Are you planning to change your oil anytime soon? Besides having the right tools for the job, you need to invest in a good pair of gloves. Investing in a good pair of mechanical gloves will free your hands from the harsh chemicals in engine oil and grease. Additionally, your hands will be safe from injuries you might encounter as you change the oil of your car’s engine. When it comes to gloves for oil change, there is a proliferation of options that you can consider. In this article, we shall discuss the gloves you should wear when changing your engine’s oil, alongside other related ideas. Read on to know more!
Benefits of Wearing Gloves for Oil Changes
From the introduction above, it is crystal clear that gloves are indispensable gears for oil change. Whether you are dealing with an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), you need to invest in a good pair of oil-resistant gloves.
Here are the benefits that you can enjoy:
Protection from Chemicals and Grease
Like any other conventional hydrocarbons, engine oil contains harmful chemicals that can harm your skin. If unchecked, these chemicals can cause defatting of the skin. To be safe, consider investing in a pair of gloves.
Moreover, the pair can help prevent your hands from contacting other elements, such as grease and wax, that can make your hands dirty.
Ensuring Safety and Preventing Accidents
As you change your car’s oil, the chances of getting hurt are very high. For instance, you can accidentally burn your hands from touching your car’s exhaust system. So, investing in a heavy-duty pair of gloves can help prevent such tragedies.
Types of Gloves for Oil Changes
As discussed in the introduction, you will likely find an array of gloves in the market. From Nitrile gloves to PVC gloves, you will not miss an option for your needs.
Here is a breakdown of the various gloves we have in the market and what makes each one different.
Nitrile Coated Gloves
Unlike typical duty oil gloves, nitrile coated work gloves are different as they are made from durable material resistant to tear, puncture, and chemicals. This means your hands will not get injured or contaminated whenever you want to change oil.
In addition, these gloves are known to have a great fit, touch sensitivity, and flexibility. As a result, these gloves can be your perfect choice for a mechanic who not only wants to change the oil but also deal with other small car parts such as washers, bolts, screws, and so on.
Apart from these features, nitrile work gloves are ideal if you normally sweat on your palms. This is because they can readily absorb that sweat as they are more breathable. A good example is the NJ3150Q micro-foam nitrile gloves.
Latex Coated Gloves
Consider investing in latex-coated gloves if you want your hands to remain safe from potentially harmful elements such as engine oil and grease. This can be attributed to these gloves being made from natural rubber latex, readily obtained from rubber trees.
Since this material is resistant to even acids and alkalines, it is a good choice for any mechanic who wants to optimize the safety of their hands when doing repair work. Moreover, these gloves are comfortable to wear and thus worth the investment.
Leather Gloves
Suppose you live in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions and have to change oil occasionally; consider investing in synthetic leather or leather gloves. These gloves come with a cotton liner in the inner section. Besides protecting your hands from extreme weather conditions, leather gloves resist cuts and punctures.
They can also withstand wear and tear that comes with oil changes. However, they have a low rating when it comes to flexibility, as they cannot stretch as desired. Thankfully, these gloves will still optimize the safety of your hands whenever you want to change your engine’s oil. They are also easy to clean.
PU Coated Gloves
You can also consider investing in PU gloves. First, these gloves are free from latex and are, therefore, ideal for those allergic to latex. Furthermore, they can fit nearly anyone interested in changing oil due to their elastic nature.
The other property that makes them tick is that they offer more agility to the hands of the user. As a result, they will enable you to finish your task faster and more efficiently.
Features to Check When Choosing Oil Change Gloves
Since you now know the various types of mittens in the glove manufacturing industry, it’s time to identify the different factors you should consider when buying any of them. After all, these gloves come with a plethora of features that can get you spoilt for choice. Therefore, we shall discuss the various important aspects you should consider when purchasing them to eliminate this confusion.
