetic or a mineral Engine oil. Both variants are made from petroleum. However, it will be with mineral oil additions added to improve properties. The synthetic motor oil is therefore influenced in a chemical way. The manufacturer specifies this exactly. Because the manufacturing process is complex, there is of course a price difference. Mineral oils are all the cheaper. A synthetic motor oil is much more resistant, for example at low temperatures. Over time, however, the effect of the additional added properties diminishes to . In principle, mineral oils last less long than synthetic oils. Use the appropriate oil depending on what is specified for the engine of your vehicle. Special oils, such as low-ash engine oils, are often used for diesel engines."Back to top

How much engine oil is added?

The engine displacement mainly plays a role in terms of the amount of engine oil required for use. The board manual (the user manual) provides information about this. Usually you can between 3 and 7 l Fill in engine oil. Sometimes, however, even 10 liters are necessary. That a three-cylinder with 68 hp doesn't need as much oil as a 6-liter V12, that should be clear."Back to top

Instructions for changing the engine oil

1. Warm up the engine so that the engine oil becomes thinner and can flow off better. This also removes all impurities and the particles are washed out. You may use one beforehand engine cleaner according to instructions!
2. Make sure the car from below accessible close. The best way to do this is to use a lifting platform. Do not jack up the car at the front, it must be in the horizontal position. Secure the vehicle before starting work. Alternatively, the engine oil can also sucked off using a small pump over the dipstick.
3. Procedure without suction: Open the lid located in the engine compartment. In this way you avoid negative pressure and the oil drains off better. Depending on the situation, remove the underbody paneling under the engine.
4. Position a collecting container for the used oil, the right place for this is under the oil drain plug.
5. Open this screw. Use gloves for this so you don't get burned. Remember that as soon as the screw is slightly loosened, the oil will run out. As mentioned earlier, you can also do one suction Pump to use. This costs around 20 to 30 euros. This is fine for an oil change in between. At the latest with the next change you should then drain the oil again in the usual way.
6. Change the oil filter. You use a special filter key for this. Use this to slowly unscrew the oil filter (loosen right / tighten left). Check that the oil filter rubber seal is already removed with the filter.
7. Moisten the new seal supplied with the new oil filter with a little engine oil and replace it. Then screw on the new oil filter manually. Pull this one not by force.
8. When the engine oil has completely drained off, screw the new seal together with the new drain plug (is usually supplied with an oil change set) again firmly. To do this, use a suitable torque wrench and the torque as specified.
9. Now the time has come and you can fill in the new engine oil. Use a measuring cup for the exact amount. The board manual and the operating instructions for your car provide information on this. Alternatively, use the information / scale on the oil bottle to determine the correct amount of oil. It is best to fill it out very consciously a good half a liter too little Olive oil and wait a few minutes until everything has arrived in the oil pan. Then measure the amount of oil with the Dipstick or about the Board computer. Then top up in small increments to the correct amount.
10. After the process, close the oil cap and start the engine so that the engine oil can spread. The check is carried out again using the dipstick or the vehicle's on-board computer."Back to top

Which tools do I need to change the oil?

• Correct amount of engine oil
• correct oil filter
• Oil filter nut, oil filter spider and oil filter wrench
• torque wrench
• wrench
• drip tray
• Workshop towels / gloves
• Funnel or oil can
• cleanser
• small screwdriver
• binder
• "Back to top

Tips for the oil filter & disposal

You should have the oil filter on no way forget. You change this together with the oil. This allows both the metal abrasion and the dirt particles to be filtered out. It is not advisable if you only change the oil filter but not the oil or vice versa. And pay attention too to a professional disposal from used oil. It is usually possible to exchange the used oil in specialist shops when buying the new oil. Otherwise you have to go to the Recycling center issued."Back to top

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