Disaster while changing the oil...
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Icemanskis
unless you have a lift it is wayyyyyyy too much trouble to change your own oil. buy the oil yourself, take it to the dealer and pay them the 15 bucks for labor and filter. holla
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 530
From: Witness Protection Program Somewhere, USA
2026 Restomod of the Year Finalist
Originally Posted by BlueDragon
Man you are lucky! You have to remember that there is no braking on the fronts from either the park setting or the e-brake. With the rear wheels off the ground there is nothing that will stop the car from rolling.
On ramps? You need to chock the front wheels once they are up on the ramps period. I use wooden ramps and have a steel set of chocks that dig into the wood. I got the chocks from an old GM Blazer.
You also have to be careful with the jack. When using a hydraulic jack you will notice that as you jack up the car that if the wheels of the jack are not free and the jack is unable to move that it will pull the car toward you. The jack pad travels in an arc as it goes up. and the reverse is true when it goes down.
Be careful out there!
On ramps? You need to chock the front wheels once they are up on the ramps period. I use wooden ramps and have a steel set of chocks that dig into the wood. I got the chocks from an old GM Blazer.
You also have to be careful with the jack. When using a hydraulic jack you will notice that as you jack up the car that if the wheels of the jack are not free and the jack is unable to move that it will pull the car toward you. The jack pad travels in an arc as it goes up. and the reverse is true when it goes down.
Be careful out there!
Absolutely correct. The floor jack will pull the car in one dirction or the other if the wheels are not chocked. Be careful.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
First of all, I'm glad Irish is okay....
Like others said, choke the front wheels... and watch the front ones as they do, in fact ROLL BACK when you jack the rear of the car.
The lip on the ramps is to keep the car from going forward, not back...
Once the jacl stands are under the car, I give the car as shove before I get under... we live on unpredictable, shaky ground here and if it's gonna fall, I want it to go while I'm NOT under it.
Sorry about the damage Irish, but at least you walked away.
Dave
Like others said, choke the front wheels... and watch the front ones as they do, in fact ROLL BACK when you jack the rear of the car.
The lip on the ramps is to keep the car from going forward, not back...
Once the jacl stands are under the car, I give the car as shove before I get under... we live on unpredictable, shaky ground here and if it's gonna fall, I want it to go while I'm NOT under it.
Sorry about the damage Irish, but at least you walked away.
Dave
Last edited by MyVetteDream; Jul 6, 2006 at 12:47 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 1
From: TAMPA BAY FL.
Sorry to read about your misfortune. At least you arent squashed!
Is it possible to back on to the ramps and jack the front up and place jackstands under the front? At least then the rear wheels are locked by the brake and the tranny as long as it's in gear. Race ramps makes some bump ups or smaller ramps for the front so you can get a jack under the car I think.
Is it possible to back on to the ramps and jack the front up and place jackstands under the front? At least then the rear wheels are locked by the brake and the tranny as long as it's in gear. Race ramps makes some bump ups or smaller ramps for the front so you can get a jack under the car I think.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Sorry to hear about this - but I would have been a lot sorrier to read about you or anyone else getting hurt. I'm lucky to have a buddy with a full lift - that's where I change my oil.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ontario
First of all, glad you were not hurt. Secondly, I believe that you should always apply the parking brake to lock the front tires. Also, make sure that the jack can roll forward slightly while lifting up the rear end (rather than the car try to roll backwards).
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Originally Posted by SavPrato
First of all, glad you were not hurt. Secondly, I believe that you should always apply the parking brake to lock the front tires. Also, make sure that the jack can roll forward slightly while lifting up the rear end (rather than the car try to roll backwards).
IrishFan,
So sorry to hear about this; I just changed the oil in my Vette (on my driveway) just a few days ago
And I too used ramps (gray Rhino Ramps) under the front tires and jackstands at the rear (to get the rear end slightly higher than the front).
Not sure how good my method is but I used a floor jack to jack one side of the car up first. Then I slipped one ramp under the front tire and placed a jackstand at the rear. Then lowered the floor jack, went over to the other side and repeated this process.
I guess I need to look into getting some of those rubber chocks so I don't run into this situation myself....thanks for sharing this info and again, so sorry to hear of this.
Glad to hear that nothing happened to YOU
Hopefully the damage is not as bad as it sounds and you get it restored quickly 
Last edited by LarryW; Jul 6, 2006 at 01:01 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 441
Likes: 3
From: Suwanee GA
Sorry you had sooooo much trouble!
I use plastic Rhino ramps, they have a deep recess for the front tires to drop into. After the front is on the ramps, I jack up the back and then put a stack of cut up 2 x 12s under each rear tire and lower the car onto the wood. ONLY then do I get under the thing to change the oil and filter.
I use plastic Rhino ramps, they have a deep recess for the front tires to drop into. After the front is on the ramps, I jack up the back and then put a stack of cut up 2 x 12s under each rear tire and lower the car onto the wood. ONLY then do I get under the thing to change the oil and filter.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Man.....one of the worse experiences I've read about concerning the potential for serious harm. Glad your okay and I would definitely be saying a BIG thank you to "Whoever" was watching out for you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 15
St. Jude Donor '06
I have two sets of rhino ramps. I usually back the car onto a set, then jack up each side in the front and just slide a ramp under it. Of course, I have the ramps facing each other, they have a lip, the car is always in gear (MN6) and I have the ebrake engaged. I let it drain for a while and usually get most of the used oil. Im not sure how the floor pans are attached to the car, but they are replacable. They are available directly from FredBeans for 170
Last edited by Stealthy4; Jul 6, 2006 at 01:26 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,061
Likes: 266
From: Slower than a speeding bullet................ Fort Lauderdale, FL
The front wheels should be chocked in order for them not to roll.
I know a lot of guys don't bother, but it would have prevented your accident.
Glad you were not hurt.
I know a lot of guys don't bother, but it would have prevented your accident.
Glad you were not hurt.
Former Law Dawg Moderator
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29,434
Likes: 96
From: Eads, Tennessee
CF St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
As everyone said, glad you didn't get caught underneath when it decided to roll. I drive mine on ramps and have a stop in the front to keep it from rolling forward . I then put wooden chocks in the back of the front tires and then embed them with a couple of wacks with a hammer to make sure the front tires are secure before jacking up the rear. No matter if your car is in park or in gear and you have the e-brake set, you fronts are still going to roll. Be carefull.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,061
Likes: 266
From: Slower than a speeding bullet................ Fort Lauderdale, FL
Originally Posted by C5Y2K
Sorry you had sooooo much trouble!
I use plastic Rhino ramps, they have a deep recess for the front tires to drop into.
I use plastic Rhino ramps, they have a deep recess for the front tires to drop into.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,828
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by 16Again
First i'm glad you were not hurt. Second.... For the record, PARK holds the REAR wheels NOT the fronts. That's why they rolled. 
Second.... For the record, PARK holds the REAR wheels NOT the fronts. That's why they rolled.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
im glad you are ok. Same thing happened to me on my last oil change. I was raising the rear while the front was on ramps, and then all of a sudden the car started rolling down the ramps while the rear was jacked up. Needless to say, the car went for a little ride down the ramps and halfway down the driveway. I had no jacks under it luckily. The ramps have a slight depression in them, but not enough to keep the car from rolling back. I lowered the car as it was coming down so that i could get the wheels to stop the car. Thats not gonna happen again let me tell you. Glad you are ok and im sure you can patch the hole with some fiberglass repair kit and you will be as good as new.
