Oil change - but no ramp...?

[jack brew]

I tried getting two wheels up on the kerb to change my oil in the road, but the awkward space underneath was not enough to undo the sump plug. So how do other forum members do it?

Didn't fancy relying on the car jack alone, could get a pair of axle stands but I' probably only use them once!

I want to do it myself as getting my hands dirty is the best way to learn!

"Take it to MTMS" isn't what I want to hear

 

[NotAnIDOYet]

I tried getting two wheels up on the kerb to change my oil in the road, but the awkward space underneath was not enough to undo the sump plug. So how do other forum members do it?

Didn't fancy relying on the car jack alone, could get a pair of axle stands but I' probably only use them once!

I want to do it myself as getting my hands dirty is the best way to learn!

"Take it to MTMS" isn't what I want to hear

No other safe way other than the axle stands I'm afraid. If you live near an Argos these will do the trick.

 

[jack brew]

No other safe way other than the axle stands I'm afraid. If you live near an Argos these will do the trick.

Aha! I dismissed them out of hand, didn't realise they'd be so cheap...

Thanks!

 

[Rich_P]

I tried getting two wheels up on the kerb to change my oil in the road, but the awkward space underneath was not enough to undo the sump plug. So how do other forum members do it?

I don't need to jack my vehicle up to change the oil, I just crawl underneath. DT_Xtremez_15:

 

[3wheeledtechie]

Aha yes but you must be spending most of your wages just getting into work in that thing.

 

[Parky]

I don't need to jack my vehicle up to change the oil, I just crawl underneath. DT_Xtremez_15:

Must be a Land Rover or something similar then, My lightweight was great like that only needed a jack to change a wheel or brake shoes.

Mack on Topic, Cant beat a few Breeze blocks, Seem to do the trick where i Originally hail from, loadsa cars on breeze blocks left lying around. ::DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[Realist78]

By the time you've got some axle stands , a gallon of reasonable oil and a filter, you might as well let someone like National do it for you for the same if not less money, unless you're getting the gear for nowt!DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

Aha! I dismissed them out of hand, didn't realise they'd be so cheap...

Thanks!

Don't forget that the vehicle should be level, otherwise the oil won't all drain out. If you can't get to a Motor Club, it's far more convenient to get Kwik Fit or any of the other national chains to take the strain, you also get free top-ups.

 

[Shugster]

To echo GHS...

Don't you have a motor club where you are? Ramp hire by the hour for pennies?

I spent many an unhappy hour as a poor SAC keeping my old Cortina going. But I did learn alot and got lots of help from others at the club as well.
DT_Xtremez_27:

 

[paininthearse]

Don't forget that the vehicle should be level, otherwise the oil won't all drain out.

Unless your sump is a certain shape or the sump plug is in a postion where the car NEEDS to be anything BUT level in order to get it all out.

 

[Rich_P]

Must be a Land Rover or something similar then, My lightweight was great like that only needed a jack to change a wheel or brake shoes.

Quite so, only proper motors don't need to be stuck up in the air to do an oil change. DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[paininthearse]

Quite so, only proper motors don't need to be stuck up in the air to do an oil change. DT_Xtremez_14:

You must be talking about Citroens with hydraulic suspension then?

 

[Rich_P]

No, Land Rovers you dafty! DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[paininthearse]

Never had to stick my Citroen in the airDT_Xtremez_28:



and it could off road - Land Rover didn't get to Dakar first many times, eh??

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

Unless your sump is a certain shape or the sump plug is in a postion where the car NEEDS to be anything BUT level in order to get it all out.

I've owned over thirty cars in my driving lifetime and through a number of Motor Clubs, serviced a considerable amount for other people. I've never found a car that needed anything other than being level. Considering how garages have either ramps or pits that place vehicles in the level position, my advice was of a similar vane. Yes there are certain vehicles where on initial inspection you could possibly get away with tilting them, but that does not allow for sump internals.

 

[Rich_P]

and it could off road - Land Rover didn't get to Dakar first many times, eh??

Well I'd like to see it towing over 3 tonnes as well. Besides, it's French and that's bad enough in its own right. DT_Xtremez_09:

 

[paininthearse]

I've owned over thirty cars in my driving lifetime and through a number of Motor Clubs, serviced a considerable amount for other people. I've never found a car that needed anything other than being level. Considering how garages have either ramps or pits that place vehicles in the level position, my advice was of a similar vane. Yes there are certain vehicles where on initial inspection you could possibly get away with tilting them, but that does not allow for sump internals.

100 % of those cars must have had the sump plug on the bottom of the sump then, unlike many cars that I have serviced.

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

100 % of those cars must have had the sump plug on the bottom of the sump then, unlike many cars that I have serviced.

Now you're just making assumptions and incorrectly at that, the first car I serviced was my 1963 mini with a sump/gearbox oil plug on the r/h side (however right at the bottom/front if memory serves me right) and yes you could waste time trying to get a few more drops out by jacking up the car front and slightly higher at the rear. However, think about when a car has a garage service, various levels are checked/ topped up at specified periods (engine oil, diff, gearbox, auto trans etc). To minimise time and simplify process for the mechanics, these all occur with the vehicle at one attitude (level). If every car had to be placed at a unique angle, the customer would be the one ultimately paying a higher price.
We can all be smart (36+ years driving/riding & maintaining myself) and make life easy with experience (like changing fwd driveshafts without losing diff oil by tilting the car over and ingnoring the Haynes book-of-lies), however, if the person that started this thread has to ask the question, he is obviously new at the game. Had he specified the vehicle then the advice could have been more specific.DT_Xtremez_44:

 

[Martin Blank]

Make friends with somone from GEF or MTMS and get to use the ramps on an evening. I'm sure they will let you do the hands on and help if you get into trouble and all it will cost you is probably a beer or 2.
I know if you were here that's what I'd do.
Back to the axle stands and jacks I'm sure you can get either a jack and ramps or jack and stands set for sod all these days just lift the car so you can slacken plug then return to lvl to drain.
Just remember to dispose of your old oil wisely. Another reason to speak to GEF or MTMS as they have waste oil disposal for old filters and oil.

 

[Teh Wal]

The Haynes manuals (yes, I know they're widely despised!) for both my missuses Fiesta (1997) and my Focus (2001) say jack up the front of the car and to be honest I can see why from both a practical point of view (easier for the average DIYer to access the plug AND filter) and from a draining the sump point of view (plug is in the back of the sump, slightly raised).

Get yourself down to Halfords, if you're still in the Mob flash your ID card and ask about getting a Halfords Trade Card (has been mentioned on the Goat in the past), this will get you some considerable discounts - oil, filter, windscreen wipers and a large spraycan of WD=40 cost me 24 quid last friday with my trade card; it would have cost about 37 quid without it.
Once you've got your trade card go and buy one of these http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...ategoryId_33938_crumb__parentcategoryrn_33938
The Trade Card should get you a discount and the trolley jack will give you years of good, handy useage: I've had one for the best part of 10 years and I dunno what I'd do without it to be honest... it's a damn sight better, quicker and safer than messing about with scissor jacks IMHO.