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By Counterman
Oil changes continue to be one of the most common DIY repairs performed on vehicles today. According to a recent Counterman P.A.R.T.S. report, changing the engine oil was the second-most popular DIY auto care job, behind only changing the wiper blades.
Changing the oil and filter is right in the sweet spot for do-it-yourself (DIY) vehicle owners: It’s a regular maintenance task that’s critical to the overall health and longevity of the engine, and it’s easy to perform. It’s the sort of basic maintenance that can be performed by someone who might not get their hands dirty otherwise. Chances are you’ve had a DIYer in your store asking how to get started. Let’s talk about some of the tips you can share with your DIY customers to help them change their own oil – and do it right.
Essential Tools vs. Non-Essential Tools
Tools are a long-term investment. They may cost more than they’ll save on the first oil change, but they pay for themselves in the long run!
Let’s start with the essential tools that every DIYer should have in their garage. At the top of this list, we find a jack and jack stands. Whenever you’re working underneath a vehicle, you need to make sure that it’s lifted up on level ground, and that it’s safely supported with jack stands. If you lift the vehicle up with a hydraulic jack, and don’t support it with jack stands, the jack can lose pressure and the vehicle will start to lower itself. If you’re underneath the vehicle when this happens, it can be deadly. Be safe, be smart and live to wrench another day. If any of the wheels are coming off, I place them underneath the vehicle for an added layer of protection. My thinking is simple: If something went wrong, having to replace a wheel and/or tire could be the least of my problems!
As a personal rule, I like to use jack stands that are rated for far more weight than I’ll ever put onto them. I have a number of 4-ton and 6-ton jack stands, and I prefer them over the less expensive 2-ton stands due to their increased footprint, and more robust construction.
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 1 Next on the list are the basic tools and supplies you’ll need to finish the job. You’ll need a basic set of sockets, wrenches and ratchets. You’ll also need some form of tool to remove the oil filter or filter housing cap (Figure 1). It’s worth mentioning that you may need to purchase specialty tools to remove the drain plug or filter housing on certain applications. For example, Volkswagen uses a proprietary tool to remove the plastic drain plugs from its modern four-cylinder engines. GM Ecotec engines require a special socket to remove the filter housing cap on its 1.4T and 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines. These are only two examples of many, so it’s best to do some online research before starting the job. Make sure you have all the tools you need on hand BEFORE you start to drain the oil.
You’ll need some form of drain pan or container to catch the oil as it drains out of the engine. It’s a good idea to have some old rags or towels on hand to clean up any spills or messes along the way, and I usually have a can of brake cleaner for added cleaning “umph.”
Finally, let’s talk about personal protective equipment (PPE). It’s a good idea to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and gloves to protect your skin.
Tips & Tricks
First and foremost, a DIY customer probably will have a lot of questions about what type of oil they need, how much oil their engine holds and more. While you may be able to lookup fluid specifications and capacities in your catalog, your DIY customers won’t have access to something like that. But a quick Google search should get them on the right track. I would always advise them to follow the OE maintenance guide and specifications, regardless of mileage or age.
There are a lot of things that you’ll learn through experience. Any tips, pointers or advice you can share with your DIY customers can go a long way toward helping them, and might just be the thing that gets them back to your store for the next repair. For example, some oil-drain plugs feature a gasket or crush washer that seals up against the oil pan. This type of gasket will need to be replaced at every oil change. A leaky drain plug can be a real pain, and could be really discouraging to a DIYer after their first oil change.
Then there are the little things that just make the whole job go a little bit smoother. I like to keep some old, cut-up cardboard boxes around the garage. In a pinch, they work great as a “poor man’s creeper.” Sometimes you don’t have enough room under the vehicle to slide around on a creeper, so the cardboard gives me something to lay on without having to lay directly on the cold, concrete floor.
When replacing a spin-on oil filters, always wipe off the mounting surface before installing the new filter. This ensures that any dirt or debris will be wiped away, AND if the gasket was stuck in place, you’ll either feel it, or you’ll knock it off of there. If you installed the new oil filter on top of the old gasket, it wouldn’t seal correctly. The result would be a massive blowout, leaving oil all over the garage floor. Not a great way to spend an afternoon!
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 2 The same applies to cartridge oil filters, but for different reasons. Cartridge oil filters are held in place by a filter housing cap. This cap will contain one or more O-rings that seal inside the housing. These O-rings need to be replaced with every oil change, and they’re almost always included with the new cartridge oil filter. Whatever you do, don’t double up these O-rings! This can lead to massive oil leaks, but it also can make the filter housing cap nearly impossible to remove (Figure 2).
Finally, always dispose of the used oil safely. If your store will take used oil, be sure to let your customers know. If your store cannot take in used oil, make a list of nearby shops that will. Some shops use oil-burning heaters, so they may take used oil without a charge to the customer.
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By Counterman
ENEOS USA Inc. recently announced that ENEOS X Prime 0W-8 fully synthetic motor oil will be available in spring 2023.
The ultra-low-viscosity 0W-8 was created in partnership with Asian OEMs, which requested the special formulation to meet stringent emissions and economy standards. Not only will ENEOS X Prime 0W-8 oil be supplied to manufacturers for factory-fill requirements, but it also it will be available for oil changes by dealer networks and for DIY maintenance.
