Should You Warm Up the Car Before Changing the Engine Oil?
2 Answers
You should warm up the car before changing the engine oil. Steps for changing the engine oil: 1. Start the car engine to allow the oil to flow fully within the engine and carry away impurities; 2. Lift the vehicle using a car lift; 3. Unscrew the oil pan bolt and open the oil filter; 4. After all the oil has drained completely, install the new oil filter and then pour in the new oil. Engine oil serves to lubricate and reduce friction, assist in cooling, seal against leaks, prevent rust and corrosion, and provide shock absorption. Engine oil consists of two parts: base oil and additives. The base oil is the main component of the lubricant, while the additives compensate for and improve any deficiencies in the performance of the base oil.
Before changing the engine oil, I highly recommend warming up the car first! After starting the engine, wait for about five to ten minutes until the temperature gauge needle reaches the middle position. Warming up the car makes the old oil thinner, just like melted chocolate, so when you unscrew the drain plug, the oil can flow out faster and more completely. If you change the oil when the engine is cold, the old oil will stick stubbornly in the corners of the engine, and the new oil might get contaminated by the leftover dirty oil. However, remember not to rush into the job right after warming up—wait for about ten minutes after turning off the engine. Otherwise, the scalding hot oil could splash out and burn your hands. Last time I changed the oil myself following this procedure, I drained nearly 5 liters of old oil into the drain pan, which was about half a bottle more than when I did it with a cold engine.