I completed my first oil change the other day and although I know this has been on the forum many times before, I thought I'd just put anyone out there thinking about doing this job at ease. It was quick and easy! In antisipation of changing my oil, I did make up four lifting pads in the form of a 2x12's cut in to pieces and double stacked with staggerd edges. Staggering the edges makes it easy to drive the car on to the boards. I screwed these pieces together using deck screws. What I have now is four slabs that I place in front of each wheel. I simply drove the car up on to the slabs which raised the car about 3 inches off the floor and kept it level. The three inches is all I needed to lay next to the car (driver's side) and reach the oil filter and the drain plug. Here's how it went.

Start time: 7:13 PM

1. Placed my 2x12's in front of tires and drove the car up.
2. Placed my container to catch the oil and removed the oil filter. NOTE: Always make sure that the rubber gasket came off with the old filter.
3. Grabbed a 13mm socket and removed the drain plug.
4. I pre-filled the new filter with new oil before I installed it on the car. Always rub a little new oil on the gasket of the new filter before installing.
5. Put the drain plug back in the pan after waiting for 10 minutes.
6. Poured 5 quarts of Mobil 1 oil from up top.
7. Started the engine to check the filter and drain plug for leaks and then shut it down.
8. Checked the dip stick and added about 1/2 quart more. Remember, I prefilled my filter. Total of 6 quarts for my Z-51.
9. Drove the car off the 2x12's and went for a ride.
10. Oh yeah, I reset the oil life to 100%. Just press the gauge button on the pod until oil life appears & then hold reset for 2 seconds.

7:42 PM, Job completed

Final Comments:
I did my oil change about two hours after I had driven the car. Waiting 2 hours lets the exhaust system cool so you don't get burned BUT the oil is still warm enough to drain from the pan quickly and completely.

I mentioned pre-filling the filter before installing it. This is really nice on the Corvette because the filter is verticle making this an easy task. Pre-filling the filter insures that you get almost immediate oil pressure when you first start up after the change.

The next time I change my oil, I will use a long extension on my rachet handle just to make the job even easier when removing the drain plug. I won't have to reach as far under the car by using the extension.

I'll check the oil level again in about a week to make sure it is right at the full mark. I like doing this job myself because I know that the oil has not been over-filled, I save a few bucks, and I get the satisfaction of doing it myself.

 

Thanks, good post.

 

Thanks, I appreciate you post with the timeline! I'll be doing this come late Nov. or Dec.

 

 

Good post!
Being used to changing the oil in any vehicle we own, we were surprised to see my husband's owners manual for his 300C. They're SO against the 'do it yourself' personality over at Chrysler. (Doesn't matter, we do it outselves, anyway. For the aforementioned reasons, and it keeps the dings off the doors when they're opened against the lift...ouch! Experience! )
Thankfully, our Bowtie company understands us better.

 

The thought of some Jiffy Boob employee crossthreading/overtightening the drain plug or filter is anathema to me!

 

You didn't reset your DIC oil sensor.

 

Yow, actually, I did reset the DIC to 100 percent just before pulling out of the driveway. I must add that as my last step.

Thanks for reminding me, how could I forget to write that down. Incidently, the reset is easy. Hit the gauge button on the pod until oil life appears and then hold the reset button for at least 2 seconds.

 

I put my C6 upon 2X12s like you did and then started the engine to let the oil get to 100 degrees. Nice to have the oil temp on the DIC. After reading another post about Jiffy Lube at least I know it is truely done. Good post.

 

Great post! Any tricks to keeping this as clean a process as possible?

jke

 

FYI for others who wish to give it a shot.....
I dont have ramps so I followed others prompts here and was able to change the oil and filter without ramps or jacks. Just need a drain pan that will fit under the car. Drain plug was torqued down a bit which made it tough as your reaching in quite a ways, but a gentle rap on the wrench with a hammer undid it easily. Turning the wheels all the way to the left gives you more room to reach in.

 

 

Actually, this is a pretty clean job to do because everything is so easy and accessable. As I mentioned, the oil filter is verticle so as long as you have your catch basin in place, only a little oil spills out around the filter as you remove it. Pull the drain plug and the oil runs right into the basin. I always wear latex gloves when I do work like this so I don't get any oil on my skin.

Another nice thing on the Corvette is that fact that the area where you pour the oil in is very open without anything blocking your ability to get the bottle of oil into position to start pouring. I think this is the first car I've ever owned that I didn't need a funnel or something to add oil.

When I was finished with the job, not a single drop of oil could be found on the engine or on the floor. I pulled off my gloves and didn't even have to wash my hands before driving off.

 

Nice writeup! I'm approaching 500 miles on my car and will soon be changing out the breakin oil, sounds easy enough.

 

Fumoto oil drain valve

 

i went to harbor freight store and bought a box of throw away rubber gloves..(100 for about $4.99) it sure helps to keep your hands clean..

 

That's where I get my gloves as well. I use these gloves all the time for all kinds of jobs.

 

I use disposable latex gloves and I also put cardboard under my work area (under catch pan and below filter area) to catch any oil. I also keep some 16x20 sorbent pads around for tools, old filter, etc.

 

Don't spill it . Piece of cardboard under everything, surgical gloves, and be careful not to drop the drain plug in the drain pan . Only once have I pulled it off w/ not a single drop of oil on me.

 

Unless I missed it, don't forget to remove your oil filler cap so pressure doesn't restrict the oil draining....it promotes better drainage of the oil. Remember to put the cap back on after you re-fill with oil.