Change your oil
Simulate changing engine oil using a toy car and clear container: drain old colored vegetable oil, replace with clean oil, and learn maintenance steps.
Step-by-step guide to change your oil using a toy car simulation
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Step 1
Lay out paper towels on a table to protect the surface.
Step 2
Put a little vegetable oil into the small cup and add a drop of food coloring to make your "old oil."
Step 3
Open the toy car base or find and remove the little plug so you can reach the inside cavity.
Step 4
Push one small cotton ball or a tiny sponge into the car cavity to act as the oil filter.
Step 5
Use the funnel or dropper to pour the colored "old oil" into the car cavity until it is partly filled.
Step 6
Hold the car over the clear container and gently tilt it so the colored oil drains into the container.
Step 7
Ask an adult to help pour the drained used oil from the clear container into a sealed jar for safe disposal or recycling.
Step 8
Wipe the car cavity and the area around the drain with a paper towel to clean up any spills.
Step 9
Remove the old cotton ball or sponge filter and set it aside for disposal.
Step 10
Insert a fresh cotton ball or clean sponge into the car as the new filter.
Step 11
Use the funnel to pour clean uncolored vegetable oil into the car cavity until it reaches the right level.
Step 12
Close the toy car base or replace the plug securely so no oil leaks out.
Step 13
Share your finished oil-change simulation and what you learned on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have the small cotton ball, tiny sponge, funnel, or a clear container?
If you don't have a small cotton ball or tiny sponge for the filter, push a folded clean tissue or small piece of craft felt into the car cavity, roll paper into a cone to act as a funnel or use a syringe as a dropper for pouring the colored "old oil," and any clear cup or jar can replace the clear container for catching the drained oil.
What should I do if the colored "old oil" won't drain or spills when I tilt the car?
If the colored "old oil" doesn't drain or spills when tilting, tilt the car more slowly over the clear container, gently reposition or remove and reinsert the cotton ball filter to clear a blockage, and keep paper towels handy to wipe the car cavity and spills as instructed.
How can I adapt this oil-change simulation for different ages?
For younger children have an adult pre-pour the colored "old oil" and supervise tilting and wiping with paper towels, while older children can measure volumes, pour the drained oil into the sealed jar themselves, replace the filter using the funnel, and document steps for DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize the activity once the basic oil change is done?
To enhance the activity, let the child decorate the toy car before closing the base, try two food-coloring shades to compare "old" versus "clean" oil during the pour, measure the amount collected in the clear container before transferring it to the sealed jar, and photograph each step to share on DIY.org.
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Facts about vehicle maintenance for kids
♻️ One gallon of used motor oil can contaminate up to 1 million gallons of freshwater, so recycling used oil is important.
⏱️ Many cars are checked for oil every 3,000–10,000 miles depending on the car and oil type—always check the owner's manual!
🚗 A typical small car holds about 4–6 quarts of oil—roughly the size of 4 big soda bottles.
🛢️ Motor oil not only lubricates moving parts but also helps cool and clean the engine.
🌈 New engine oil is usually amber or golden; when it turns very dark it often means it's time to change it.
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