How to Change the Oil in Your Truck

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

Changing your own oil in your truck can save you time and money. Taking your truck to a maintenance shop could take almost all day after you make an appointment and driving to the shop. After learning how you will never take it to a shop again.

Steps

1
Before you change your oil you should run your truck and get the oil warm so that it will gather all the dirty particles. It will also be easier to drain.
2
Make sure you set the parking brake.

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3
First you must obtain a floor jack and jack stands. Jack the truck up using the floor jack. Place the jack in the center of the front brace between the front tires. Make sure that the surface you are parked on is level and stable, so that the jack doesn't move(if not make sure blocks are placed under back tires). Jack the truck up so the front tires are off the ground. For safety purposes, you should also place a jack stand under the brace just inside of the two front tires. This is to make sure the vehicle does not fall on you if the jack fails. Blocking the rear tires will also help eliminate the risk of the jack moving.^{[1]
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4
Get a wrench that fits your drain plug, an oil filter, an oil filter wrench, a bucket to catch the oil, and the oil. Be sure to know what type of oil your vehicle requires. If you do not know, you can find this information in your vehicle manual, as well as the oil capacity.^{[2]
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5
Slide under the vehicle. Locate the oil pan and loosen the bolt located on the end of the oil pan. The drain plug. Before you loosen the bolt place bucket under the bolt to catch the oil.^{[3]
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6
Drain the oil from the oil pan, and clean the bolt with a rag and screw it back in with your fingers. After, take the wrench, and tighten it another quarter to half rotation. This will ensure that the bolt it tightened enough, but not so tight that it is going to pinch the rubber seal.
7
Use the oil filter wrench to unscrew the oil filter which is to the right of the oil pan. Before the filter is completely screwed out, again place the container under the filter to catch any oil that is still in the filter.
8
Dispose of old filter and the new filter can be screwed in place. Be sure that you have purchased the correct filter, as sizes will vary depending on model and type of motor you truck has. Also check to make sure you have removed the O-ring from the old filter off of the filter housing. To ensure that the new filter gets installed properly.
9
Take fresh oil and rub it around the rim of the filter. This is to ensure that there is a good seal once the new filter is screwed in.^{[4]
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10
Hand tighten the filter. Then take the oil filter wrench and tighten another quarter turn.^{[5]
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11
Gather the tools and move from under the vehicle.
12
Remove the two jack stands and lower the floor jack.
13
Pop the hood of the vehicle and unscrew the oil cap which is located on the left side of the engine. Be sure to remove any debris that could potentially fall into the oil.
14
Pour the recommended amount of oil into the vehicle. Screw the oil cap back on and close the hood of the vehicle.^{[6]
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15
Dispose used oil properly.
16
Run vehicle for ten minutes, then check oil levels with dipstick. Top off oil if needed.^{[7]
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Go to source} Do not forget to release the parking brake before the vehicle is driven again.

Community Q&A

Question

What filter does a 2004 Ford F250 use?

Community Answer

Any auto parts store will have a reference book in the oil filter section where you can look up the year, make, and model of your truck, and it will tell you which oil filter will fit your truck from each brand (Shell, Bosch, Mobil, K&N, etc.).