Remove Oil Plug Without Using a Jack!

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Dec 8, 2007 | 04:51 PM

humvet

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2005

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From: Santa Clara, CA

Remove Oil Plug Without Using a Jack!

Works great except squeezing a drain pan under the car can be an issue
....and the filter, that's a whole other story...

Last edited by humvet; Dec 9, 2007 at 02:11 AM.

Dec 8, 2007 | 05:24 PM

jimmie jam

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 6,656

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From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL

jeez. i turned the wheels hard right, slide the pan under, reached in and removed the plug and then the filter. reverse. voilla! done. i'm 6'3" with a long reach but it is done but smaller people than me.

Dec 8, 2007 | 05:41 PM

burtonbl103

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 38,772

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From: Boston MA

St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08,'12-'13

WOW

Iprefer jacking up and double checking everything myself

Dec 8, 2007 | 07:14 PM

70454

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 3,734

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From: Southeastern PA

I don't jack up my car at all. I can slide under enough to reach both the plug and the filter. I use a Craftsman strap wrench on the filter.

Dec 8, 2007 | 07:31 PM

sorbet70

Racer

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

From: NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by humvet

Works great except squeezing a drain pan under the car can be an issue
....and the filter, that's whole other story...

how do you get the plug back on?

Dec 8, 2007 | 07:47 PM

humvet

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 3,775

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From: Santa Clara, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorbet70

how do you get the plug back on?

Did the reverse. Held the ratchet with the plug in the socket at a slight upward arc until I reached the oil pan. Like most mechanical operations, it then required a little finesse.

Dec 8, 2007 | 10:40 PM

DWS44

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 2,667

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From: Rock Hill SC (Charlotte NC Area)

2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified

2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified

I've heard about folks being able to change their oil by just turning the wheel and reaching in...I never in my life knew how "arm-length-challenged" I was until I tried this method.

Heck, I almost got within a foot or so!

I might have been able to use humvet's method though!

Dec 8, 2007 | 11:13 PM

CodyC6

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 2,078

Likes: 2

From: Northern Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWS44

I might have been able to use humvet's method though!

I've always used ramps until I read people just reaching and doing it. I tried it last weekend. BS I couldn't get anywhere near the plug and filter, I must have dinosaur arms.

Last edited by CodyC6; Dec 8, 2007 at 11:16 PM.

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Dec 8, 2007 | 11:19 PM

Bmbl-Bee

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2006

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From: Colorado

What the hell is that

Dec 8, 2007 | 11:32 PM

#10

ghall

Pro

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 735

Likes: 22

From: Wilmington N.C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70454

I don't jack up my car at all. I can slide under enough to reach both the plug and the filter. I use a Craftsman strap wrench on the filter.

Dec 8, 2007 | 11:36 PM

#11

Sherman Fretwell

Drifting

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 1,290

Likes: 2

From: Eagle ID

Noticing the stains on that driveway I have to ask a question: Do you also own a Porsche?

Dec 8, 2007 | 11:36 PM

#12

MikeyTX

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From: Big Bend Country, TX

St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21

NCM Lifetime Member

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bmbl-Bee

What the hell is that

I don't know but if it gives birth, run like h*ll

Dec 9, 2007 | 12:47 AM

#13

Hawk07

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 819

Likes: 0

From: South Corona, California

Quote:

Originally Posted by humvet

Did the reverse. Held the ratchet with the plug in the socket at a slight upward arc until I reached the oil pan. Like most mechanical operations, it then required a little finesse.

I bet when you cross thread it back on one of these times I'll hear you screaming all the way down here where I live...

Dec 9, 2007 | 02:09 AM

#14

humvet

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 3,775

Likes: 19

From: Santa Clara, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherman Fretwell

Noticing the stains on that driveway I have to ask a question: Do you also own a Porsche?

Just some old VW micro-busses....

Dec 9, 2007 | 06:08 AM

#15

rws.1

Race Director

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 16,795

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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ

hmmm
do your arms hang down to your ankles?

Dec 9, 2007 | 07:18 AM

#16

Tom/99

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 41,792

Likes: 153

From: Houston,Texas USA

Buy a floor jack, it makes life easier.

Dec 9, 2007 | 09:31 AM

#17

ProfMoriarty

Team Owner

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 25,455

Likes: 3

From: Damn Connecticut Yankee

Quote:

Originally Posted by humvet

Works great except squeezing a drain pan under the car can be an issue
....and the filter, that's a whole other story...

You don't even need to be near the car with that contraption!

Dec 9, 2007 | 11:28 AM

#18

JmpnJckFlsh

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 4,456

Likes: 6

From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk07

I bet when you cross thread it back on one of these times I'll hear you screaming all the way down here where I live...

Exactly right...I'd rather try to screw it in wearing a boxing glove. You run a high risk of getting it cross-threaded. Don't forget...aluminum is soft!

For those who can't reach the drain plug and filter with the car on floor, you WILL need 34-35" sleeve-length arms. You will also have to turn the front wheels to the left, and lay on your back and left side, with your left shoulder and head nearly UNDER THE CAR. Leave the wheels straight, and you're wasting your time...you'll have to be an Orangatuan to reach them.

Dec 9, 2007 | 12:33 PM

#19

ProfMoriarty

Team Owner

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 25,455

Likes: 3

From: Damn Connecticut Yankee

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmpnJckFlsh

For those who can't reach the drain plug and filter with the car on floor, you WILL need 34-35" sleeve-length arms. You will also have to turn the front wheels to the left, and lay on your back and left side, with your left shoulder and head nearly UNDER THE CAR. Leave the wheels straight, and you're wasting your time...you'll have to be an Orangatuan to reach them.

Call me Clyde and toss me a banana!

I have 36" sleeves, leave the wheels straight, and just lie on my back and reach under to flip the lever on the Fumoto valve I have installed.

Last edited by ProfMoriarty; Dec 9, 2007 at 12:36 PM.