Oil Changes
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Cedar Hill Texas
Oil Changes
I like to change my own oil at home. However, the low profile of the C-5 requires the car to to be jacked up. Is the following procedure acceptable:
1. Slightly open both doors
2. Along the outside frame on both sides there is a spot just behind the front wheels that appears to be a jack point (square cutout with a hole). Place a floor jack on this point and lift high enough on one side to put jack stands under the lift point described in the owners manual. This would be the lift point on the same side of the car as the floor jack.
3. Lower the car onto the jack stand.
4. On the opposite side, find the other jack point along the outside frame and lift at this point until a jack stand will fit under the other lift point described in the owner's manual.
5. Lower the car onto this other jack.
6. Reverse process to lower the car.
1. Slightly open both doors
2. Along the outside frame on both sides there is a spot just behind the front wheels that appears to be a jack point (square cutout with a hole). Place a floor jack on this point and lift high enough on one side to put jack stands under the lift point described in the owners manual. This would be the lift point on the same side of the car as the floor jack.
3. Lower the car onto the jack stand.
4. On the opposite side, find the other jack point along the outside frame and lift at this point until a jack stand will fit under the other lift point described in the owner's manual.
5. Lower the car onto this other jack.
6. Reverse process to lower the car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Re: Oil Changes (Brazos)
Most of us drive the car up onto something ie: 2x4's or something that will get the car about 2" off the ground. Then with a floor jack get underneath the front end and jack the car up from the cross member then put jack stands on either side of the jack. Then go to the rear and do the same. Someone will probably chime in with a link to full instructions or you could do a search on the subject.
Racer
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 266
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
Re: Oil Changes (edpainter)
Many of us drive the front end up onto Rhino ramps and then use a low profile jack to lift the back end to effectively drain all the oil. That works quite well. Ifyou don't have a low profile jack, driving the rear wheels onto 1" or 2" of wood while going onto the ramps with the front end gives you plenty of room for a jack in the rear. There are pictures around here somewhere of where to lift with a jack on the crossmembers front or rear.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 1
From: San Jose CA
Re: Oil Changes (Brazos)
I purchase one of those rectangular flat plastic oil drain pans which can contain 8 or 9 qts and fit under the car.
I use a floor jack to raise the car at the left front jacking point only and leave the floor jack under the car. For safety I put 1 jackstand under the front frame member.
Then I remove the drain plug followed by the oil filter and put the car back on its wheels. While the oil is dripping , I put the floor jack under the rear cross member and raise it about 5" or so.
When all oil is out , jack up again , install oil drain plug , new (primed) oil filter , fill oil and your done.
Takes about 45 minutes. Easy.
I tried the Rhino ramp method as well but the ramps crush the front air dam every time.
:cheers:
I use a floor jack to raise the car at the left front jacking point only and leave the floor jack under the car. For safety I put 1 jackstand under the front frame member.
Then I remove the drain plug followed by the oil filter and put the car back on its wheels. While the oil is dripping , I put the floor jack under the rear cross member and raise it about 5" or so.
When all oil is out , jack up again , install oil drain plug , new (primed) oil filter , fill oil and your done.
Takes about 45 minutes. Easy.
I tried the Rhino ramp method as well but the ramps crush the front air dam every time.
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,318
Likes: 2,066
From: Guelph, Ontario
Re: Oil Changes (rhoeven)
I don't know why you guys bother raising the rear, when it would be better if you just took one fresh quart of oil and poured it into the engine with the drain plug still off. This would then flush out the 1/2qt of oil which is trapped in the bottom of the pan due to the angling of the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: Oil Changes (Patman)
I don't know why you guys bother raising the rear, when it would be better if you just took one fresh quart of oil and poured it into the engine with the drain plug still off. This would then flush out the 1/2qt of oil which is trapped in the bottom of the pan due to the angling of the car.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,318
Likes: 2,066
From: Guelph, Ontario
Re: Oil Changes (Richin Chicago)
For me I would rather get the car on the right angle. I believe "flush" is a little strong. More like "mix". Also why waste the oil when it only takes a couple of more minutes to really drain the car completely.
Pouring one fresh quart of oil through there should definitely help to push out the old oil and it only costs $4 anyways. Besides, most of you change your oil too often anyways, so even if you did leave that half quart of "dirty oil" in the bottom of the pan, it would not harm a thing. Especially since it's 1/2 quart out of 6.5 to 7 quarts. (this is another reason the 3k oil change is overkill, since larger oil capacities can handle longer drains-which is why many European cars have no problems whatsoever with 10-15k oil change intervals when they hold 8 quarts of oil or more in some cases)
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,133
Likes: 144
From: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
Re: Oil Changes (white93)
Many of us drive the front end up onto Rhino ramps and then use a low profile jack to lift the back end to effectively drain all the oil. That works quite well. Ifyou don't have a low profile jack, driving the rear wheels onto 1" or 2" of wood while going onto the ramps with the front end gives you plenty of room for a jack in the rear. There are pictures around here somewhere of where to lift with a jack on the crossmembers front or rear.
