Learn how to change the oil in my car

I know some of the people who got oil everywhere when they change the oil by themselves. I recommend using the quick oil drain valve. Just replacing your original drain plug, changing oil can be dramatically easier. Because of the ball valve with the lever, you can drain your motor oil without tools. You get dirty Most likely when you remove the plug. Therefore, it is really good idea to avoid that with the quick valve. For more info, check the site www.QwikValve.com. I bought one and am really happy with it.

I was “forced” to learn this when during a long ride the oil display of my car suddenly started to blink at random… we stopped at a petrol station and I tried to do something about this myself (hey! after all I mangaged to open the hood all alone!!).. but that’s about as far as I got … and I had to ask the girl at the cash desk for help.. blushing
but now I know! :)

this seems like a great thing to know how to do….

Ok so this isn’t one that’s got me jumping for joy, but it is a nice thing to know how to do. That said, I’ll probably still hire someone to do it for me as long as we’ve got money to do it.

I have met so much opposition with this goal. Everyone asks me what the point is, when I can take my $18.99 to JiffyLube. Why bother? Am I crazy for just wanting the satisfaction of knowing how to do this all by myself?? I feel like my three year old when she yells, “No! Let ME do it!!!!!!”. I just want to be a little more self-reliant, that’s all!

my stepdad just showed me how to change the oil in my car!
i can’t believe how simple it is!
it took us a while to find the oil filter (it’s in a weird spot and kinda difficult to get to), but the rest was a piece of cake.
i am VERY confident that i can go this myself now and save 15 bucks! go me!

i plan on having my step-dad change my oil for me this thursday.
little does he know, he is going to teach me how to do it myself.
i want to feel like i am capable of fixing my own problems without having to rely on him all of the time or pay someone else a crapload of money to do it for me.
if i know how to do something myself,
chances are it’ll get done more often.

Being the youngest of 5 girls, my dad insisted on me learning how to maintain my vehicle. We started with tire pressure and I graduated to replacing my break pads. I do, on occasion, take my truck to Jiffy-type places, but as a woman, its satisfying to know how to change the oil. I’ve made a mess before, and cursed after breaking a nail, but knowledge is definitely power. For instance, once I took my truck to the dealer because I had a coupon and thought, what the heck…..and I caught them cheating me out of a new oil filter. Before I left the shop I looked under the truck and noticed my old Fram Oil filter was still on, they use a different brand…...got me a free oil change out of it. If I hadn’t known where the oil filter was, I would’ve missed that!

I did this by myself today! I’m really pleased, as it’s essentual car maintainence I no longer have to pay some garage cheese to do for me. A few things to I discovered:
A) There can be quite a chlostrophobic feeling getting under the car for the first time.
B) Tissue! Tissue is sooo important, or you’ll get oil everywhere, especially on your first time. Remember to get a rubbish bag too, for used tissue.
C) Be as organised as you can. You don’t want to be treading oily feet through your house looking for a rachette, new oil filter, etc.
D) Confidence is everything, especially for us girls. There are men out there who’d have us believe we can’t be messing around with engines or we’ll break the car or something. Not true. Get out there, learn how and then do it, you and your car will feel better for it. :D

Nothing wrong with seeking out help…

Emily Doerr agreed to give me some oil-changing lessons when I go up to Mt. Pleasant in April-May.

A helper, a helper… I told her I’d buy her a slurpee for her assistance. :)