Glove Size and Fit
When looking for the best gloves for oil change, you will come across different models in different sizes. As far as size is concerned, you will find extra small, small, medium, large, extra-large, and so forth. For optimal performance, consider choosing gloves that fit your hands well. They should neither be too tight for your hand nor too loose. Instead, they should fit snugly.
Resistance to Chemicals and Oil
Besides size and fitness, consider checking whether your desired pair of gloves is resistant to chemicals and oil. Since you are interested in ensuring that your hands remain free from the harsh chemicals found in engine oil, ensure that you choose models resistant to these elements. A good example of gloves that are resistant to chemicals is nitrile work gloves. Such gloves are not weak and thus meet the much-needed industrial standards.
Heavy-Duty and Durable Construction
The last thing you would like to experience is cuts or getting hurt when changing your engine oil. To achieve this objective, heavy-duty gloves can suffice. They can withstand excess heat when in use. So, by investing in heavy-duty and durable construction gloves, trust that you will ensure that your hands remain safe during oil change and get value for your hard-earned cash.
Grip and Dexterity
Like any other petroleum-based material, oil tends to be slippery, making it difficult to work with nuts, bolts, and other small metal and plastic tools.
To maximize your performance, ensure that your preferred pair of gloves offers the much-needed grip and dexterity. This way, you will not only reduce slipperiness when working but also manage to deal with small parts during oil changes.
Waterproof and Cleanability
Your desired pair of mechanic gloves should also be waterproof. This makes them handy during rainy or winter seasons. Also, ensure that they are easy to clean to maintain hygiene.
Safety Measures To Consider When Changing Oil
Proper Use and Disposal of Gloves
Although choosing the right pair of gloves for an oil change can help protect your hands, using these gloves correctly will greatly help you achieve that objective.
The good news is that each pair of these safety gloves has a manual to help you know how to wear them correctly. If possible, ensure your preferred pair of gloves has a safety cuff.
Supposing you have invested in oil-resistant gloves, do not forget to get rid of them properly. One way to do so is by putting them in a general waste bin. Remember that such gloves have come into contact with chemicals found in oil and other fluids in your car’s engine and thus can harm the environment if not disposed of properly.
Wearing other Protective Gear
While gloves can help protect your hands from contamination and accidents during oil changes, wearing other protective gear during the whole exercise does not hurt. For instance, ensure you wear your work apron so your clothes are not stained. The sleeves of your apron should cover your arm well so that you can remain safe from oil spills.
Also, ensure that you have several clean towels that can help you remove any oil that might come into contact with your skin. Ensure that your head is also well-covered.
FAQs
Do you need gloves for an oil change?
Yes. You should wear gloves whenever you want to change your car’s or bike’s oil. Doing so can reduce instances of developing allergic dermatitis on your skin, which helps keep rashes away.
Can I use nitrile gloves for oil change?
Yes. Since nitrile gloves are oil-resistant, they can be a perfect choice for anyone who wants to change their car’s or bike’s oil. In fact, they are an excellent alternative to latex gloves.
Does oil break down latex gloves?
Yes. If these gloves are exposed to petroleum-based lubricants such as oil for longer periods, they tend to deteriorate. Consequently, they might not offer the much-needed protection to your hands anytime you want to change your oil.
Which type of glove holds up well to oil and grease?
Besides Nitrile gloves, consider going for PU models. These are resistant to oil, grease, and other chemicals such as acids, alkalines, peroxide, amines, and so much more. They are also resistant to abrasions, thus ideal for anyone who wants to optimize the safety of his or her hands during oil change.
Final thoughts
Whether you want to change the oil of your ATV, car, or motorbike, wearing a pair of gloves is advisable to eliminate the worry of succumbing to toxic chemicals or injuries. Fortunately, there is a wide spectrum of glove types that you can choose from to satisfy your specific needs. They include the likes of Nitrile, latex, waterproof gloves, and PU gloves, among others.
At Hanvo, we pride ourselves on being home to the best gloves for changing oil, among other uses. You can reach us here or call us (+8651381901801, +862165877599, +81-3-5291-5477 ); we will gladly help.