[Modified by FunDriver, 11:08 AM 7/27/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 1
Re: Oil Changes (Richin Chicago)
For me I would rather get the car on the right angle. I believe "flush" is a little strong. More like "mix". Also why waste the oil when it only takes a couple of more minutes to really drain the car completely.
Patman... What year CORVETTE do you own ???????
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Oil Changes (Tom/99)
I just take mine to Victory Lane Quick Oil CHange. $59 and I can watch them do everything as the hood is open away from me.
Plus I have them check for transmission leaks etc...everything except the air pressure in the tires and my Blackwing air filter.
I understand many want to "do it themselves" but I dunno I have better things to do on a Saturday (like drive my Vette) than taking a couple hours to change oil.
Just my .03 (inflation). :flag
Plus I have them check for transmission leaks etc...everything except the air pressure in the tires and my Blackwing air filter.
I understand many want to "do it themselves" but I dunno I have better things to do on a Saturday (like drive my Vette) than taking a couple hours to change oil.
Just my .03 (inflation). :flag
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: Oil Changes (tdelongchamp)
I just take mine to Victory Lane Quick Oil CHange. $59 and I can watch them do everything as the hood is open away from me.
Plus I have them check for transmission leaks etc...everything except the air pressure in the tires and my Blackwing air filter.
I understand many want to "do it themselves" but I dunno I have better things to do on a Saturday (like drive my Vette) than taking a couple hours to change oil.
Just my .03 (inflation). :flag
Plus I have them check for transmission leaks etc...everything except the air pressure in the tires and my Blackwing air filter.
I understand many want to "do it themselves" but I dunno I have better things to do on a Saturday (like drive my Vette) than taking a couple hours to change oil.
Just my .03 (inflation). :flag
A couple of hours :confused:
How about it takes as long as you want to drain the oil plus 5 minutes to jack up the back. 1/2 hour or so. And costs about $30.00 with a K&N filter.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, CO
Re: Oil Changes (Brazos)
I found some ramps at Pep Boys (and Wal Mart has them) that have extensions for just a few dollars. The extensions eliminate the dragging of the air dam on the ramps. The ramps are metal, very solid, and wide enough. I also jack the rear end, but I am going to try the next change without jacking to see how much is drained.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Re: Oil Changes (Brazos)
Agree 100% w/ Patman. I don't need hassle of jacking up rear end to get 1/2 qt. of oil that is hardly dirty anyway. Just flush (delute, etc.) the 1/2 qt. left in oil pan w/ a qt. of new oil and forget it. Most of us (myself included) change our oil too frequently (OVERKILL) anyway. :yesnod:
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,318
Likes: 2,066
From: Guelph, Ontario
Re: Oil Changes (mountainmotor)
Patman... What year CORVETTE do you own ???????
Dude that's uncalled for. :( Just because I don't own one doesn't mean I don't know anything about them. For one, I owned a 98 LS1 Firebird and have been on LS1.com since day one, and am still a moderator on there. I'm also a moderator on LS1Tech.com too. So if you're implying that just because I don't own a Corvette, that I can't have an opinion on it, then you're sadly mistaken.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass OR
Re: Oil Changes (Brazos)
I bought a Marina Pro oil and fluid changer to change my oil. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.skilimited.com/product.AS...t=1&intPgNo=12
I have some two by eight tapered boards to get the front high enough to install a new filter. Changing my oil is not a cost issue but a clean car issue. My first oil change was free and maybe that is why it came back to me with oil all over the place. It took me more time to clean it up that it would have been to change it myself.
I had oil on my fenders! :reddevil Can you believe that?
http://www.skilimited.com/product.AS...t=1&intPgNo=12
I have some two by eight tapered boards to get the front high enough to install a new filter. Changing my oil is not a cost issue but a clean car issue. My first oil change was free and maybe that is why it came back to me with oil all over the place. It took me more time to clean it up that it would have been to change it myself.
I had oil on my fenders! :reddevil Can you believe that?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,199
Likes: 0
From: over ten thousand posts 7/10ths back
Re: Oil Changes (Tom/99)
While the oil is draining, I jack up the back of the car. Since the drain plug is in the front of the pan, this helps drain all of the oil.
Some of these responses make me :lol:
