If you own a car, you know regular oil changes are essential to car maintenance. Your vehicle’s engine won’t work without clean oil, which provides lubrication for all the moving parts, preventing friction and reducing wear and tear. But which are the best gloves for oil change?
Over time, engine oil becomes contaminated with dirt, debris, and engine by-products. Regular oil changes help ensure your oil is clean and that there’s enough of it, keeping your engine lubricated and working to the best of its capability.
Regular oil changes reduce the risk of overheating and premature engine wear while assisting with fuel efficiency, reliability, and performance. Oil changes should be completed at least twice a year, or every 5000-7500 miles — and even cars that are in storage should have a complete oil change every six months.
While completing an oil change is relatively easy, things can get messy quickly. Engine oil is notorious for leaving nasty stains on the tarmac, clothing, and even skin, and it’s not easy to get off without harsh chemicals and a lot of work.
There are plenty of precautions to keep your oil changes clean and safe, even when you do them at home. Some personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for oil changes — mainly mechanic gloves. But what are the benefits of wearing gloves for an oil change?
In this article, we'll cover:
Benefits of Wearing Gloves for Oil Changes
There are plenty of different benefits to wearing disposable mechanic gloves for oil changes, particularly:
- Protection — gloves provide a barrier between your skin and oil, grease, and other harmful chemicals found in engines and engine oil.
- Hygiene — wearing gloves helps to prevent dirt, grime, and oil from coming into contact with your skin while preventing any dirt and grime from your hands from transferring into the oil.
- Safety — engines are made from moving metal parts, and cuts, abrasions, and burns are all possible when you have your hands in the engine compartment. Gloves not only protect your skin from oil and chemicals but also provide a layer of protection against cuts, abrasions, and burns.
- Comfort — suitable gloves in the correct size will fit comfortably without limiting your movement or sensitivity.
5 Best Gloves for Oil Changes
Are you looking for the best gloves for oil changes? Our guide covers the five best gloves on the market.
Disposable mechanic gloves are typically made from one of four materials: latex, vinyl, nitrile, or neoprene. Each material offers different benefits.
Nitrile and neoprene gloves are often considered the most durable mechanic gloves, offering the most significant protection against harsh chemicals or nicks, cuts, and punctures.
Latex is another strong glove material and is the most commonly used glove material. However, some people have latex allergies, meaning latex gloves are not suitable for everyone.
Finally, vinyl gloves offer the least protection. They are commonly used in environments where strong chemicals and body fluids won't be present — for example, gloves for light cleaning or exam gloves used by medical staff.
When it comes to oil, harsh chemicals, and the sharp and hot areas of the engine, it’s best to wear the most robust gloves to help protect your hands as much as possible. Nitrile disposable mechanic gloves are the top choice for most mechanics.
But what gloves are the best?
gloves.com Nitrile Disposable Gloves
Cost: Affordable
Thickness (mil): 6 mil
Material: Nitrile
Breathability: Excellent
Description: These mechanic gloves are perfect for use in your garage or at home. They protect against oil, grease, and other harmful chemicals in the engine.
They are affordable and disposable, and the nitrile material also protects against nicks, cuts, punctures, and burns.
These tear-resistant gloves won't limit your sensitivity or movement, making them perfect for precision tasks like oil changes. They have a long shelf life and can be left in your garage to be used as and when you need them.
Shop gloves.com HandCare Black Nitrile Gloves here
Mechanix Wear Original Gloves
Cost: Moderate
Thickness (mil): NA
Material: Synthetic leather
Breathability: Good
Description: Unlike the other disposable automotive gloves on our list, these Mechanix gloves are not disposable. They are made from synthetic leather to help protect your hands from oils, chemicals, and any moving parts in the engine.
If you enjoy tinkering with your car on the weekend, a good pair of mechanics gloves can be an excellent investment — but if you just need them for an oil change, disposable nitrile gloves will do the trick!
Shop Mechanix Wear Original Gloves here
Venom Steel Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves
Cost: Mid-range
Thickness (mil): 8 mil
Material: Nitrile
Breathability: Moderate
Description: Specifically designed for heavy-duty jobs like oil changes, these extra-thick gloves are great for working on your car. Protecting the wearer from oils and chemicals, these gloves’ 8 mil thickness also offers tear and puncture resistance — without compromising sensitivity or grip.
Shop Venom Steel Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves here
Ansell TouchNTuff Nitrile Gloves
Cost: Premium
Thickness (mil): 5.5 mil
Material: Nitrile
Breathability: High
Description: At 5.5 mil, these gloves are the thinnest on our list. Despite being thin gloves, they offer excellent protection against oil and chemicals. Being thinner gloves, the material won't restrict movement or sensitivity, making them an excellent choice for precision tasks.
Ansell TouchNTuff Nitrile Gloves
SAS Safety Raven Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves
Cost: Affordable
Thickness (mil): 7 mil
Material: Nitrile
Breathability: Moderate
Description: Powder-free gloves help prevent oils from being contaminated with powder. These powder-free nitrile gloves are excellent for oil changes. At 7 mil, they provide a strong barrier between the wearer and harsh oils and chemicals but still allow for dexterity and sensitivity.
Shop SAS Safety Raven Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves here
Gloves For Oil Change: Frequently Asked Questions
Why do mechanics wear disposable gloves?
Disposable gloves help protect a mechanic's hands from coming into contact with oil, grease, and other chemicals commonly found in cars and engines.
Gloves protect against oils, chemicals, burns, cuts, tears, and punctures, making them essential equipment for mechanics. They also help maintain cleanliness — oil and grease can cause skin irritation and reactions and stain skin, but the use of gloves prevents one’s hands from coming into contact with such contaminants.
What gloves should I use for an oil change?
If you’re thinking about doing oil changes at home, it's essential to choose a disposable glove made from a strong material like nitrile.
Nitrile is the most robust material from which disposable gloves are made, providing the highest level of protection. If you’re doing an oil change, nitrile gloves will protect you from cross-contamination and nicks, cuts, and burns.
Should you wear gloves when changing oil?
Gloves are an essential part of an oil change. Oil can cause skin irritation and reactions, as well as making a mess that is hard to clean up. Gloves simply make your job easier — you won’t be scrubbing oil off your hands for the next week, your risk of infection or irritation is lowered, and you won’t come into contact with harsh chemicals and engine dirt.
What types of gloves do mechanics use?
Mechanics use a wide range of different gloves, including latex, vinyl, nitrile, and neoprene. However, nitrile is the most popular choice.
Mechanics need protection against oils, grease, solvents, and other chemicals without compromising dexterity and sensitivity. Nitrile provides the highest level of protection against chemicals, heat, and punctures, making it ideal for use in gloves designed for engine work.
Are you looking for disposable gloves for your next oil change? Gloves.com offers a wide range of gloves in various materials, sizes, and thicknesses, helping you find the perfect glove for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a box of gloves or to buy in bulk for your business, speak to our sales team about your glove needs.
We guarantee the lowest price and fastest shipping, and you can save even more with our subscription program. All orders over $99 always ship free.