Applications
ENEOS X Prime 0W-8 is 100% synthetic oil developed in partnership with Asian automakers for use in the latest hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) where 0W-8 is specified. This currently includes vehicles from Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi. The oil also is suitable for battery electric vehicles (BEV) fitted with thermal gasoline engines used as a range extender. A number of 2023 production vehicles will require 0W-8, including the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Nissan Dayz.
Testing and Standards
ENEOS extensively market-tested X Prime 0W-8 in Japan for nine years to produce this optimized formula, which provides extreme fuel efficiency with maximum engine protection, while meeting the required domestic standards, according to the company. ENEOS helped establish the JASO GLV-1 specification, creating and establishing the testing methods while performing engine-testing methods with OEM-provided test engines. ENEOS 0W-8 meets these new JASO GLV-1 standards. No API or ILSAC 0W-8 testing standards currently exist.
Packaging
ENEOS USA Inc. will release ENEOS X Prime 0W-8 in single 1-quart containers (part No. 3000-300). More information will be available closer to production.
Additional details are available on the
link hidden, please login to view. ENEOS is the largest oil company in Japan. As the “original JDM oil,” ENEOS has been working in partnership with Asian automakers for decades. As part of this partnership, ENEOS has in-house testing facilities where the company follows strategies developed with each OEM partner to meet their vehicle and performance specifications, particularly for the tighter tolerances of Asian engines that are now being seen more in European and domestic vehicles.
ENEOS provides R&D and factory fill for Asian automakers in factories around the world. This access provides ENEOS with unreleased vehicle specifications, allowing the organization to develop lubrication formulations that specifically meet (or exceed) vehicle needs. Because of these partnerships, ENEOS products are designed to anticipate future requirements beyond current domestic vehicle standards.
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By NAPA
Let There Be Light
It’s a simple truth that humans have known since the dawn of time: everything is easier to do when you can shine a little light on it! This is especially true in a garage, workshop or work site. Even in the brightest automotive garage, the dimly lit conditions of a Lexus RX350 or a Honda Accord engine bay, coupled with the complex arrangement of the engine components, can present a big problem for a mechanic looking to identify a problem and undertake repairs.
In the past, finding a dependable work light that performs in an auto shop setting was challenging. Most mechanic work lights used wall sockets, so your range of use was limited by the length of the cord. The brightest work lights usually use incandescent bulbs that could get very hot—a recipe for disaster when working with hazardous fumes and flammable liquids. Not only that, but incandescent lights usually require safety cages, which make them too bulky to fit into the dark recesses of an engine. The best auto mechanics are never without a trusty pen light tucked in their coveralls; however, they tend to have a limited number of lumens plus use small watch batteries, making them very inconvenient.
Thanks to the advancement of
link hidden, please login to view, automotive work lights are now far safer, more efficient, smaller and brighter. The best work lights for mechanics should be: Rechargeable – you should get at least two hours of bright light; 170 lumens or higher is ideal Rugged – the housing should feature strong, weathertight thermoplastic polymer construction such as ABS to withstand use in a garage or work environment Reliable – you should not have to worry that your work light will shatter or overheat A bonus in modern mechanic work lights is their easy mounting capability. There’s no need to drill any holes or glue anything—as most work lights feature magnetized bottoms and durable hooks—so that you can mount them to the hood of your vehicle or the side of the engine bay, as well as hang them from the latch mechanism. These magnets are safe to use around metal tools and sensitive electronics.
Illuminate the Job with NAPA and Carlyle Tools link hidden, please login to view
Whether you’re wrenching on the exhaust system of a lifted Ford F150, keeping your home renovation site lit or setting up a tent after sunset, a work light solution from
link hidden, please login to view is the best way to illuminate the job at hand. Named after one of NAPA’s founding members Carlyle Fraser, the brand is synonymous with hard-working reliability and quality craftsmanship. The NAPA Network is proud to offer this professional-grade line of lighting solutions so you can get a safe, reliable illumination to get your work done right. A rechargeable,
link hidden, please login to view from Carlyle is a must-have for close-quarter repairs in an engine bay. You get a full two hours of illumination if used on the high setting and up to five full hours on the low setting. The slim work light is small enough to maneuver into tight spaces and offers a brilliant 500 lumens, while the convenient magnetic base and hook offer cord-free mounting and hanging. Lose those smoky, unsafe incandescent cage lights on the job site and replace them with this super-brilliant rechargeable
link hidden, please login to view, which offers up to two hours of illumination on the high setting and five hours of luminescence on the low setting. The plastic/aluminum construction provides durability without added weight. For a smaller option that features both flood and spotlight functionality, the link hidden, please login to view features 260 powerful lumens with up to nine hours of continual brightness on a single charge. The safe and comfortable link hidden, please login to view offers the perfect hands-free light that shines right where you need it. The old-school auto mechanics will appreciate that Carlyle also offers a rechargeable link hidden, please login to view—small and reliable with no need for a watch battery. Best of all, Carlyle also offers a cutting-edge
link hidden, please login to view that wirelessly charges a wide range of their lighting solutions—such as the link hidden, please login to view—for fast and easy wireless charging. You’ll never get left in the dark again when you have the brilliant and reliable illumination of NAPA and Carlyle Tools lighting solutions at your side! Sign up for link hidden, please login to view today and get 1-point for every $1 you spend. Once you earn 100 points, you get $5 off your next NAPA purchase. The post
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