Youth Explore Trades Skills

Automotive Service Technician

Oil Change

Description
This Activity Plan will demonstrate to students how to successfully perform an engine oil and
filter change on a vehicle. Students will be given the opportunity to perform this activity on a
vehicle of their own choosing to demonstrate the learned skills.

Lesson Outcomes
The student will be able to:
• Understand the process and protocols required to change the engine oil and filter on a
vehicle
• Explain the reasons why regular oil changes are important and how they relate to the
expression “pay now or pay later”
• Follow industry guidelines on recycling and disposal of plastic oil containers, used oil and
filters
• Understand the reasons and benefits of the use of a torque wrench to tighten the drain
plug
• Identify and competently use an oil filter wrench when required
• Research the information required to order the correct parts and supplies

Assumptions
• The student has no previous knowledge or experience in performing an oil and filter
change.
• The teacher has a good understanding of this procedure and has previously performed
this operation.
• Activity Plan 15: Lifting Vehicles will have been completed previous to this Activity Plan.

Terminology
All terminology required will be taught if required when it used in this task.

Estimated Time
30–60 minutes (Some students may take longer than 30 minutes the first time they conduct an
oil change.)

Recommended Number of Students

20, based on the BC Technology Educators’ Best Practice Guide

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Oil Change Automotive Service Technician

Facilities
Ideally an indoor vehicle hoist with adequate lighting and a comfortable environment.

This activity could be performed on the ground on axle stands, but this is not an advisable
situation for students to see all aspects of the details being taught.

Tools
• Oil drain pan
• Oil filter wrench
• Wrenches to remove the oil pan drain plug
• A socket set with a selection of sockets (most vehicles manufactured in the past 20 years
use metric drain plugs)
• Torque wrench
• Recycling containers for used oil and filter

Materials
• Work order
• Oil change checklist
• Access to vehicle information for torque values
• Engine oil
• Oil filter
• Paper towel or wipes

Resources
• Vehicle information system (All Data or Mitchell, vehicle service manual or Internet access)
• Work order
• Oil change checklist
• Clipboards and pencils

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Automotive Service Technician Oil Change

Activity
Oil has been described as the lifeblood of the engine and as such should be changed often.
Oil—along with the additives placed in it—performs five basic functions:
1. Lubricates
2. Cleans
3. Cools
4. Seals
5. Cushions
Eventually the additives break down and wear out. Each vehicle manufacturer has its own
recommendations on when to change the oil, but a general guideline is every 5000 km or 3 times
per year.

Activity Plan 15: Lifting Vehicles will have been completed previous to this Activity Plan.

• If the vehicle is raised on a hoist for work, students should have knowledge and
experience related to the safe operation of a hoist.
• If this activity is being performed at ground level, prior to its being completed students
should have knowledge and experience of raising a vehicle and safely putting it on axle
stands.

Prior to any work being done, Activity Plan 7: Fill In a Work Order will have
been completed and the oil change checklist provided will have been filled out
completely. This will ensure the proper oil and filter are available before any
work begins.

1. Have students find specifications for the torque value of the engine drain plug and complete
the checklist information. If any additional oils or materials are required, they must be
identified and available before the service is started.
2. Ensure the oil temperature is at a safe level to be drained without risk of injury. Hot oil can
cause serious burns if it comes into contact with bare skin. Proper protective clothing and
safety glasses should be worn from this point forward.
3. Provide a drain pan large enough to accept more oil than the vehicle engine holds.
4. Demonstrate the proper body position for removing the engine oil drain plug to avoid
getting splashed with used oil.

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Oil Change Automotive Service Technician

Figure 1—Draining oil

Due to the possible skin reaction to chemicals and pollutants in used oil, it is
considered good practice (but is not mandatory) to wear latex gloves while
draining engine oil.

5. If the drain pan is being supported on a stand, ensure it is never left unattended. Also,
ensure it never falls over or overflows. The risk of an environmental hazard is possible and
the cleanup effort is not worth the risk of leaving it unattended.
6. The drain plug should be cleaned off to remove any residual dirt and a new seal/gasket
should be installed.

Figure 2—Drain plug seal

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Automotive Service Technician Oil Change

7. When the drain plug is installed, it should be tightened to the correct torque value according
to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification—no exceptions!

