Easiest way to do your at home oil changes

[BmacIL]

Another positive vote for Rhino ramps. Used them countless times with four different cars for all kinds of things varying from oil changes to exhaust installation.

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[sandpiper]

There is no flap door to get to the oil filter for the Ecoboost.

 

[TexasRebel]

There is no flap door to get to the oil filter for the Ecoboost.

Yeah, I think that's only for GT Performance Pack cars.

 

[MasterCylinder]

The worst part i think is the electronics for the power steering being in the way.

 

[randy_tho]

So you guys using your Jack rails for just lifing the front... Do you put the jack forward of the mirror and then place a stand under the front pinch welds section?. Then with one stand under the car do same on other side? (Keeping wheels chocked and brake on.) I'm trying to visuallize the car being uneven in this manner.

 

[draconis123]

So you guys using your Jack rails for just lifing the front... Do you put the jack forward of the mirror and then place a stand under the front pinch welds section?. Then with one stand under the car do same on other side? (Keeping wheels chocked and brake on.) I'm trying to visuallize the car being uneven in this manner.

I've never done it that way. It just seemed safer to do all four. Not like it takes much more time.

 

[dgc333]

Changing oil at my house is very easy and it doesn't matter if the vehicle is lowered, raised has jacking rails or not!

1. Open garage door and drive vehicle onto rails on the floor.
2. Press button on motor mounted to upright at drivers side front of car.
3. Wait for car to go to ceiling.
4. Roll 5 gallon can with catch tray on stick under car.
5. Raise stick to oil pan height and position under drain plug and filter.
6. Remove plug allowing oil to drain into pan and R&R the filter.
7. Replace drain plug and roll 5 gallon can from under car.
8. Press lever on motor at left front upright lowering car back to floor.
9. Raise hood and refill with oil and check other fluids.
10. Lower hood and back car from garage.
11. Done! Total time about 15 minutes.

Couldn't resist. My lift is the best thing my wife ever bought me.

 

[Mustang_Lou]

^ Lol. My car would end up in my bedroom if I did that.

 

[randy_tho]

I've never done it that way. It just seemed safer to do all four. Not like it takes much more time.

Same here so I was curious what other had done.

 

[MikeHTally]

Old thread, but wooden ramps here:

I use 'em on all the rides; the Ram, the RAV and the Corolla.

 

[boB]

Changing oil at my house is very easy and it doesn't matter if the vehicle is lowered, raised has jacking rails or not!

1. Open garage door and drive vehicle onto rails on the floor.
2. Press button on motor mounted to upright at drivers side front of car.
3. Wait for car to go to ceiling.
4. Roll 5 gallon can with catch tray on stick under car.
5. Raise stick to oil pan height and position under drain plug and filter.
6. Remove plug allowing oil to drain into pan and R&R the filter.
7. Replace drain plug and roll 5 gallon can from under car.
8. Press lever on motor at left front upright lowering car back to floor.
9. Raise hood and refill with oil and check other fluids.
10. Lower hood and back car from garage.
11. Done! Total time about 15 minutes.

Couldn't resist. My lift is the best thing my wife ever bought me.

Yep, that's my method too (even if my wife didn't buy the lift).

 

[CrashOverride]

Changing oil at my house is very easy and it doesn't matter if the vehicle is lowered, raised has jacking rails or not!

1. Open garage door and drive vehicle onto rails on the floor.
2. Press button on motor mounted to upright at drivers side front of car.
3. Wait for car to go to ceiling.
4. Roll 5 gallon can with catch tray on stick under car.
5. Raise stick to oil pan height and position under drain plug and filter.
6. Remove plug allowing oil to drain into pan and R&R the filter.
7. Replace drain plug and roll 5 gallon can from under car.
8. Press lever on motor at left front upright lowering car back to floor.
9. Raise hood and refill with oil and check other fluids.
10. Lower hood and back car from garage.
11. Done! Total time about 15 minutes.

Couldn't resist. My lift is the best thing my wife ever bought me.

I did mine today, slightly more work, but in the same vein:

1. Slide quickjack under parked car in garage
2. Insert wood blocks in said quickjack
3. Connect the quick-connect hydraulic lines
4. Plug in the pump
5. Press the "UP" button for 20 seconds
6. Get on a creeper, easily roll (On my side, mind you) under the car and do the oil change

I have an 8 foot ceiling, otherwise your method would have been my preferred. I love my QJ though, So much easier to jack up the car, I find myself under the car just staring around because I'm not jammed in there or worried about it falling on me.

Seriously, for those that are "stuck" with an unworkable garage ceiling, the $1100 QJ (I bought mine used for $900) is worth it.

 

[CrashOverride]

I agree completely. Just in case you were replying to me (Sorry I can't tell) but quickjack is a mini lift. Mine is rated to 5000 pounds, but they have others at 3500, 6000 and 7500. Bendpak actually has some youtube videos where they show a pair of them holding somewhere around 15,000 pounds.

The pinch welds are asking to be bent if you use something like a jack head or jackstand under them for sure. I bought an amazon special pinch weld block/aluminum hockey puck before I had the quickjack. Definitely worth the $10.

For me, the quickjack has areas where one can place rubber blocks - but I have 2x4's cut to fit the section. Each 2x4 is about 7 inches long, so the pressure on the pinch weld is distributed quite well. I have the PP which (I believe) is more difficult because of the side skirts, but the pinch welds extend slightly downward maybe 1/2 an inch beyond the side skirt, so the wood blocks never contact the plastic.

I once knew an old guy who lifted a car with a normal jack, put a tree stump under the tire, and did the oil change. How is made it to be "old" is unknown to me.

 

[CrashOverride]

Yeah, it has a total lift height of about 17 inches, but when you add blocks to it (e.g. the car "starts out" with about 5" of lift) then you get over 20 inches. I was laying sideways on my creeper and still had lots of room. I don't think you could pull an engine, but I don't know of anyone that drops the cradle instead of using a cherry picker.

 

[randy_tho]

The k member points just don't seem very solid and locked in to the stand as using the pinch welds. Not saying your wrong though bjstang. I'll never use 2x4 blocks. It's asking for problems. If your turn them the wrong way they will quickly split and cross grain they tend to bend until they splinter.

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