One of the things I can't understand is people making a big thing out of nothing.

The Nextdoor set is now fretting about getting an oil change and seems to think it requires the skills of a talented ace crackerjack mechanic.

It doesn't. Any gearhead kid can do it just as well for short money and will likely do as good if not a better job than any professional. 

After all, it's only an oil change.

It's kind of like getting a shot. It doesn't take the skills of a licensed MD to give one. 

It's only a lousy shot. That's all.

In fact MDs are as ofen as not the lousiest shot givers because they don't do it anywhere as often as nurses and the various medical assistants.

Before I went into the service one of the WW2 guys commented about the time he was in the hospital. He said he hated getting any shots from the GI doctors but said "Them old Army nurses know how. If they like you, you don't even feel it. If they don't like you it hurts like holy hell!"

During my hitch I made it a point to be charming to any nurses I encountered. Actually the bulk of my shots in the service came from privates and Spec/4s. They were generally pretty good shot givers. 

Back to changing one's own oil.

In most cars it is a simple process.To explain it in basic terms it is the process of draining the oil sump and replacing the drained oil with fresh oil.  Of course an oil change generally includes replacing the oil filter.

The average teenager can do this in about a half hour once he or she has been shown how it is done. It's really quite simple and it's fun for all ages. I know an old woman that changed hers herself until very recently until her hands got crippled up with arthritis. 

Of course the guy at the shop has a lift which makes things easier yet but it can still be done simply in the driveway.

The first step is gathering the necessary tools and supplies.

You need oil, a filter, a container of some sort to catch the draining oil and two wrenches and a couple of rags. You might get a new drain plug washer in case you drop the old one into the oil and don't want to fish it out of a pan full of oil.

Now I am no longer a skinny teenager so I can't squirm under the car like I used to be able to so I have a pair of ramps to drive said vehicle up on to give me additional space for my old fat belly.

In the winter run the car until the oil heats up to make if flow. It gets pretty thick in the winter. Summertime I don't bother. It may take a minute or more longer but I don't have to be as careful to avoid hot oil.

I run the car up on the stands, loosen the drain plug and place the catch container under the hole and unscrew the plug and let the oil drain into the pan.

While the oil is draining I unscrew and remove the filter. You'll probably need the filter wrench to get the old one started. After you crack it it generally comes off by hand. With a couple of drops of oil I wet the gasket slightly and replace the filter with the new one. You only hand tighten the new filter.

By the time you are done changing the filter the oil from the sump (oil pan) should be empty or close to it. When it is empty replace the drain plug, insuring you have replaced the washer. Snug it up and do NOT use gorilla-like strength.

At this time I slide the full pan out from under the car and take it out of gear and release the brake and shove it off the ramp and open the hood.

Open the oil replacement cover and add enough oil until it's at the top of the dipstick.

Start the car and run it for a few minutes and shut it down and let it rest. Recheck the oil. It should be down a little because it has refilled the filter. Top it off and, replace the oil cap, close the hood, put the tools away and you're ready for a thrilling afternoon of drag racing down on Thunder Alley.

Total time is about 30 mintues.

To find out why the blog is pink just cut and paste this: http://piccoloshash.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-feminine-side-blog-stays-pink.html NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE WRITING OF TODAY'S ESSAY