another oil change ???????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 340
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From: NY
another oil change ???????
im about to buy a set of race ramps so that i can do my own oil change, but here is my ???. would it be the end of the world if i just drive it up on a level surface and drain the oil without jacking up the back???????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 785
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From: Middletown PA
I don't know how you'd get it level if the front was on the ramps and the back was on the ground, unless like somebody else I saw in here, you did it on driveway with just the right slope.
I was thinking something similar though. Why couldn't you pull it up on the ramps, slide under and pull the plug and filter, let it drain until it stopped flowing, then back it down off the ramps and let the rest drain out.
The trick here would be having a real low profile drain pan, which I do, and having a helper with a long stick push it back and keep it under the drain hole while you backed down off the ramps. Or, tie the drain pan to the back end of the car so that as you backed down off the ramps, the pan moved with the car and always stayed in just the right spot. Either way, the trick would be easy-does-it sliding the pan, or the oil would be sloshing out all over the place.
After it all drained, pull it back up the ramps and replace the filter and drain plug. Done.
Like I said, just a thought. Probably more complicated that just jacking up the back end though.
I was thinking something similar though. Why couldn't you pull it up on the ramps, slide under and pull the plug and filter, let it drain until it stopped flowing, then back it down off the ramps and let the rest drain out.
The trick here would be having a real low profile drain pan, which I do, and having a helper with a long stick push it back and keep it under the drain hole while you backed down off the ramps. Or, tie the drain pan to the back end of the car so that as you backed down off the ramps, the pan moved with the car and always stayed in just the right spot. Either way, the trick would be easy-does-it sliding the pan, or the oil would be sloshing out all over the place.
After it all drained, pull it back up the ramps and replace the filter and drain plug. Done.
Like I said, just a thought. Probably more complicated that just jacking up the back end though.
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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Originally Posted by rwsr50
I don't know how you'd get it level if the front was on the ramps and the back was on the ground, unless like somebody else I saw in here, you did it on driveway with just the right slope.
I was thinking something similar though. Why couldn't you pull it up on the ramps, slide under and pull the plug and filter, let it drain until it stopped flowing, then back it down off the ramps and let the rest drain out.
The trick here would be having a real low profile drain pan, which I do, and having a helper with a long stick push it back and keep it under the drain hole while you backed down off the ramps. Or, tie the drain pan to the back end of the car so that as you backed down off the ramps, the pan moved with the car and always stayed in just the right spot. Either way, the trick would be easy-does-it sliding the pan, or the oil would be sloshing out all over the place.
After it all drained, pull it back up the ramps and replace the filter and drain plug. Done.
Like I said, just a thought. Probably more complicated that just jacking up the back end though.
I was thinking something similar though. Why couldn't you pull it up on the ramps, slide under and pull the plug and filter, let it drain until it stopped flowing, then back it down off the ramps and let the rest drain out.
The trick here would be having a real low profile drain pan, which I do, and having a helper with a long stick push it back and keep it under the drain hole while you backed down off the ramps. Or, tie the drain pan to the back end of the car so that as you backed down off the ramps, the pan moved with the car and always stayed in just the right spot. Either way, the trick would be easy-does-it sliding the pan, or the oil would be sloshing out all over the place.
After it all drained, pull it back up the ramps and replace the filter and drain plug. Done.
Like I said, just a thought. Probably more complicated that just jacking up the back end though.
I think I'd rather leave the last 1/2 quart of old oil in it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,119
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From: SC
Here is what I find is the best way to change the oil. Jack up the front of the car on the passenger side only, just enough to slide a jack stand under for safety. Screw out the plug w/ the drain pan in place then remove the jack stand and lower the jack so the oil will drain all out. Then jack it back up, replace the jackstand, screw the drain plug back in then remove the oil filter, drain and replace. Then remove the oil pan, lower the car back down and refill the oil. Your done, 15 minutes tops. Works for me...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,378
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From: I don't deserve this car, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. Bay Point, FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by iridelow
Here is what I find is the best way to change the oil. Jack up the front of the car on the passenger side only, just enough to slide a jack stand under for safety. Screw out the plug w/ the drain pan in place then remove the jack stand and lower the jack so the oil will drain all out. Then jack it back up, replace the jackstand, screw the drain plug back in then remove the oil filter, drain and replace. Then remove the oil pan, lower the car back down and refill the oil. Your done, 15 minutes tops. Works for me...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Longview Texas
Originally Posted by John's/Pewter/Oak/01
I've never done this myself, but that sounds like a great plan. But how do you get to the drain plug with the car so low?
That is what I do. Jack the car up to remove the plug, lower it back to level to drain, then jack it back up to replace the plug.
