1. Park your car on level ground
2. Always test the oil when the engine is cold, as this will give you the most accurate reading.
3. Release the hood by pulling the hood release lever which is located underneath the dashboard.
4. Find the latch underneath the hood and squeeze it and as you squeeze the latch, open the hood.
5. Locate the dipstick. This is a long piece of metal sticking out of the engine with a loop at one end, usually located near the center of the engine. Many times it will be labeled with the word “Oil” or will be brightly coloured.
6. Take the dipstick out of it’s hole and wipe the oil off it with some paper towel or an old rag.
7. After cleaning the dipstick, put it back in the hole, and make sure it is all the way in, then take it back out and hold it horizontally in front of you.
8. Look at the other end of the dipstick and if the oil on the dipstick is below the line marked “full,” add a small amount of oil. Many dipsticks have 2 lines with a cross hatch design in between. The oil level should be halfway between these 2 lines, if it is below these two, top your oil up immediately.
9. Add the oil by unscrewing the oil cap, which is about 7 cm in diameter and located on the very top of the engine. It will usually have the words “Engine Oil” on the top of it.
10. Once you have added the oil, check the oil level with the dipstick, to see whether it needs anymore. If need be add some more, it’s easier to add more than to take any oil out.
11. Put the oil cap back on and secure it tightly.

Tips and Warnings

• Your owner’s manual will tell you what type of motor oil your engine will require.
• It is not recommended that you don’t mix different brands of oil as each company puts different chemicals and additives in their own oil. Some oils will react negatively with other oils causing them to break down and reduce their life and effectiveness.
• If the oil in your car is always low, there may be an oil leak. Leaks will always get worse, and losing all the engine oil will require expensive repairs and/or replacing the engine, so don’t leave it.
• Change your oil and filter around every 15,000 km

1. Pull the hood release lever located under the dashboard.
2. Walk around to the front of the car, reach under the hood, find the latch and squeeze it. Open the hood.
3. Find the spark plugs, located in a row along one side of the engine (on an in-line 4-cylinder engine) and attached to thick wires, called spark plug wires. Cars with V-shaped engines (which can have 4, 6 or 8 cylinders) will have spark plugs and spark plug wires on both sides of the engine.
4. Change 1 spark plug at a time, always putting the plug wire back on before changing the next spark plug (see warning below).
5. Pull off one spark plug wire where it attaches to the plug. There is a little rubber boot at the plug end of the wire; pull on this part. Pulling higher up on the wire can damage the spark plug wire and cause it to separate.
6. Blow or wipe away any dirt or debris around the spark plug. You do not want anything to fall into the cylinder while the spark plug is out.
7. With the spark plug socket and a ratchet, remove the spark plug by turning it in a counterclockwise direction. You may need an extension for your ratchet if the spark plugs are deep-set or not directly accessible. Ratchets with flexible heads are especially helpful for hard-to-reach spark plugs.
8. Check the spark plug to make sure it needs replacing. A good spark plug should be lightly coated with greyish brown deposits. If heavy deposits are present, if the spark plug is black or if the electrode or core nose are damaged, the plug needs to be replaced.

Gapping the New Spark Plugs

1. Find the chart listing the proper “gap” for your plugs in your car’s repair manual. The spark plug gap may also be on the sticker on the inside of the car’s hood. The parts store can provide you with this specification as well.
2. Insert the spark plug gapping tool in the gap between the metal center electrode and the metal side electrode of the plug’s tip.
3. Look at the tool’s ruled edge and find the gap’s measurement. If it is too big, bend the spark plug’s end with the tool to widen the gap. To make the gap smaller, push the side electrode (the metal part at the very top) against a hard service.
4. After adjusting, measure again. Repeat this procedure until the gap matches the specification listed in your car’s manual.
5. Repeat with each plug.

Installing the New Spark Plugs

1. Hand-tighten each spark plug in place. If you feel any resistance, stop and start over to prevent cross-threading.
2. Tighten the plugs with a socket wrench until snug. Do not overtighten.
3. Replace the spark plug wires. Usually, you will hear a soft pop when the plug wire snaps onto the plug.
4. Start the engine. Listen. If the engine runs roughly or doesn’t start, make sure the wires are pushed all the way onto the new plugs.