I have a 98 Accord LX with close to 66K miles on it.
I have never done the regular 3K oil change on the car but always get a 7500 mile tune up from the dealer.

The technician I talked to said that the regular 7500 tune up is enough as long as I dont do any heavy duty driving. That was fine coz I used the car mostly to drive to work which was less than 5 miles away.

Well that has changed since last month when I started a new job which requires me to drive about 35 miles each way, 5 days a week. And usually its in stop and go traffic.

So now I am thinking its probably a good idea to get the 3k oil change as well.

My question and I apologize if I come across as being totally naive about this but when it comes to cars...yes..I am naive.. ....can I do this oil change myself? Or am I better off letting a professional do it?

I am figuring I can do this myself and if so what do I need? I have zero car tools in my garage. Do I use regular oil or synthetic oil? Is there a good step by step instruction set somewhere? When doing an oil change every 3k miles is there anything else I need to be checking on?

Appreciate any and all help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dsequeira &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So now I am thinking its probably a good idea to get the 3k oil change as well.

</TD></TR></TABLE>


Yeah I think if you are curious about changing your oil in the first place, then I would take it to a lube shop.

 

There's a reasonable step-by-step in the owner's manual. Read it thru & decide if you want to. It's relatively easy, but reaching up to the filter while laying on your back under the engine is a bit of a pain. When the hot oil from that filter runs down your arm into your armpit; your first reaction is to pull away & burn yourself on the exhaust pipe.

 

I'd go ahead and start changing it yourself, you can get quality oil and a filter for ~ $11, compare that to the $22 or so you'll pay at a quick change place.

Here's what you'll need:

A set of ramps (or a jack and a couple of stands, but I prefer the ramps, much easier).

A wrench to uncrew the bolt on the oil pan, I'm not sure what size it is since I always use a monkey wrench.

Something to catch the oil in, either an old baking pan or you can pick up a specially make oil storage unit.

A funnel, though what I use is a plastic soda bottle (any size), cut in half, then washed and dried (works great, and is free).

All of the above items are reusable, of course.

Then, for each oil change you'll need:

5 quarts of motor oil, just buy the 5 quart container from Wal-Mart, 5w30. I use Castrol GTX, it runs about $8 (for the 5 quart container).

An oil filter. The Fram oil filter from Wal-Mart costs ~ $3.

That's it.

When you want to change your oil and after you've bought the supplies, change yourself into some older clothes (just in case), put the ramps in front of your front tires and pull the car up onto the ramp. Spread out some newspapers in the general vicinity of your oil pan and oil filter. Then slide under it with your catch basin and wrench, start unscrewing the bolt on the oil pan. When you feel it almost all of the way out, start holding the catch basin up to it. Just let the bolt fall out into your catch basin (you'll have to fish it out later). Set the basin down and let the oil flow into it. Now, find your oil filter and start undoing it. It *should* be able to be undone by hand, if not just stab it with a screwdriver and turn it that way, and next time buy a special oil wrench. Anyway, take off the filter and let it drain too (you'll need a second catch basin, though this one can be smaller). After both have slowed to maybe a drip every four seconds or so, go ahead and put on the new filter (hand tightening only), but first rub a little oil on the gasket (the rubber part of it). Once the new filter is on, clean off the bolt and put it back in. Slide out from under the car and take everything with you.

With your funnel, put the five quarts of oil into the car. Pull it off of the ramps, let the engine run for a couple of minutes. Check for leaks, if there are then you need to tighten either the filter some more, or the oil pan bolt.

As for the used oil, just take it back to Wal-Mart, or Autozone, or a number of other places. If you don't have a convenient way to carry it, use the 5-quart jug that your new oil came in.

 

Awesome...Thank u very much for that detailed explanantion heat.
I may go ahead and actually give it a whirl.

Aprreciate the quick response guys.

 

[QUOTE=Heat]A wrench to uncrew the bolt on the oil pan, I'm not sure what size it is since I always use a monkey wrench.

[QUOTE]

It a 17mm I believe

 

Hey Heat...I just noticed..Springfield, IL.
Small world... I got my graduate degree at what used to be Sangamon State University...

thanks again....

 

I drive by there once or twice a month, though I don't stop by there often. When did you go to school there? I've been around here since '91.

And yes, changing your own oil really is an easy job, and after a few times all of the parts you've bought will have been paid for by the money you've saved. And you know exactly what's going into your engine.

 

I left there in 93....Moved to sunny California...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dsequeira &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...The technician I talked to said that the regular 7500 tune up is enough as long as I dont do any heavy duty driving. That was fine coz I used the car mostly to drive to work which was less than 5 miles away...</TD></TR></TABLE>Just wanted to point out that, per your owner's manual (I have a '99 LX), one of the definitions of "severe drving conditions" is driving less than 5 miles per trip.

Definately start changing your oil more often. If you pick up a Haynes manual (from Autozone, Pep Boys, etc) you can read over how to do other basic maintenance items and start doing those too, if you want. You will find that the cost of doing it yourself, even after you buy good tools (like Craftsman) will be less than the cost of taking it to somebody else.

So you moved away in '93? From '91 to '93 I used to hang out at On Broadway, The Lake Club II, and The Atrium quite a bit (listening to bands, playing darts). Lived in Park West Apartments.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dsequeira &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey Heat...I just noticed..Springfield, IL.
Small world... I got my graduate degree at what used to be Sangamon State University...

thanks again....</TD></TR></TABLE>
Its UIS now..University of Illinois at Springfield.

 

I would agree with some of these folks. I got started with working on my own car by performing a simple oil change myself. Once I got under the hood, I got familiar with where everything was and thereby took some of the nervousness off me working on my own vehicle.

I also recommend getting a Chilton's manual, because once I got that, I was able to see and read how easy some of the things you take into a shop to have done you can do yourself for only the cost of parts. Also, I've worked up some relationships down at O'Reilly and they sometimes give you tips, discount parts, etc. Especially when one of your vehicles is a Lexus. he he

Finally, I just enjoy working on my own car for pure pleasure. Also, when you've done some work on your car that you've never done before, and you've done it right, you get a great sense of a job well done yourself. That's something the dealership or PDQ Oil Change and Lube can't provide.

Also, chicks love guys that can fix stuff.