C5 oil change issues
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Lake Forest CA
C5 oil change issues
Can you drain all the old oil out of the engine if you drive it up on ramps or does the vehicle need to be parked flat, on an lift or over service pit to completely drain it?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 4
From: Always in my lane.
You'll never completely drain the oil out. All you can do is remove the drain plug, and let the oil run out until it stops, replace the plug and refill. I know that there are some who advocate "tilting"the vette and I'm sure some people do. But other than possibly the dealer, how many oil change shops can you remember EVER tilting any vehicle to change the oil?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Fresno CA
Having the front of the car higher than the rear will be counterproductive for getting the old oil out. Have the car level or have the rear slightly higher than front is the best.
Are you doing the oil change yourself?
Are you doing the oil change yourself?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Lake Forest CA
Hi, yes I'm doing it myself, I've changed it a couple times in the past but wanted to know if anyone had some tips, thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
The drain plug is at the front of the pan, so if the front of the car is higher than the rear, more oil will stay in the pan.
I put mine up on jack stands so that the front is slightly lower than the rear to be able to drain more oil out.
You could put the car on ramps and then jack the rear from the two rear jack points (not the center of the rear crossmember), the places in the rear frame that will accept a jack pad or puck, then put jack stands under the rear crossmember support points.
I think it is easier to not use ramps and jack the car only from either rear jack point with a puck and then put jack stands under the front and rear crossmember support points on that side of the car. Then I move to the other side of the car and do the same.
I Use wood blocks in acccordance with the FSM. Some use jack stands with a deep "Vee" that will positively engage the respective crosmember at the FSM designated support point.
I put mine up on jack stands so that the front is slightly lower than the rear to be able to drain more oil out.
You could put the car on ramps and then jack the rear from the two rear jack points (not the center of the rear crossmember), the places in the rear frame that will accept a jack pad or puck, then put jack stands under the rear crossmember support points.
I think it is easier to not use ramps and jack the car only from either rear jack point with a puck and then put jack stands under the front and rear crossmember support points on that side of the car. Then I move to the other side of the car and do the same.
I Use wood blocks in acccordance with the FSM. Some use jack stands with a deep "Vee" that will positively engage the respective crosmember at the FSM designated support point.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Lake Forest CA
You'll never completely drain the oil out. All you can do is remove the drain plug, and let the oil run out until it stops, replace the plug and refill. I know that there are some who advocate "tilting"the vette and I'm sure some people do. But other than possibly the dealer, how many oil change shops can you remember EVER tilting any vehicle to change the oil?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Lake Forest CA
The drain plug is at the front of the pan, so if the front of the car is higher than the rear, more oil will stay in the pan.
I put mine up on jack stands so that the front is slightly lower than the rear to be able to drain more oil out.
You could put the car on ramps and then jack the rear from the two rear jack points (not the center of the rear crossmember), the places in the rear frame that will accept a jack pad or puck, then put jack stands under the rear crossmember support points.
I think it is easier to not use ramps and jack the car only from either rear jack point with a puck and then put jack stands under the front and rear crossmember support points on that side of the car. Then I move to the other side of the car and do the same.
I Use wood blocks in acccordance with the FSM. Some use jack stands with a deep "Vee" that will positively engage the respective crosmember at the FSM designated support point.
I put mine up on jack stands so that the front is slightly lower than the rear to be able to drain more oil out.
You could put the car on ramps and then jack the rear from the two rear jack points (not the center of the rear crossmember), the places in the rear frame that will accept a jack pad or puck, then put jack stands under the rear crossmember support points.
I think it is easier to not use ramps and jack the car only from either rear jack point with a puck and then put jack stands under the front and rear crossmember support points on that side of the car. Then I move to the other side of the car and do the same.
I Use wood blocks in acccordance with the FSM. Some use jack stands with a deep "Vee" that will positively engage the respective crosmember at the FSM designated support point.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Lake Forest CA
By having the rear lower than the front somewhere between 6 and 10 Oz. of the old oil remains in the pan. Since that is usually the worst oil in the bottom of the pan, I like to get as much as possible to drain and that means the rear should be a bit higher than the front.
I totally agree, going to back vette up on driveway incline then drive forward onto ramps, will tilt front of motor downward thus allowing complete draining of old oil, Thanks!
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
From: California
I jack up the front then use jack stands. Drain oil. Then I use floor jack and raise rear without jack stands because Im not going under there again yet. Just watch the extra oil finish draining and lower rear again.