Figure 3—Use a torque wrench to tighten the oil drain plug.

The cost of replacing an oil pan that has been damaged beyond repair can be in
excess of a thousand dollars if the oil pan happens to contain the transmission
assembly, or the customer loses all their oil at highway speeds because the
drain plug was either stripped or left loose.

8. The engine oil filter should now be removed either by hand. If it is too tight, the use of the
filter wrench can now be demonstrated.

Figure 4—Remove oil filter

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Oil Change Automotive Service Technician

9. The bottom of the filter base should be cleaned with a cloth and a visual inspection should
be done to ensure the old oil filter seal has been removed with the old filter. If not, look for
the seal being stuck on the engine where the filter goes. The old seal must be removed. A
new oil filter always comes with a new seal. If the old seal has not been removed, and the
new oil filter and seal are installed, the two seals will contact each other, large amounts of
oil will leak out between them under high pressure and the engine will be damaged within
minutes.

Figure 5—Make sure the old oil filter seal is removed with the filter.

10. Lightly lubricate the new seal on the new oil filter base with engine oil and install it to the
engine.

Figure 6—Lubricate the new oil filter seal

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Automotive Service Technician Oil Change

11. Explain to the students that an empty oil filter takes time to refill. During this refill period the
engine is running without oil pressure. You will notice this when you first start the engine.
The engine oil light or oil pressure gauge takes about 10 seconds before it turns off or
registers pressure. This light or gauge will need to be checked when starting the engine.
12. The filter must not be over-tightened—do not turn more than ¾ to 1 turn after the seal
contacts the oil filter base. Normally, the filter should be as tight as can be turned with one
hand by an adult.

13. At this point the teacher may choose to discuss where and how to properly dispose of oil
and oil filters.

Figure 7—Oil disposal

14. Fill the engine to the correct level with oil according to the engine specifications.

Figure 8—Fill engine oil

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Oil Change Automotive Service Technician

15. Start the engine and count to 10 while watching the engine oil light or oil pressure gauge.
The light should turn off or the gauge should register pressure by the time the 10 count is
done.

Figure 9—Oil light indicator

16. If the engine oil light does not go out after 10 seconds, turn off the engine immediately and
determine the problem:
a. Was oil installed?
b. Was the drain plug replaced?
c. Was the oil filter installed correctly?
d. Was the oil filter seal removed?

17. Run the engine for about 5 minutes. If the vehicle is run in an enclosed space without good
ventilation, it should preferably be connected to a proper exhaust extraction system.
18. Wait approximately 5 minutes after the engine has been turned off for all the oil to return to
the oil pan. Re-check the oil level and add more if required. Do not overfill past the full mark
on the dipstick—if this occurs, some oil must be drained to avoid oil being forced
out of the seals in the engine. The space between the “add” and “full” marks on a dipstick
usually represents about 1 litre of oil.

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Automotive Service Technician Oil Change

Figure 10—Check oil level using the oil dipstick

Evaluation Guidelines
The following components of the activity can be assessed:
• Completion, legibility and accuracy of work order and oil change checklist
• Practical evaluation of the oil change procedure
• Shop condition when finished (tools put away, oil wiped up, etc.)
• Vehicle condition (fingerprint marks, oil stains on the body work, etc.)
• Question/answer session on oil recycling and filter disposal

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 Oil Change Checklist

(This sheet must be completed before starting service work)

Customer Name_________________________________________ Date ____________________________

Vehicle: Year______________________ Make _________________________ Model __________________

Odometer Reading ________________________________ Licence Number _________________________

Engine Size ________________Fuel Type __________________Transmission Type___________________

VIN ___________________________________________________________________________________

Initial as done

1. Oil filter number and manufacturer _________________________________________ _______

2. Oil capacity including filter ____________________________________________ _______

3. Recommended type and viscosity __________________________________________ _______

4. Drain plug torque ____________________________________________ _______

5. Transmission fluid type ____________________________________________ _______

6. Rear axle/diff oil type ____________________________________________ _______

7. Transfer case oil type ____________________________________________ _______

8. Lug nut torque specifications ___________________Ft/lbs ___________________Nm _______

9. Tire pressures ____________________________________ Front _______

Rear _______

Spare _______

Service Technician’s Name(s) ________________________________________Work order # ____________