Do you do oil changes yourself or do you take your car someplace and pay them big bucks do the the honor?
I’ve always done it myself, except for rare occasions. I’m not as keen on crawling underneath a car as I was when I was younger, but I still do it when necessary. That said, one of the best parts about switching to synthetic oil is the increase in the number of miles driven between oil changes.
In the video that accompanies this post, I demonstrate how easy it is to perform an oil change on the (slightly) lifted Jeep Wrangler TJ that we affectionately call “The Heep.” (It’s also known as “The Black Hole” for all the money that we’ve poured into it over the past three years.) The Heep’s been off the road for a good half a year. In the last few months, we’ve replaced the fuel pump, gas tank skid plate, radiator, thermostat, and cat-back exhaust. Prior to that, the front end and transmission were rebuilt, the brake discs and drums were replaced, and new sections of frame rail were welded in the wheel arches.
The 4.0-liter straight six is one of the TJ’s best attributes. “You can’t kill that engine,” folks often say. The 4.0 is rock solid and easy to maintain and as you’ll see, doing oil changes is a snap. There’s no need to drive this beast up on ramps or put it on jackstands.
I never do the no-brand thing when it comes to oil changes. I always recommend synthetic oil and a quality filter.
With the TJ’s odometer somewhere north of 160,000 miles, Valvoline Max Life synthetic oil (for older vehicles) and a Purolator Synthetic oil filter fit the bill perfectly. The Purolator Synthetic filter is engineered for 10,000 miles between oil changes and uses wire-backed media that’s “designed to trap and hold up to 27 grams of that dirt and junk that could get into your engine and cause major repairs.” The Purolator Synthetic filters also include a silicone anti-drainback valve and a blue textured finish that looks awesome and makes filter changes a snap. Super cool stuff from the company that invented the oil filter, way back in 1923.
Removing and replacing the oil filter on the 4.0L six couldn’t be easier, with access from above and ample space around the engine. The TJ has a modest lift that provides plenty of ground clearance and allows for quick access to the oil pan drain plug without any need for ramps or jack stands.
Synthetic fluids are a cornerstone of Ain’t Fuelin’s Mindful Maintenance program. The next step in our Jeep Wrangler Gas Mileage Improvement project will include replacing the gear lube in the axles and the transfer case fluid with synthetics.
Stay Tuned!