A recent theme on my blog has been "preparation" as I am trying to be more prepared for life and the trials that come with it. I've talked about being prepared while hiking, I've shared a recipe you can make with food storage items, and today I'm going to talk about being prepared on the road. I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm one of those girls who is constantly calling her dad for automobile advice. I've had my tire light come on countless times, locked my keys in my car, had my engine light come on multiple times, etc. Auto maintenance can seem never ending, but I'm trying to learn and become more self-sufficient.
To help me on that journey I decided to have my dad show me exactly how to change the oil (not just add oil) in my vehicle and I also came up with a kit that I now keep in my car in case of an emergency. There have been times where I've needed a change of clothes, a napkin, a flashlight, etc, and I decided to grab the bull by the horns and just be prepared for when those times come.
For the kit you will need:
Medium Sized Plastic Tote
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil
An Oil Filter
A Change of Clothes (I just went with a pair of jeans and a tshirt)
A Blanket (from a picnic to keeping you warm when you're stuck in a snow storm, a blanket is a necessity)
Water Bottles
A Roll of Paper Towels
A Roll of Toilet Paper
Tissues
An Umbrella
A Flashlight (and spare batteries)
A Lighter
Granola Bars
Tire Pressure Gauge
A Can of Fix A Flat
Spare Cash
I also have a roll up emergency kit that comes with bandages, feminine products, pain relief medicine, a needle and thread, etc.
Organize your items in your plastic tote and keep it in the back of your car for emergencies. Your kit will come in handy during a range of events, from spilling a drink to getting a flat tire to being caught in holiday traffic. I know that I will be grateful that I've got these items ready to go whenever I need them.
After I got my kit put together, I met up with my dad to have him show me exactly how to change my oil. I already knew how to check if it was low or to simply add more, but I wanted to know what I needed to do to put fresh oil in and keep my car running as smooth as possible. And now I'm going to share those steps with you. I like to use Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil from Walmart as it has excellent performance in extreme temperatures (with the weather being all over the place like it is in Utah, this is important), unsurpassed wear protection, horsepower protection, and better fuel economy.
First, you'll need to purchase the correct oil weight and grade for your car. You can find that information as well as information on the oil filter in your owners manual (stores also have books in the oil aisle that have this information). Then be sure to change into grungy clothing, jack up the front of your car, and pop the hood.
Next, place a bucket under your vehicle to catch the old oil as it drains. You do not want to spill any oil as it is bad for our environment.
Using a wrench, unscrew the cap on the oil drain then let all of the oil drain into the bucket. When it's finished, be sure to reattach the cap, tightly!
Follow those same steps for the oil filter which can be found in front of the oil drain (at least on my car). Then attach your new oil filter and dispose of the old one.
My dad likes to keep an old container of some kind (this one is an empty laundry detergent bin) on hand that he uses to transfer the old oil from his home to an auto garage where they can dispose of the oil in a safe way. Do not dispose of the oil in a garbage bin or dump it in the dirt.
Then it's time to pour your new Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil into your vehicle. Find the cap that indicates where your oil goes, remove it, and place a funnel into the hole. Carefully pour the new oil into your car and then check to make sure it has reached the "full" marker on your dipstick. My car takes 5 quarts of oil which is pretty standard.
Note the difference in the old oil vs the new oil!
Screw the cap back into place, clean up, and you're good to go!
Now you can change your oil like a professional and you've got an emergency kit at the ready! You'll be feeling much safer and prepared as you hit the road; whether you're driving 5 minutes or 5 hours.
What are some tips that you like to follow when it comes to being prepared while on the road?