There cannot be much oil left in the pan after draining on a level surface versus having the rear of the car raised.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: I don't deserve this car, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. Bay Point, FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: TN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Pesonally , I drive up my rhino ramps, then jack up my rear end with my jack(fully extended it's barely highter than the ramps), throw two jackstand next to the jack, slide underneath and do the rest of the job, I let it drain for about 30 minutes(let all of the oil get past the baffles), and voila, good to go!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: SC
Originally Posted by The Nuts
Pesonally , I drive up my rhino ramps, then jack up my rear end with my jack(fully extended it's barely highter than the ramps), throw two jackstand next to the jack, slide underneath and do the rest of the job, I let it drain for about 30 minutes(let all of the oil get past the baffles), and voila, good to go!
If one of the jack stands, or ramps gives way, your are history! I always use a jack stand and leave the jack under the car as well, never to safe for me...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,171
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From: TN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by iridelow
I don't trust the ramps with the full weight of the front/motor and the back all the way up as well. That sure is putting a lot of weight on ramps that are made for just holding the front of the car off the ground.
If one of the jack stands, or ramps gives way, your are history! I always use a jack stand and leave the jack under the car as well, never to safe for me...
If one of the jack stands, or ramps gives way, your are history! I always use a jack stand and leave the jack under the car as well, never to safe for me...
Last edited by The Nuts; May 6, 2006 at 12:12 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,119
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From: SC
Originally Posted by The Nuts
hhmmm....been doing this to other cars with the same plastic ramps for at least 2 years.... ramps still holding great, no distortions. I dont see how jacking up the rear straight up us putting any more stress or weight on the front. Oh, and I said I use 2 jackstands on the rear.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
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From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by iridelow
When you jack up the rear of the car you are adding much more weight to the front, it's simple math, called gravity. The higher the rear, the more weight on the front, this works both ways. If you don't believe me try this. Have your wife lie down on the floor,on her back, you pick your wife up under her shoulders about two feet of the ground,her lower body still on the floor. Hold her for a few seconds, then have someone pick her up by the feet, completly off the ground. You will see how much heavier she gets when the other 1/2 of her body leaves the floor. Works the same way for a car.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,869
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From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by The Nuts
Pesonally , I drive up my rhino ramps, then jack up my rear end with my jack(fully extended it's barely highter than the ramps), throw two jackstand next to the jack, slide underneath and do the rest of the job, I let it drain for about 30 minutes(let all of the oil get past the baffles), and voila, good to go!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 0
From: TN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by iridelow
When you jack up the rear of the car you are adding much more weight to the front, it's simple math, called gravity. The higher the rear, the more weight on the front, this works both ways. If you don't believe me try this. Have your wife lie down on the floor,on her back, you pick your wife up under her shoulders about two feet of the ground,her lower body still on the floor. Hold her for a few seconds, then have someone pick her up by the feet, completly off the ground. You will see how much heavier she gets when the other 1/2 of her body leaves the floor. Works the same way for a car.
Like FDXpiolot said, the Rhino ramps can hold much more weight than the vette, and I've NEVER had a problem in over two years of usage. I'm a ASE certified mechanic for 15 years, so I've "been around". Find me 3 cases of rhino ramps failing on a corvette and I will stop doing my oil changes this way!
P.S.- Thanks for the comment Hoosier Red!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
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From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by sorbet70
would it be the end of the world if i just drive it up on a level surface and drain the oil without jacking up the back???????
NO, it most certainly would not be the end of the world it the car had it's oil drained on a level surface. Do you think the majority of Chevy dealers actually raise the rear end of a C5 when changing oil???? I'll bet the $7/hr high school drop out that does oil changes the dealership knows nothing about this so-called requirement. And, if he did, he wouldn't do it anyway. Personally, I wouldn't even be concerned about it. Good luck....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: Middletown PA
Originally Posted by madeouttaglass
Are you going to drive it back up the ramps without oil? I think I'd rather leave the last 1/2 quart of old oil in it.
I think I'd rather leave the last 1/2 quart of old oil in it.
Didn't think of that. Thanks for reminding me. I know I would have thought of it just before I had to drive it up on the ramps to put the plug back in, because I always fill my oil fiters to save that much more time the engine is running dry on start up. There I would have been at that point, jacking it up anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 41,792
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From: Houston,Texas USA
I just use a floor jack, I jack up the lefr side, remove the drain plug, let it down, jack up the rear, and let the oil drain. When the oil quits dripping, I jack it up again, put in the drain plug, and change the filter. I do fill the filter before putting it on.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: Middletown PA
Originally Posted by sorbet70
thank you all for responding. now if can just get rid of this damm cold i got