Chevy Impala Oil Components Explained
Changing your own oil can be a rewarding experience, and it also saves you a lot of time.
While it’s not always a lot cheaper, the right shopping strategy can help you save a few bucks over even the best discounts at a garage, and the convenience of being able to handle it as a quick project at home will save you a lot of time in line.
Before you go to town on your Chevy Impala for the first time, it’s important to know all the components of the system you’re performing maintenance on, so you can be sure you address each of them while you’re working.
The process of an oil change is simple enough on its own, but missing a step can make a big mess.
The components you’ll be dealing with here are:
- A drain pan or another suitable container to catch old engine oil
- The new oil filter and the old one
- The nut that opens and closes the reservoir, typically found on the oil pan under the car
- New engine oil as indicated by the owner’s manual for your model year and engine type
- A suitably sized wrench
The process is simple. You put your drain pan down underneath the spot where your reservoir drains to catch the old oil.
Then you use the wrench to open things up and let it drain. Once the old oil is out, you also need to change the filter.
This part can be messy, because the old filter will have built-up oil in it. For improved performance, consider upgrading to aftermarket Chevy Impala oil filters.
After the filter is replaced, tighten the nut that controls the reservoir release and fill the system with oil again. All that’s left is clean-up and motor oil recycling.
Where to Find a Motor Oil Recycling Center
Most of the local auto parts stores where you can get Chevy Impala auto parts also carry oil recycling, as do many gas stations.
In some areas, there are clearly labelled recycling receptacles that most patrons see while shopping, but not always.
If you’re not sure whether a local auto store can take your oil, it never hurts to call ahead and find out.
Of course, if you’re going to be changing your oil regularly, it helps to build a habit of going to a store where you can count on locations being capable of helping you with used oil.
What Does Oil Filter Out?
Unfortunately, when the oil cycles through the engine, it can pick up debris that you don’t necessarily want to have washed back through the system.
That’s because as a lubricant in a closed system, it’s going to wind up encountering loose particles from inside and outside the engine.
The filter snags the vast majority of these bits of debris, from dirt and contaminants that come in through the oil intake to small shavings that come off parts when they are about to malfunction.
Some of the soot and dirt makes it through, leading to the way old oil can darken, but the vast majority of it is caught by the filter to prevent having it recirculate and damage the engine.
That’s why you need to replace old oil filters at every change; they’re simply not as effective as a clean one that hasn’t caught anything yet.
