By John Lui

The current souring economic climate has sent everyone and their grandmothers running for cover and pinching their pennies. But surely, changing car tyres are only for stout-hearted mechanics?

But as LifeStyle's DIY special shows you, getting down and dirty need not make you hot and bothered.

Tackling simple menial jobs around the home saves you money and can be a newfound source of pride.

If you have older relatives, you would have heard stories about what life was like in the past. Before the age of maids, supermarkets and 24-hour clinics, people made their own soap, patched their own roofs, pulled out their own rotten teeth and plastered wounds with coffee powder (apparently, it helps in clotting and caffeine is a natural painkiller).

And those people were rarely complaining. They were proud.

While it may not be feasible to patch your own roof these days, the chance to master a home-improvement skill abounds in many other areas.

It also lies in putting your own stamp on the job and having the satisfaction of saying "I did it myself".

How to change engine oil

You should change your car's motor engine oil and oil filter every 5,000km or every three months, whichever comes sooner, says the Automobile Association of Singapore. Getting a mechanic to do it would cost $60 to $200, depending on the type of oil, so learn to do it yourself instead with this simple guide.

What you need

A new oil filter
New motor engine oil

What to do

1. Locate the oil drain plug under your car. Place a container under the plug to collect the old engine oil.

Turn the plug counter-clockwise with a wrench to remove it. Be ready to grab the plug as it comes loose.

2. Allow the oil to drain completely into the container. Check the sealing washer on the plug before re-installing it. If the washer is worn or broken, get a new one.

3. Remove the cap from the oil filler hole at the top of your engine. This is usually located around the oil pan of the engine.

Unscrew the oil filter by turning it counter-clockwise with a large locking wrench.

After removing the oil filter, empty the oil into the oil drain container. Always wear protective gloves and eye wear.

4. Open a new bottle of motor oil. With your fingers, apply a thin layer of oil on the new filter's gasket. Install the new oil filter by turning it clockwise with your hands, until tight.

5. Add motor engine oil (above) to the oil fill port which is usually located on the valve corner of the engine. Most cars and light trucks will require 4 to 5 quarts of motor oil.

6. To check the engine oil level, replace the fill cap and let the engine run for one minute, then turn it off and let the car stand for two minutes.

Remove the oil dipstick level indicator to inspect the oil level. Make sure the oil level is between the specified lines on the indicator or add as needed.

7. Used engine oil is classified as a toxic industrial waste under the Environmental Public Health Regulations and must be taken to licensed industrial waste collectors for proper recycling or disposal. Check the list of licensed Toxic Industrial Waste collectors on NEA's website at http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1531.

Read also:
» How to change a tyre
» How to wax a car

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Feb 1, 2009.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.